1. SSA Review – Earth Systems

2. Spheres of the Earth
Geosphere - is associated with solid portions of the Earth. It includes rocks, sediments and soils, surface landforms and the processes that shape the surface.
Features are:
Valley networks, river channels/canyons, deltas,
Sand dunes, wind streaks
Folds, faults, mountains
Volcanoes

3. Spheres of the Earth
Hydrosphere is the liquid water component of the Earth. The hydrosphere covers about 70% of the surface of the Earth and is the home for many plants and animals. The hydrosphere, like the atmosphere, is always in motion.
Features include:
-oceans, seas, lakes, ponds, rivers and streams.

4. Spheres of the Earth
Cryosphere ("icy cold water sphere") is the frozen part of Earth: the glaciers, icebergs at sea, and the huge icecaps in Greenland and Antarctica.
The cryosphere is the term which collectively describes the portions of the Earth’s surface where water is in solid form.
Features include:
sea ice, lake ice, river ice, snow cover, glaciers, ice caps and ice sheets, and frozen ground

5. Spheres of the Earth
Atmosphere - relates to meteorological features and phenomena such as weather, clouds, or aerosols (particles in the air). It includes an ever‐changing mixture of gas and small particles located above and surrounding the Earth’s surface.
Features include:
‐Clouds ‐Hurricanes and Cyclones ‐Aurora ‐Air Pollution/Aerosols ‐Dust and Sand Storms

6. Spheres of the Earth
Biosphere is associated with living systems such as biomes or ecosystems. This includes life on land, in the oceans and rivers, and even life we cannot see with the naked eye.
Features include:
‐Coastal Biomes ‐Forests ‐Deserts ‐Grasslands ‐Urban/Agricultural Ecosystems

7. Spheres of the Earth
Four major parts of Earth work together as a complex system: rocks, water, air, and life. On a global scale, each part can be thought of as a sphere, roughly the same size and shape as the planet.

12. The Atmosphere
We Call it
“Air”
What is it?

13. It is:
*The layer of gases that surrounds the Earth
*This is where the weather happens
*Weather – changes in the condition of the atmosphere (cloudy, cold, rainy, clear and sunny)

14. 330 miles & above
48 – 330 miles
30 – 48 miles
7 – 30 miles
0 – 7 miles

15. Layer Description 0 – 7 miles above the Earth Troposphere
The weather happens here

16. Energy from the Sun

17. How does the sun’s energy get to the Earth?

18. Radiation – energy from the sun that travels through space to the Earth (the sun’s rays)

19. Infrared – sun’s heat energy

20. Visible Light - Energy from the sun we can see and plants use for food

21. Ultraviolet (U. V. ) Radiation – energy that affects our skin
Ultraviolet (U.V.) Radiation – energy that affects our skin *vitamin D for skin cell growth (good) *sunburns (too much UV) *cancer (too much UV)

22. Radiation
1- some energy is absorbed in the ozone layer of the atmosphere (mostly UV rays)

23. Radiation
2 – some energy reflects off clouds and other particles in the atmosphere and back towards space

24. Radiation
3 – some energy reflects off the Earth’s surface (water or land) and back up to the atmosphere

25. 4 – some energy is absorbed into Earth’s surface (water or land)
Radiation
4 – some energy is absorbed into Earth’s surface (water or land)

26. How Heat Moves
Radiation - Heat moves through the air from a warmer object to a cooler object (sun, fire, stove or oven)

27. Conduction - Heat moves from a warmer object by touching a cooler object

28. Convection - Heat moves by a fluid (liquid or gas) from a warmer object to a cooler object
Example – running hot water, steam, heater, or hair dryer

29. Heat movement in our Atmosphere

31. What is a wind?
Wind – the air moving horizontally from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

32. Winds – As warm air rises, cooler air moves in underneath

34. Types of Global Winds Jet streams
high speed winds about 6 miles above the earth (120 to 240 mph)
*these winds can carry or push cold polar air down into the U.S.

35. What’s the difference between weather and climate?

36. *Weather – changes in the condition of the atmosphere (cloudy, cold, rainy, clear and sunny)

37. What is a Storm?
Storm – a violent change in the atmosphere

38. *Thunderstorm

39. *Tornado

40. *Hurricane

41. Climate - the typical weather conditions in an area over a long period.