1. Warm-Up
List the one EON and the three ERAs we included in our timeline.
List one fact for each EON/ERA listed.

2. Interaction of Earth’s Systems
Systems and Spheres

3. Learning Target
Earth’s systems, being dynamic and interacting, cause feedback effects that increase or decrease the original changes.
Distinguish between positive and negative feedback loops.
Describe differences in Earth’s geosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere in response to a change to Earth’s surface.

4. Earth’s Systems Receive inputs and produce outputs
Example: Gulf of Mexico
Receives input of freshwater, sediments, nutrients
Gulf outputs a harvest of shrimp and fish
The system output becomes input to the global economic system and digestive system of people consuming the fish

5. Feedback loops
A feedback loop occurs when an event is both an input and output in the same system
Can either be negative or positive
Negative: Stabilizes the system
If the wolf population (predator) decreases, the moose population (prey) will increase
Positive: Destabilizes the system
Clearing of plants will erode a stream bed which will increase water flow and further increase the stream bed

6. All Systems Interact!! Example #1: Albedo Effect and Climate Change
More Greenhouse gas (Atmosphere change) = Warmer Temperature
Polar ice caps melt (Hydrosphere change)
Darker color of ocean replaces white color of ice
Less radiation is reflected from Earth’s Surface
Positive Feedback Loop!!!

7. Time to Experiment!!
Design a controlled experiment to show how the change in albedo will influence global climate change.

8. Warm-Up
How do positive and negative feedback loops differ?

9. All Systems Interact!!! Example #2: Wolves change Rivers
Describe at least 3 interactions in the video.
Draw a picture of a feedback loop in the video

10. Warm-Up
Write a one sentence analysis of the graph depicted below. List one feedback loop created by the trend observed in the graph.

11. Let’s Experiment!!
Example #3 and Extension Activity: How will a warming ocean influence climate change?

13. Your research to find out more…
How does the loss of ground vegetation influence water runoff and soil erosion? Describe.
How do dammed rivers influence groundwater recharge, sediment transport downstream, and coastal erosion?
Groundwater recharge: water infiltrates through soil and builds up aquifer.
Erosion: movement of sand/soil away
How does the loss of wetlands cause a decrease in local humidity that further reduces the wetland extent?

14. Learning Target
The Geosphere and Lithosphere interact with other spheres creating feedback effects that alters life on Earth.
Success Criteria:
Identify types of rocks and the stages of the rock cycle.
Describe how rocks form soil.

15. Earth Spheres

16. Earth’s Spheres
Geosphere: “Earth (ground or land)”sphere; made of rock at and below the earth’s surface
Lithosphere: “Stone” sphere; Outermost layer of geosphere; rock at or just below earth’s surface; soil is eroded rock
Biosphere: “living” sphere; all the planet’s living or once living things along with the abiotic (non-living) factors that effect them
Atmosphere: “Air” sphere; Layers of gases surrounding the planet
Hydrosphere: “water” sphere; All water on Earth’s surface, underground and in the atmosphere

17. Geosphere: “Earth” sphere
Crust, Mantle and Core
Crust: Thin, cool, rocky outer “skin”
Mantle: Very hot and mostly solid
Core: Outer core is molten metal, inner core is solid metal

19. The Lithosphere is part of the Geosphere.
Outermost shell of the planet
Comprised of the crust and upper mantle
Tectonic Plates

20. Rocks
Naturally occurring solids made up of minerals and mineral-like materials
Three types: igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic
The rock cycle slowly changes rocks from one type to another through heating, melting, cooling, weathering, and erosion.

21. Types of Rocks
Igneous: Form when magma or lava cools and solidifies; can be intrusive or extrusive
Did You Know? In general, the more slowly igneous rock cools, the larger its crystals.

23. Types of Rocks Continued….
Sedimentary: Form when sediments cement together or when water evaporates and leaves behind minerals; can be clastic, chemical, or biochemical

26. Types of Rocks continued (again)….
Metamorphic: Form when heat or pressure changes the crystalline structure of existing rock

28. Video

29. Modeling the Rock Cycle Activity
Create a concept map to compare the three types of rocks.
Watch the teacher to find out how.
Be sure to include the different ways each rock type is formed, examples of each as well as the following…
Igneous: intrusive vs. extrusive
Sedimentary: clastic, chemical, biochemical; steps of formation
Metamorphic: heat and pressure
On the back of your concept map….
Label and color a diagram of the rock cycle.

30. Classify Rocks
At your lab table you will find two igneous rocks, two metamorphic rocks and two sedimentary rocks.
How do you know the difference?
What characteristics will you use to determine which is which?

