1. Section 1.2 and 1.4
Earth’s Spheres

2. A sphere is…
… like a ball.
…or a series of three dimensional circles

3. Earth’s Major Spheres
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Geosphere
Biosphere

4. The meaning of the prefixes
Atmo
means Air
Hydro
means Water
Geo
means Earth
Bio
means Life

5. Atmosphere the gaseous sphere that surrounds the earth
90% is concentrated within 16 km of Earth’s surface
Provides oxygen to breath
Provides carbon dioxide for photosynthesis
Provides nitrogen for protein synthesis and DNA building
Protects from UV radiation

6. Atmosphere
Weather and climate are produced by exchange of energy between atmosphere, space, and the Earth’s surface

7. Hydrosphere The sphere of water that covers 70% of the Earth
97% is salt water
3% is freshwater

8. The hydrosphere is made up of all the salt water and fresh water on Earth.
Salt water in the oceans and seas.
Fresh water in the lakes, rivers and streams
Water vapor in the atmosphere
Frozen Water (aka cryosphere)

9. Geosphere the sphere of rock that is the Earth Three main parts
Core (outer/inner)
Mantle
Crust

10. Biosphere The sphere of living things on Earth
This includes all the plants, animals, fungus, protists and bacteria

11. Forces that change the Earth’s Surface
Destructive forces
Break down earth
Ex- Weathering and erosion
Constructive forces
Depend on earth’s internal heat
Ex- mountain building, volcanism, seafloor spreading

12. Earth’s Systems
Systems- any size group of things that form a complex whole
closed system
open system
Each of the spheres (atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere) is considered a system because they are always moving and being recycled!

13. In the biosphere the life forms have a lifespan and when they die they provide nourishment for other organisms
In the geosphere, the rocks are endlessly being broken down, then recycled into new rocks
In the hydrosphere, the water is endlessly moving, changing states and becoming refreshed.
In the atmosphere, the air is continually rising, falling and mixing.

14. The spheres / systems are endlessly interacting.
Can you think of ways that they interact?

15. How about the biosphere and the hydrosphere?
All living things require water to live.
Many animals live in the water.
Animals like beavers can alter the path of the water.

16. Describe the spheres / systems that are interacting.

17. Describe the spheres / systems that are interacting.

18. Describe the spheres / systems that are interacting.

19. Earth System All of spheres combined make up the Earth System
Powered by:
Earth System
The Sun (external) -
drives atmosphere, hydrosphere, earth’s surface
Earth’s interior (internal) - drives mountain building, earthquakes, volcanoes
Linked effects- a change in one part may affect the other parts

20. Think about it
In your table groups, come up with two examples of how changing one part of Earth’s system will affect other parts

21. People and the Environment
In Your table groups discuss:
How are humans causing changes on Earth?
Which spheres are affected by climate change ?
Which spheres are affected by a hole in the ozone layer? (ozone helps protect against UV radiation from the sun)
Which spheres are affected by air pollution?

22. Review