The Hydrosphere and the Biosphere
The Hydrosphere All the water on or near the Earth’s surface Rivers Oceans
Clouds Lakes Wetlands Ice Caps In Soil
The Water Cycle Evaporation: water rising to the atmosphere From where? Bodies of water: oceans, lakes, streams, rivers … From plants: transpiration
2. Condensation: water vapor forms drops 3. Precipitation: drops collide and form larger drops, then fall to the ground as rain or snow
4. Runoff: water running off mountains, hills etc… 5. Ground water: water in the ground makes its way to rivers, oceans…
3 4 1 2 5 6
Earth’s Oceans Ocean Water: contains dissolved salts from rocks over many years. Salinity increases with depth of water. Salinity = concentration (amount of) dissolved salts in a solution.
Salinity differs depending on where fresh water enters it. Close to fresh water it’s less salty. 10
Temperature of Ocean Water Depends on the sun penetrating the water. Warmer on top. Colder where there is no sun. 11
Thermocline – in between layer Surface Zone - Top layer that is warmed by the sun Temperature Zones Thermocline – in between layer Deep Zone – extends to the bottom of the ocean; coldest layer because of lack of sunlight
boundary between warm and cold water boundary between warm and cold water. When you jump into a lake, you can feel it. Thermocline =
Ocean as a Global Temperature Regulator Oceans: Absorbs over half the solar radiation that reaches earth. Stores energy from sunlight Causes atmospheric temperature to be stable. Important for organism survival. Ocean currents affect land climates by circulating warm water. 14
Ocean Currents
Thermocline Circulation
Fresh Water A little more than 3% of earth Most is in icecaps and glaciers Consists of River Systems: streams that drain land 17
Ground Water Water from rain and snow that sinks and collects in the ground. This is our source of drinking water. An aquifer is a rock layer that stores the ground water. 18
Ground Water
Aquifer 20
Biosphere Narrow layer around the Earth’s surface where life can exist. Factors for Survival: Liquid water Correct temperatures A source of energy sunlight, photosynthetic organisms 21
22
Energy Flow in a Biosphere Two Types of Systems: Closed System: energy enters the environment but matter does not. Earth is mainly a closed system.
Early Earth - when it was developing. 2. Open System: both energy and matter are exchanged between the system and the environment. Early Earth - when it was developing. 25