31. Rocks make Soil!!
Soil is made up of minerals (from rock), organic matter (from decay), air, and water.

32. Soil Formation
Weathering: Physical and chemical breaking of rocks and minerals into smaller pieces
Erosion and deposition: Pick-up, transport, and drop-off of material from one place to another
Decomposition: Breakdown of waste, organisms, and organic material into simple molecules

33. Soil Horizons Soil horizons are distinct layers of soil.
A cross-section of soil horizons is a soil profile.

35. Effects other spheres by…
Interactions!!!!
Complete a chart like the one below..
Affected by Spheres…
Effects other spheres by…
Atmosphere:
Hydrosphere:
Biosphere:

36. Interactions of Geosphere/Lithosphere
Affected by each sphere…
Effects each sphere by…
Atmosphere: higher greenhouse gas composition will warm soils and increase decomposition rate
Hydrosphere: frost wedging weathers rock and helps to form soil
Biosphere: vegetation helps to decrease soil erosion and improve soil fertility
Atmosphere: Microbes in soil transform atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates; decomposition of organic materials in soil produces carbon dioxide and methane
Hydrosphere: runoff of sediment effects turbidity of streams and increases nutrient load
Biosphere: Increased rate of soil formation/fertility will increase the amount of plants which in turn will increase biodiversity

37. Learning Target
The Atmosphere interacts with other spheres creating feedback effects that alters life on Earth.
Success Criteria:
Identify and describe the layers of the atmosphere.
Describe how oxygen, greenhouse gases and ozone are essential gases supporting life on Earth.
Describe the composition of the atmosphere.
Describe how temperature varies with respect to altitude and latitude.
Describe how temperature and plant life alter relative humidity.

38. Layers of Atmosphere Troposphere: 0–11 km; movement of air, weather
Did You Know? The stratosphere and mesosphere are cold, but the upper thermosphere can be hotter than 1500°C.
Layers of Atmosphere
Troposphere: 0–11 km; movement of air, weather
Stratosphere: 11–50 km; ozone layer, absorbs and scatters UV rays
Mesosphere: 50–80 km; meteoroids burn up
Thermosphere: 80+ km; disturbances produce aurora borealis

39. Layers of the Atmosphere Mini-Lab
Using the materials around the room, create a density column to represent the layers of the atmosphere in the plastic cup.
When you have successfully completed your density column, be prepared to state which layer in the atmosphere each layer in your density column represents.

40. Atmosphere Contains the gases that organisms need
Oxygen: needed for respiration
Ozone: needed to filter UV radiation
Greenhouse gases (CO2 and Methane): needed to keep Earth’s temperature warm enough to support life

41. Properties of the Atmosphere
Composition: 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases (greenhouse gases)
Temperature: Varies with location (due to angle of sun and altitude)
Pressure: In general, air pressure decreases with altitude; can be measured using a barometer.

42. Time to Think!!!!
Composition: Create a model to illustrate the composition of gases in the atmosphere.
You will only have 5 minutes!!!!
Temperature: Create a visual to show how temperature varies with respect to altitude and latitude. Relate this picture to the distribution of Earth’s biomes.
You only have 5 minutes!!!
Pressure: Describe one example that illustrates how pressure varies with altitude.
You guessed it…5 minutes!!

43. Biome Distribution

44. Relative Humidity
The ratio of water vapor in air to the maximum amount the same air could contain at the same temperature
Is affected by temperature and location; in general, warm air holds more water.
When air cools, water vapor may condense to liquid or to ice. Water vapor can only condense on surfaces, such as a petal or a dust particle.

45. Time to think (again)!!!
Using the 3 beakers and a graduated cylinder…come up with a demonstration to show how temperature changes relative humidity in air.
Create a visual to show how vegetation influences humidity.

46. Effects other spheres by…
Interactions!!!!
Complete a chart like the one below..
A Video to help you think….How Whales Change Climate
Affected by Spheres…
Effects other spheres by…
Geosphere/Lithosphere:
Hydrosphere:
Biosphere:

47. Warm-Up
How do the gases in the atmosphere influence weathering of rock?
How does the creation of new rock influence the composition of gases in the atmosphere?

48. Learning Target
The Hydrosphere interacts with other spheres creating feedback effects that alters life on Earth.
Success Criteria:
Describe how water is distributed on Earth.
Describe how water is cycled on Earth.
Describe how the water cycle is altered by human activity.

49. Hydrosphere Consists of Earth’s water
Most of Earth’s water (97.5%) is salt water.
Only 0.5% of Earth’s water is unfrozen fresh water usable for drinking or irrigation.
Frozen water is called the cryosphere
Earth’s available fresh water includes surface water and ground water. (Most is groundwater!)

50. Activity Create a model to show the distribution of Earth’s water.
Water is renewable due to the water cycle but is limited due to its availability and distribution.
Usable water must be liquid and fresh.

51. Water Cycle

52. How Humans influence the Water cycle

53. Activity
Worksheet!!!!

54. Warm-Up

55. Biosphere
The part of Earth in which living and nonliving things interact
Biotic: Living
Abiotic: Non-living