Table 5, Unit 2, Period 2

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Cryosphere- portions of Earth's surface where water is in solid form, including sea ice, lake ice, river ice, snow cover, glaciers, ice caps and ice sheets, and frozen ground (which includes permafrost)

Glaciers- an extended mass of ice formed from snow falling and accumulating over the years and moving very slowly Sea ice- frozen seawater Snow cover- the amount of an area that is covered by snow, usually given as a percentage of the total area Ice caps- a thick cover of ice over an area, sloping in all directions from the center Ice sheet- a broad, thick sheet of ice covering an extensive area for a long period of time

Sea ice moderates global temperature Ice sheets keep ocean level constant Ice that has been frozen for years can be used as a way of looking at the past

Earth’s temperature would rise exponentially The ocean would rise feet Life would be exposed to bacteria and organisms that have been frozen for years Living space for land creatures would be a fraction of what it is now

The BIOSPHERE is the subsystem that contains all living aspects of Earth. It is considered the largest environment, and the life supporting layer of the Earth.

The biosphere is comprised of life zones known as biomes where certain types of plants and animals live in a large geographical area due to specific environmental conditions.

Tundra Boreal Forest Temperate Grasslands Desert Savannah Tropical Rainforest Chaparral Fresh Water Marine

The GAIA HYPOTHESIS says that the life in an area, to some extent, control their environment to optimize living conditions. This hypothesis was named for the Greek goddess of the Earth.

Unseen microbes comprise about 90% of the Earths BIOMASS, the total weight of all living matter. Single celled photosynthetic organisms thriving in sunlight areas of the ocean generate 80% of the oxygen in the atmosphere.

Since the beginning of time, chemical, climatological, and geographical changes in the Earth have forced species to either adapt or become extinct.

The THEORY OF NATURAL SELECTION says that a variation in traits, differences in reproduction, and hereditary traits are the determining factors in deciding the fate of a species So…

1. There is a variation in traits. Lets just say, there are brown beetles and there are green beetles. 2. There is differences in reproduction. The environment can’t support unlimited reproduction, and we will just say that the green beetles are eaten by birds more often so they reproduce less. 3. Traits are hereditary. Surviving brown beetles have more brown babies because of genetics.

THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION says that complex creatures have evolved over time from more simplistic creatures.

This includes Earth’s interior, rocks, minerals, landforms, and the processes that shape Earth’s surface.

1. Crust- comprised mainly of different rocks. 2. Mantle- consists of two parts: The upper level is less dense and brittle. The lower level is much thicker and dense. 3. Core- also made of two parts: The liquid outer core The Solid inner core

The LITHOSPHERE is the rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle. It is divided into about a dozen large plates that move and interact with each other. The study of the Lithosphere is called PLATE TECTONICS.

The atmosphere is the air that we breathe. It is also the wind that blows through our hair and the clouds that float in the sky.

The atmosphere is shared by every person on this Earth. When one person (or group or nation) affects the atmosphere, it affects all of us.

The atmosphere can also affect us in negative ways. Most of the natural catastrophes that occur are due to phenomena in the atmosphere.

Many people across the country and around the world dedicate their lives to learning about the atmosphere. Their work allows television weathermen to predict the week's weather or warns people about the damage pollution can do.