Earth Systems Overview The Earth is a system consisting of four major interacting components: the atmosphere, the biosphere, the hydrosphere, and the geosphere Let’s examine each of these four spheres in detail……… Image is from the following website: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap980129.html

Earth Systems Overview TEK: Define and identify the components of the geosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere and biosphere and the interactions among them (cycles). Image is from the following website: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap980129.html

Lithosphere: The upper solid surface of the earth, which is made of rocks, is called the lithosphere. Its depth is not the same everywhere. It is thinnest below the oceans and thickest below the continents. It has two layers, i.e. ,SIAL and SIMA. It is broken into 10 large rigid plates. Movements of the lithosphere plates results in the formation of deep sea, trenches, mountain ranges as well as earthquakes.

Atmosphere: A thin layer of odourless, tasteless , colourless gasses surrounding the earth is called atmosphere. It is essential not only for man ,but for all forms of life as it acts like a blanket in controlling heat coming from the sun. It is a mixture of many gasses like :Nitrogen -78.03%,Oxygen- 20.99%, Argon-0.93%, Carbon dioxide-0.03%etc. Besides hydrogen,neon,helium,ozoneetc. Are also found. It also contains water vapour, dust particles, smoke particles ,salt particles etc. The atmosphere is divided into the following layers:

The Atmosphere The Earth is surrounded by a blanket of air, which we call the atmosphere. The atmosphere consists of four unique layers (the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, and the thermosphere). The atmosphere reaches over 350 miles up from the surface of the Earth. The atmosphere is primarily composed of nitrogen (about 78%) and oxygen (about 21%). Other components exist in small quantities. Images are from the following website: http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/academy/space/atmosphere.html Atmo means “vapor”, so this is the sphere of (water) vapor.

Hydro sphere: Hydro sphere: The hydrosphere literally means all the water of all earth. It consists of both the relatively shallow layer of water which covers about three quarters of the earth surface, forming the oceans, seas, lakes, ice sheets etc. The oceans covering 71%of the earth surface, hold 97%of all the earth’s water. About 75%of the total fresh water is locked up in glaciers and ice sheets.

Hydrosphere The hydrosphere contains all the water found on our planet. Surface Water: Includes the ocean as well as water from lakes, rivers and creeks. Ground Water: Includes water trapped in the soil and groundwater. Atmosphere: water vapor. Frozen water: Includes ice caps and glaciers. Specifically called the cryosphere. Only about 3% of the water on Earth is “fresh” water, and about 70% of the fresh water is frozen in the form of glacial ice. (0.9% in liquid form) Image is from the website: http://water.tamu.edu/watercycle.html Hydro means “water”, so this is the sphere of water.

Biosphere: Biosphere is that portion of the earth which is occupied by various forms of life. It is an intricately interlocked system ,which contains all that is needed for life,all that is available for life and all that ever will be available. The total thickness of the biosphere is only about 24kms.Vertically it only extends as high as the tops of the tallest trees. The ingredients of the biosphere are constantly recycled and renewed in nature. It is a kind of link between the other spheres of the earth. Without it the earth would be a sterile planet and human life and human activities would not exists.

The Biosphere The biosphere is the “life zone” of the Earth, and includes all living organisms (including humans), and all organic matter that has not yet decomposed. The biosphere is structured into a hierarchy known as a food chain. Energy and nutrients, like carbon, are transferred from one level of the food chain to the next. Image is from the following website: http://www.geology.ufl.edu/Biosphere.html Bio means “life”, so this is the sphere of life.

EXOSPHERE - 600km and above IONOSPHERE- 80-600 km > ionization takes place, reflecting radio waves MESOPAUSE- upper limit of mesosphere MESOSPHERE- 50-80 km > ozone gas is found, absorbs ultraviolet rays STRATOPAUSAE- upper limit of stratosphere STRATOSPHERE- 12-50km > aircraft moves, mother of pearl clouds TROPOPAUSE - upper boundary is tropopause, TROPOSPHERE- 0-12km>rain ,fog, mist ,hail etc. take place

Geosphere The geosphere is the solid part of the earth, from the core to the surface. Includes volcanoes, rocks, minerals, coal, oil etc. Mineral resources are mined from the geosphere. Image is from the website: http://ess.geology.ufl.edu/ess/Introduction/Geosphere.html

Earth System Science Earth System Science is the study of how the four spheres of the Earth system interact continually, each affecting the others. Example: A scientist that studies global warming is an Earth System Scientist. The Earth system refers to the fact that we use models to look at parts of the Earth, helping us to describe what has happened in the past, what is currently happening, and what might happen in the future.

System Interactions Volcanoes (Lithosphere) erupt, sending ash and gases into the air (atmosphere) and sending lava and ash down onto surrounding forests (biosphere) and human habitations (biosphere). Image is from the website: http://www.ecuador-travel.net/information.volcano.pichincha.eruption.htm Lithosphere Atmosphere Biosphere

System Interactions Lithosphere Hurricanes (atmosphere) sweep across the ocean (hydrosphere) and onto the land (geosphere), damaging the dwellings of people (biosphere) who live along the coast. Hydrosphere Image is from the website: http://www.itvs.org/risingwaters/ Lithosphere Atmosphere Biosphere

System Interactions Lithosphere Earthquakes (geosphere) can damage buildings which may kill people (biosphere), as well as cause fires which release gases into the air (atmosphere). Earthquakes in the ocean may cause a tsunami (hydrosphere) which can eventually hit land and kill both animals and people (biosphere). Biosphere Image is from the website: http://www.seismo.unr.edu/ep/nvguide/ep6.html Lithosphere Atmosphere Hydrosphere

CFA Atmosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere and Lithosphere 1. Name the four main earth systems. Atmosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere and Lithosphere 2. Which branch of science studies the interactions between these earth systems? Earth System Science: Example is a scientist that studies global warming. Image is from the website: http://www.seismo.unr.edu/ep/nvguide/ep6.html 3. A forest fire would effect which earth systems? All four: Fires (Biosphere) will destroy plant and animal life while releasing smoke and other contaminants into the atmosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere.