1. The Earth System’s Four Spheres
Objectives:
Explain the 4 spheres of Earth
Explain how the spheres interact

2. Introduction
Earth is able to support life because the four spheres interact
Atmosphere
Geosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
Energy moves back and forth

3. The Atmosphere Atmosphere: the gaseous envelope surrounding Earth
Made of a mixture of gases
Provides living things with oxygen and Carbon Dioxide
Other gases absorb and alter rays from the sun

4. The Atmosphere Cont’d
Due to changing amounts of water vapor in the atmosphere
High or low humidity
Change the formation of clouds

5. The Atmosphere Cont’d Atmospheric pressure causes wind
Storms are caused by water vapor, air pressure and energy

6. The Atmosphere Cont’d
Earth is the only planet in our solar system that has free oxygen
Supports the life forms

7. The Geosphere
Geosphere: the physical features of the planet (except water)
Inside layers of Earth
Ocean basins

8. The Geosphere Cont’d Always changing Volcanic eruptions form new land
Mountains are uplifted and eroded
Continents are always moving

9. Exit Ticket
Explain the atmosphere and geosphere.

10. The Hydrosphere Hydrosphere: all the water at or near Earth’s surface
Oceans, lakes, rivers, groundwater, ice snow

11. The Hydrosphere Cont’d
Only 3% of water on Earth is freshwater
70% is frozen in glaciers
30% Groundwater, lakes, soil, water vapor, river water
½ of 1% is usable fresh water

12. The Hydrosphere Cont’d
All water on Earth is continuously recycles

13. The Biosphere Biosphere: the living things on the planet
The interactions of the geosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere make conditions to support life

14. The Biosphere Cont’d Includes all forms of life
Single-celled protozoans, jellyfish, redwood trees, people, etc.

15. The Biosphere Cont’d Humans have changed the
Geosphere
Oceans
Atmosphere
One sphere can affect another

16. Exit Ticket
Explain the hydrosphere and biosphere.

17. Interactions Among the Spheres
4 Spheres are constantly moving, changing, and interacting
A change in one sphere affects another

18. Exit Ticket
Explain how interactions change the spheres.

19. How Interactions Change the Spheres
Interactions takes many forms
Single event
Temporary change
Constant change
Uniformitarianism: Earth is always changing, forces of change at work in the present is the same as the past

20. How Interactions Change the Spheres Cont’d
Some changes can take thousands or millions of years
Erosion
Atmospheric change

21. How Interactions Change the Spheres Cont’d
Shorter changes
Disrupt bird nesting
Flooding
Greenhouse Effect

22. Understanding Check Answer the following question.
Use complete sentences.
You may NOT use your book. You MAY use your notes.
This is a quiz grade
Explain the 4 spheres of Earth.
Explain how the spheres interact.