1. The Earth as a System
Earth’s Spheres

2. Use Cornell Note Taking
Answers
Definitions
Supporting Details/Pictures
Questions
Key Terms
Main Ideas

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

4. What are

5. ROCK
AIR
LIFE
WATER

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

7. What Does The Atmosphere Consist Of?
The atmosphere consists of four unique layers (the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, and the thermosphere).
The atmosphere reaches over 560 kilometers (348 miles) up from the surface of the Earth.
The atmosphere is primarily composed of nitrogen (about 78%) and oxygen (about 21%). Other components exist in small quantities.
Images are from the following website:
Atmo means “vapor”, so this is the sphere of (water) vapor.

8. What are the Layers of the Atmosphere?
Thermosphere—highest
Mesosphere
Stratosphere (contains ozone)
Troposphere---layer we live in

9. What is the Lithosphere aka Geosphere?
The Earth's solid surface, often called the crust of the earth. It includes continental and oceanic crust as well as the various layers of the Earth's interior.

10. WHAT IS THE EARTH MOSTLY COMPOSED OF?
94% of the Earth is composed of the elements oxygen, silicon, and magnesium.
The geopsphere is not static (unchanging), but its surface (crust) is in a constant state of motion.
Mineral resources are mined from the geosphere.
Image is from the website:

12. What is the Hydrosphere?
All of the water on Earth
71% of the earth is covered by water and only 29% is terra firma

13. WHERE CAN WATER BE FOUND. GIVE EXAMPLES
WHERE CAN WATER BE FOUND? GIVE EXAMPLES. WHAT PERCENT OF EARTH’S WATER IS FRESHWATER?
Water found on the surface of our planet includes the ocean as well as water from lakes and rivers, streams, and creeks.
Water found under the surface of our planet includes water trapped in the soil and groundwater.
Water found in our atmosphere includes water vapor.
Frozen water on our planet includes ice caps and glaciers.
Only about 3% of the water on Earth is “fresh” water, and about 70% of the fresh water is frozen in the form of glacial ice.
Image is from the website:
Hydro means “water”, so this is the sphere of water.

14. What is the Biosphere?
All life on earth, including man, and all organisms that have not decomposed.
The life zone on our planet distinguishes our planet from the others in the solar system.

15. How is The Biosphere organized?
The biosphere is structured into a hierarchy known as the food chain (all life is dependant on the first tier – mainly the primary producers that are capable of photosynthesis).
Energy and mass is transferred from one level of the food chain to the next.
Image is from the following website:
Bio means “life”, so this is the sphere of life.

16. What are Two Additional Spheres?
Cryosphere
Anthosphere
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
Man and his direct ancestors, hominids.
The human population, it’s buildings,dams, and other constructions.

17. What are Interconnected Spheres?
Earth System Science is the study of how the four spheres of the Earth system interact continually, each affecting the others.
Let’s look at a couple of examples of how a change in one system (or sphere) affects other Earth systems.
Spheres are closely connected
Changes are often chain reactions
A change in one sphere results in changes in others - called an event
Forest fire destroys plants in an area
Interactions between spheres
No plants => erosion
Soil in water => increased turbidity
Turbidity => impacts water plants/animals

18. System Interactions For each system interaction on the next 3 slides:
Draw the diagram
Label each bubble with the term inside the bubble
Include in the bubble the example of the term from the paragraph

19. System Interactions
Volcanoes (geosphere) erupt, sending ash and gases into the air (atmosphere) and sending lava and ash down onto surrounding forests (biosphere) and human habitations (biosphere).
Image is from the website:
Geosphere
Atmosphere
Biosphere

20. System Interactions
Hurricanes (atmosphere) sweep across the ocean (hydrosphere) and onto the land (geosphere), damaging the dwellings of people (biosphere) who live along the coast.
Hydrosphere
Image is from the website:
Atmosphere
Geosphere
Biosphere

21. System Interactions
Earthquakes (geosphere) can damage buildings which may kill people (biosphere), as well as cause fires which release gases into the air (atmosphere). Earthquakes in the ocean may cause a tsunami (hydrosphere) which can eventually hit land and kill both animals and people (biosphere).
Biosphere
Image is from the website:
Geosphere
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere