Earth Science Chapter 1.2 A View of the Earth

Earth’s Major Spheres The HYDROSPHERE includes all liquid water on Earth—both saltwater and fresh water. Ocean is the most prominent feature of the hydrosphere. - Is nearly 71% of Earth's surface - Holds about 97% of Earth's water Also includes fresh water found in streams, lakes, and glaciers, as well as that found underground

The ATMOSPHERE consists of all the gases around Earth Earth’s Major Spheres The ATMOSPHERE consists of all the gases around Earth Although the atmosphere extends more than 100km up, 90% is within 16km of the surface.

The BIOSPHERE includes all life on Earth. Earth’s Major Spheres The BIOSPHERE includes all life on Earth. The biosphere is concentrated in a zone that extends from the ocean floor upward several kilometers in the atmosphere.

Earth’s Major Spheres The GEOSPHERE consists of the solid parts of the planet and is not uniform. Based on differences in composition it is divided into three main regions: Crust—the thin, rocky outer layer of Earth. Mantle—the 2890-kilometer-thick layer of Earth located below the crust. Core—the inner most layer of Earth, located beneath the mantle.

Earth’s Major Spheres

The dense core has two parts; Geosphere The dense core has two parts; a solid inner core liquid outer core. The rocky mantle is divided into: lower mantle and upper mantle. The rock in the upper part of the upper mantle is somewhat flexible

The outer crust is divided into continental crust and oceanic crust. Geosphere The outer crust is divided into continental crust and oceanic crust. This rigid outermost layer is called the lithosphere.

Plate Tectonics

The lithoshpere is broken into several sections called plates. Plate Tectonics The lithoshpere is broken into several sections called plates. The Theory of Plate Tectonics states that earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain building, and the movement of continents are the result of the movement of lithospheric plates.