1. CO: Earth Systems Science LO: Identify and describe Earth’s four spheres.
Earth’s Spheres…..

2. Earth System Science (ESS)
The study of the interactions between and among events and Earth’s spheres
A relatively new science (1988)

3. Earth’s Spheres
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Lithosphere
Biosphere

4. Atmosphere A gaseous sphere that envelopes the Earth.
Consists of a mixture of gases composed primarily of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor.

5. Hydrosphere All of the water on Earth
71% of the earth is covered by water and only 3% is freshwater!
The other 97% is seawater!

6. Lithosphere
The Earth's solid surface. Often called the crust of the earth.
It includes the crust and a small part of the upper mantle.

7. Biosphere All life on earth!
It extends from the ocean depths to the atmosphere above.
Earth’s life zone distinguishes our planet from the others in the solar system.

8. Brainstorming-think/pair/share
T-Choose a sphere
write down as many examples of things that are a part of that sphere on the left hand page of your journal
P-Compare your examples to the rest of your group.
Add and delete as necessary
S-Share the group’s examples with the class

9. The Four Spheres Left Side Assignment:
Draw, label and color this diagram into your journal on the left hand page opposite your notes on ESS.
Lithosphere – All processes associated with the solid earth
Hydrosphere – All processes associated with water
Atmosphere –All processes associated with the gases that envelope the earth
Biosphere – All processes that involve living organisms

10. Cryosphere
The portion of the Earth's surface where water is in a solid form
Snow or ice: includes glaciers, ice shelves, snow, icebergs, and arctic climatology

11. Anthrosphere Humans and their direct ancestors, hominids.
The human population, it’s buildings,dams, and other constructions.

12. CO: Interconnected Spheres LO: Describe the interactions between spheres in response to an event.

13. Interconnected Spheres
Spheres are closely connected
Example;
Birds are a part of the ___?_____ sphere and fly through the air which is the _____?_____sphere.
Water is in the _____?_____sphere flows through the soil which is part of the _____ ?_____ sphere.
A change in one sphere results in changes in others.
Spheres are also effected by events on our planet.
EVENT=changes within an ecosystem
Hurricanes, Floods, Tornados, Oil spills, pollution.

14. Interconnected Spheres
Example of an interaction:
EVENT: Forest fire
destroys plants (biosphere)
Interactions between spheres in response
No plants = increased erosion
Increased erosion = more soil in the water
Soil in water = increased turbidity of water (how dirty it is)
Increased turbidity = Less oxygen available to plants and animals.

15. Event Sphere Interactions
A cause and effect relationship between an event and a sphere.
An event can cause changes and/or be the effect of changes to one or more of Earth’s spheres.

16. Sphere to Sphere Interactions
Interactions also occur BETWEEN spheres.
A change to one sphere can cause a change to another sphere.
Draw this diagram onto the left hand page opposite your notes on sphere interactions. You must have 10 interactions or arrows.
There are ten possible interactions between spheres and events.

17. Topic: ESS Analysis Target: Identify the three steps in an
Topic: ESS Analysis Target: Identify the three steps in an ESS analysis.
Events
Have a cause and effect relationship to spheres
Interactions occur because of an event
Natural events
Earthquake, hurricane, forest fires OR
Human caused events
Oil spill, air pollution, construction

18. ESS Analysis You will identify three different types of interactions.
How did the event effect the sphere?
1. Event Sphere
Event
Hydro
Litho
Atmo
Bio

19. ESS Analysis 2. How do changes in one sphere impact on other spheres?
2.Sphere Sphere
Hydro
Litho
Atmo
Bio

20. ESS Analysis How did the sphere effect the event? 3. Sphere Event
Hydro
Litho
Atmo
Bio

21. Understanding Interactions
Global implications
Helps people predict outcomes
Preparation for natural disasters
Environmental impacts of human activities

22. ESS Analysis An Example - homework Group activity
Yellowstone Forest Fire
Group activity
Mt St Helen’s eruption, May 1980
Hurricane Katrina, August 2005
Gulf Oil Spill, Summer 2010