FOUR SUBSYSTEMS OF THE ONLY LIVING PLANET.ppt

THIS PRESENTATION WILL DECRIBE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOUR SUBSYTEMS OF THE EARTH

4. Terrarium

5. Earth as a Closed System
Closed system: exchange of energy but negligible
exchange of mass with surroundings

8. The Earth is a system consisting of four major
interacting components:
Geosphere: comprises the solid Earth and includes both
Earth’s surface and the various layers of the Earth's
interior.
Atmosphere: gaseous envelope that surrounds the Earth
and constitutes the transition between it and the vacuum
of space
Hydrosphere: includes all water on Earth (including
surface water and groundwater)
Biosphere: the life zone of the Earth and includes all
living organisms, and all organic matter that has not yet
decomposed.
Earth’s Four Spheres

9. The Atmosphere
It is the layers of gases surrounding a
planet or other celestial body.
Earth’s atmosphere is primarily composed of nitrogen (about
78%) and oxygen (about 21%). Other components exist in
small quantities.

10. The Atmosphere
The atmosphere reaches over 560 kilometers
(348 miles) up from the surface of the Earth.
The atmosphere is consists of five unique
layers (the troposphere, the stratosphere, the
mesosphere, the thermosphere, and the
exosphere).

11. Atmosphere
The troposphere is the
lowest layer of Earth's
atmosphere. It  contains 75%
of the total mass of the
planetary atmosphere. It is
the site of all weather on
Earth.
Stratosphere is the second
layer of the atmosphere as
you go upward.
Temperature in this layer
increases with height
(temperature inversion).
It is also the layer where
jets like to fly.
It is where we can find the
ozone layer.
The mesosphere is the
coldest atmospheric layer
surrounding the earth. It
becomes cold enough to
freeze water vapor in its
atmosphere into ice clouds.
Most meteors burn up when
they hit the mesosphere,
creating the streaks of light
we call shooting stars. 
The thermosphere absorbs the
sun's radiation, making it very
hot. It puts on a dazzling light
show (the auroras) cause by
colliding particles. It is also
where satellites orbit the Earth.
The exosphere is the uppermost region of Earth's atmosphere.
There is no air to breathe, and it's very cold.

12. Atmosphere
Interactions with other Earth System components
Hydrosphere: The gases of the atmosphere readily
exchange with those dissolved in water bodies (e.g.
oceans, lakes, etc.)
Biosphere: The atmosphere supplies oxygen and carbon
dioxide that form the basis of life processes
(photosynthesis and respiration).
Geosphere: Gases in the atmosphere react with water to
produce weak acids that aid in the breakdown of rock.

14. The Biosphere
The biosphere is the “life zone” of the Earth and
includes all living organisms (including humans) and all organic
matter that has not yet decomposed.
• The biosphere is structured into a hierarchy known as the food
chain (all life is dependent 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.

15. Biosphere
Interactions with other Earth System components
Atmosphere: Life processes involve a many chemical
reactions which either extract or emit gases to and from the
atmosphere (e.g. photosynthesis consumes carbon dioxide
and releases oxygen, whereas respiration does the
opposite).
Hydrosphere: Evaporation of water from leaf surfaces
(transpiration) transfers water to the atmosphere.
Geosphere: The biosphere is connected to the geosphere
through soils (mixtures of air, mineral matter, organic matter,
and water). Plant activity (e.g. root growth and organic acid
production) are also for the mechanical and chemical
breakdown of the rocks.

17. The Hydrosphere
The hydrosphere contains all the water
found on our planet.
• 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.

18. Atmosphere: Water is transferred between the
hydrosphere and biosphere by evaporation and
precipitation. Energy is also exchanged in this
process.
Biosphere: Water is necessary for the transport of
nutrients and waste products in organisms.
Geosphere: Water is the primary agent for the
chemical and mechanical breakdown of rock
(weathering), to form loose rock fragments and soil,
and sculpts the surface of the Earth.
Hydrosphere
Interactions with other Earth System components

20. The Geosphere
The geosphere is the solid
Earth that includes the
continental and ocean crust as well
the various layers of Earth’s
interior.
• 94% of the Earth is composed of
the elements oxygen, silicon, and
magnesium.
• The geosphere is not static
(unchanging), but its surface
(crust) is in a constant state of
motion.
• Mineral resources are mined
from the geosphere.

21. crust
mantle
core
lithosphere
asthenosphere
mesosphere
outer core
inner core
Composition
Physical Characteristics
Note: Lithosphere contains both crust and uppermost (brittle) layer of mantle
Primarily iron
and nickel
Primarily
silica plus
iron and
magnesium
Primarily silica
plus light
metallic
elements
liquid
solid
solid
brittle solid
solid (but
nearly
liquid)
Earth’s Layers: Composition and Mechanical Characteristics

22. Geosphere
Interactions with other Earth System components
Atmosphere: volcanism spews significant amounts of gases
into the atmosphere. For example, volcanoes inject large
amounts of sulfur dioxide to the upper atmosphere, resulting in
global cooling.
Hydrosphere: The formation of many minerals involve
incorporation or release of water. Also, water speeds up
chemical reactions that produce or destroy minerals, and aids
in the melting of rock.
Biosphere: Nutrients released from rocks during their
breakdown are dissolved in water (to be used by aquatic
plants).

24. Biosphere

27. Seatwork:
Give two examples of how the
Earth system’s four parts can
interact with each other.
Example: Animals (biosphere)
can wear paths in Earth’s surface
(geosphere).

28. Identify which two earth’s subsystems are
interacting for every situation.
1.Shifting winds cause major rainstorms, flooding streams, lakes, and rivers
2.Bacteria and algae convert nitrogen from the air into a form that is usable
by plants and animals
3.Water availability impacts plant growth and animals who depend on plants
for food
4.A volcano erupts adding carbon dioxide to the air
5.The remains of dead plants and animals can get buried under soil to form
coal and oil over long periods of time
6.Wind can carry seed to new places, so more plants can grow
7.Air temperature impacts the evaporation of lakes and stream
8.Water erodes the land bringing nutrients to lakes
9.Cloud cover impacts the temperature on land
10.Animals breath in carbon dioxide and breath out oxygen