Earth Systems Overview

The Earth is a system consisting of four

major interacting components:

• the atmosphere,
• the biosphere,
• the hydrosphere, and
• the geosphere

Let’s examine each of these four

spheres in detail………
 Earth Systems Overview
TEK: Define and identify the components
of the geosphere, hydrosphere,
cryosphere, atmosphere and biosphere
and the interactions among them
(cycles).
 The Atmosphere
The Earth is surrounded by a blanket
of air, which we call the atmosphere.
• The atmosphere consists of four
unique layers (the troposphere, the
stratosphere, the mesosphere, and
the thermosphere).
• The atmosphere reaches over 350
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.
 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 a
food chain.
• Energy and nutrients, like carbon, are transferred from
one level of the food chain to the next.
 Hydrosphere
The hydrosphere contains all the water
found on our planet.
• Surface Water: Includes the ocean as well
as water from lakes, rivers and creeks.
• Ground Water: Includes water trapped in
the soil and groundwater.
• Atmosphere: water vapor.
• Frozen water: Includes ice caps and
glaciers. Specifically called the cryosphere.
• 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.
(0.9% in liquid form)
 Geosphere
The geosphere is the solid
part of the earth, from the
core to the surface.
• Includes volcanoes, rocks,
minerals, coal, oil etc.
•Mineral resources are mined
from the geosphere.
 Earth System Science
Earth System Science
is the study of how the
four spheres of the Earth
system interact
continually, each
affecting the others.

Example: A scientist
that studies global
warming is an Earth
System Scientist.
 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).

Geosphere

Atmosphere Biosphere
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tesqNIXwamQ
 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

Geosphere Atmosphere

Hydrosphere
 System Interactions
Hurricane?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrxZ_Uq
QKyI Human Impact on Earth’s Systems

Biosphere

Geosphere Atmosphere

Hydrosphere
 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

Atmosphere Geosphere

Biosphere
 CFA
1. Name the four main earth systems.
Atmosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere and
Geosphere

2. Which branch of science studies the

interactions between these earth systems?
Enviromental Science: Example is a scientist that
studies global warming.

3. A forest fire would effect which earth

systems?
All four: Fires (Biosphere) will destroy plant and animal life
while releasing smoke and other contaminants into the
atmosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere.
 What Makes a World Habitable?
Use this table to identify the factors (and the appropriate levels) that will enable you to design your habitable worlds.
Factors that make a
Not Enough of the Factor Just Right Too Much of the Factor Situation in the Solar System
Planet Habitable
o
Low temperatures cause chemicals At about 125 C, protein and
Temperature Life seems limited to a Surface: Only Earth’s surface is in
to react slowly, which interferes o carbohydrate molecules and
temperature range of minus 15 C this temperature range.
Influences how quickly with the reactions necessary for o
to 115 C. In this range, liquid
genetic material (e.g., DNA and
Sub-surface: The interior of the
atoms & molecules life. Also low temperatures freeze RNA) start to break apart. Also,
water can still exist under certain solid planets & moons may be in
move water, making liquid water high temperatures quickly
conditions. this temperature range.
unavailable. evaporate water.
Surface: Only Earth’s surface has
water, though Mars once had
surface water and still has water ice
Water in its polar ice caps. Saturn’s moon,
Water is regularly available. Life Too much water is not a
The chemicals a cell needs for Titan, seems to be covered with
Dissolves & transports energy & growth are not dissolved can go dormant between wet problem, as long as it is not so
liquid methane.
chemicals within and to or transported to the cell periods, but, eventually, water toxic that it interferes with the
Sub-surface: Mars & some moons
and from a cell needs to be available. chemistry of life
have deposits of underground ice,
which might melt to produce water.
Europa, has a vast oceans beneath
its outer shell if ice.
Atmosphere Small planets and moons have Earth & Venus are the right size to Venus’s atmosphere is 100 times Of the solid planets & moons, only
Traps heat, shields the
insufficient gravity to hold an hold a sufficient-sized atmosphere. thicker than Earth’s. It is made Earth, Venus, & Titan have
surface from harmful
atmosphere. The gas molecules Earth’s atmosphere is about 100 almost entirely of greenhouse significant atmospheres. Mars’
radiation, and provides th
escape to space, leaving the planet miles thick. It keeps the surface gasses, making the surface too atmosphere is about 1/100 that of
chemicals needed for
or moon without an insulating warm & protects it from radiation & hot for life. The four giant planets Earth’s, too small for significant
life, such as nitrogen
blanket or a protective shield. small- to medium-sized meteorites. are completely made of gas. insulation or shielding.
and carbon dioxide.
Energy Light energy is a problem if it Surface: The inner planets get too
When there is too little sunlight or With a steady input of either light
makes a planet too hot or if there much sunlight for life. The outer
Organisms use light or too few of the chemicals that or chemical energy, cells can run
are too many harmful rays, such planets get too little.
chemical energy to run provide energy to cells, such as iron the chemical reactions necessary
as ultraviolet. Too many energy- Sub-surface: Most solid planets &
their life processes. or sulfur, organisms die. for life.
rich chemicals is not a problem moons have energy-rich chemicals.
Without chemicals to make proteins Surface: Earth has a water cycle,
Too many nutrients are not a
& carbohydrates, organisms cannot All solid planets & moons have the an atmosphere, and volcanoes to
problem. However, too active a
Nutrients grow. Planets without systems to same general chemical makeup, so circulate nutrients. Venus, Titan, Io,
circulation system, such as the
deliver nutrients to its organisms nutrients are present. Those with a and Mars have nutrients and ways
Used to build and constant volcanism on Jupiter’s
(e.g., a water cycle or volcanic water cycle or volcanic activity can to circulate them to organisms.
maintain an organism’s activity) cannot support life. Also, moon, Io, or the churning
transport and replenish the Sub-surface: Any planet or moon
body. atmospheres of the gas planets,
when nutrients are spread so thin chemicals required by living with sub-surface water or molten
interferes with an organism’s
that they are hard to obtain, such organisms. rock can circulate and replenish
ability to get enough nutrients.
as on a gas planet, life cannot exist. nutrients for organisms.