Module 1 Earth Subsystems

What is Earth?
Earth, otherwise known as the world,

is the third planet from the Sun and the
only object in the Universe known to
harbor life. It is the densest planet in
the Solar System and the largest of the
four terrestrial planets.
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What makes Earth unique?
✘ the existence of water at the Earth’s surface - neither too much nor
too little - that is in liquid form.
✘ proximity to the sun - neither too much heat nor too little.
✘ system of plate tectonics that enables the carbon-silicate cycle
regulating temperature.
✘ the right size - large enough to hang on to its atmosphere, but not
so large to hold on to too much atmosphere and consequently too
much heat.
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What makes Earth unique?
✘ its protection by “big brother Jupiter,” whose gravity helps divert
and vacuum up incoming debris and keep Earth safe.
✘ the only moon and its stabilizing effect on our planetary rotation,
which prevents the poles from shifting unexpectedly.
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What makes Earth capable of supporting life?
1. Water – is an excellent solvent, capable
of dissolving many substances, 70% of
Earth’s surface is covered by water.
Firstly, it is the only substance on Earth that
is in liquid form at the temperatures
commonly found on the Surface of our
planet.
Secondly, it is a superb solvent, meaning that other substances regularly and easily
dissolve into it. This allows water to carry nutrients to cells, and carry waste away
from them.
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2. Plate Tectonics – is vital for a world to
host life — that is, a planet whose shell
is broken up into plates that constantly
move around.
Plates cover the entire Earth, and their
boundaries play an important role in geologic
happenings. The movement of these plates
atop a thick, fluid "mantle" is known as plate
tectonics and is the source of earthquakes and
volcanoes.
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3. Atmosphere – contains 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% argon. It blocks
some of the Sun's dangerous rays from reaching Earth. It traps heat, making
Earth a comfortable temperature. And the oxygen within our atmosphere is
essential for life.
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EARTH
SUBSYTEMS
The Earth is a system consisting of four major interacting
components:
 The atmosphere,
 The biosphere,
 The hydrosphere, and
 The geosphere.
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ATMOSPHERE
• Atmos means “Vapor” and Sphaira
which means “Ball or sphere”.
• The Earth is surrounded by a blanket of
air, which is the atmosphere.
• The atmosphere consists of four unique
layers:
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Troposphere
 The troposphere which is the lowest region of the atmosphere.
The troposphere is important because it is where weather occurs.
The troposphere provides oxygen that we can breathe, keeps
Earth at a livable temperature, and allows for weather to occur,
making it a very important part of the atmosphere.
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Stratosphere
 Above the troposphere and below the mesosphere, we have the
stratosphere. The stratosphere is where you'll find the very
important ozone layer. The ozone layer helps protect us from
ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the sun. In fact, the ozone layer
absorbs most of the UV radiation the sun sends to us.
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Mesosphere
 The mesosphere is very important for earth's protection. The
mesosphere burns up most meteors and asteroids before they are
able to reach the earth's surface.
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Thermosphere
 The thermosphere is the layer in the Earth's atmosphere directly
above the mesosphere and below the exosphere. Within this layer
of the atmosphere, ultraviolet radiation causes
photoionization/photodissociation of molecules, creating ions; the
thermosphere thus constitutes the larger part of the ionosphere.
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Exosphere
 Its functions to act as a transitional medium to a zone under the influence of
gravity. It also helps the atoms to escape from the atmosphere to outer space.
 Unlike other atmospheric layers, it is the only layer of the atmosphere that has
a definite shape.
 The molecules and gases in the Exosphere are available in a limited quantity.
Also, these gaseous molecules are distant from each other. They travel at quite
a high speed, and it is the reason they face minimum or negligible or minimum
collisions.
 It is much farther away from Earth than anybody can imagine, and thus there
can be no chance of meteorological phenomenon.
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HYDROSPHERE
Hydrosphere
 Hydro means “water”
 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. Also called the
cryosphere.
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GEOSPHERE
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.
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BIOSPHERE
Biosphere
 Bio means “life”.
 The biosphere is the “zone of life” 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.
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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 erupt, sending ash and gases into the air and sending lava
and ash down onto surrounding forests and human habitations.
Geosphere
Atmosphere Biosphere
System Interactions
Hurricanes sweep across the ocean and onto the land, damaging the
dwellings of people who live along the coast.
Hydrosphere
Atmosphere Geosphere
Biosphere
System Interactions
Earthquakes can damage buildings which may kill people, as well as

cause fires which release gases into the air. Earthquakes in the ocean
may cause a tsunami which can eventually hit land and kill both
animals and people.
Biosphere
Geosphere Atmosphere
Hydrosphere

Module 1 Earth Subsystems

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Module 1 Earth Subsystems

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What is Earth?

Earth, otherwise known as the world,

 Earth System Science is the

Earthquakes can damage buildings which may kill people, as well as

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