What are the subsystems of the Earth?

The 4 spheres

Essential Questions

• What are the 4 spheres of the Earth?

• How do these spheres interact?

• What are the major cycles of the Earth?

• How do humans impact these cycles?

What are the 4 spheres of

the Earth?

The Geosphere

• The Geosphere contains all of the cold, hard solid land of the planet's crust (surface), the semi-solid land underneath the crust, and the liquid land near the center of the planet.

The Hydrosphere

• The hydrosphere contains all the solid, liquid, and gaseous water of the planet. It ranges from 10 to 20 kilometers in thickness. The hydrosphere extends from Earth's surface downward several kilometers into the lithosphere and upward about 12 kilometers into the atmosphere.

• Ninety-seven percent of Earth's water is salty.

The Biosphere

• The biosphere contains all the planet's living

things. This sphere includes all of the

microorganisms, plants, and animals of Earth.

• Within the biosphere, living things form

ecological communities based on the physical

surroundings of an area. These communities are

referred to as biomes. Deserts, grasslands, and

tropical rainforests are three of the many types

of biomes that exist within the biosphere.

The Atmosphere

• The atmosphere contains all the air in Earth's system.

• It extends from less than 1 m below the planet's surface to more than 10,000 km above the planet's surface.

• The upper portion of the atmosphere protects the organisms of the biosphere from the sun's ultraviolet radiation. It also absorbs and emits heat. When air temperature in the lower portion of this sphere changes, weather occurs. As air in the lower atmosphere is heated or cooled, it moves around the planet. The result can be as simple as a breeze or as complex as a tornado.

How do the 4 spheres interact?

Examples

• Humans (biosphere) built a dam out of rock materials (geosphere).

• Water in the lake (hydrosphere) seeps into the cliff walls behind the dam, becoming groundwater (geosphere), or evaporating into the air (atmosphere).

• Humans (biosphere) harness energy from the water (hydrosphere) by having it spin turbines (geosphere) to produce electricity.

Examples….

• With a partner, practice describing

interactions in this

scene, tracing the movement of

materials or energy through all four of

Earth's spheres if possible. Add this

to your portfolio.

Earth:

Matter does not come and go

Earth is a

closedsystem

to matter

So…matter is

constantly

recycled on Earth

Some Major Cycles of Matter

•Water Cycle

•Rock Cycle

•Chemical Cycles

•Carbon

•Nitrogen

•Phosphorous

•Sulfur

Water Cycle

Water Cycle

Atmosphere

HydrosphereGeosphere

Biosphere

Surface run-off

Transpiration

Precipitation

Evaporation

Atmosphere

Precipitation

Evaporation

Biogeochemical Cycles:

Atmosphere

HydrosphereGeosphere

Biosphere

Atmosphere

Carbon Cycle

Atmosphere

Hydrosphere

Biosphere

Photosynthesis

Respiration& DecayAtmosphere

Geosphere

Carbon Transfer:

Biosphere Atmosphere

Photosynthesis (Atmosphere to Biosphere)

Carbon Dioxide + Water + Sunlight --> Sugar + Oxygen

Respiration (Biosphere to Atmosphere)

Sugar + Oxygen --> Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy

Carbon Cycle

Atmosphere

Hydrosphere

Biosphere

Photosynthesis

Respiration& Decay

Burial &

Lithification

Weathering

& Volcanism

Dissolution

Photosynthesis

Burial &

Lithification

Exsolution

Atmosphere

Geosphere

Carbon Cycle

Atmosphere

Hydrosphere

Biosphere

HumanImpacts

Burning fossil fuels:

Increased combustion

Deforestation:

Decrease Photosynthesis

Increase Respiration

Net Effect:Increase in Carbon

in Atmosphere

Atmosphere

Geosphere

Nitrogen Cycle

Atmosphere

Hydrosphere

Biosphere

Nitrogen fixation:

• bacteria

• lightning

Waste &

Decomposition

Denitification:

bacteria

Erosion

Absorption

Atmosphere

Geosphere

Nitrogen Cycle

Atmosphere

Hydrosphere

Biosphere

Nitrogen fixation:

• industrial (fertilizer)

• combustion

Increased Erosion

HumanImpacts

Net Effect:Increase in Nitrogen

in water & soil

Atmosphere

Geosphere

Phosphorous Cycle

Atmosphere

Hydrosphere

Biosphere

Never enters the atmosphere

Waste &

Decomposition

Weathering & Erosion

Absorption

SedimentationAbsorption

Atmosphere

Geosphere

Phosphorous Cycle

Hydrosphere

Biosphere

Mining, use (fertilizer, detergent, etc.)

& increased runoff

HumanImpacts

Net Effect:Increase in phosphorous in water &

“algal blooms”; Depletion in soils

More Phos. for organisms

Atmosphere

Geosphere

Sulfur Cycle

Atmosphere

Hydrosphere

Biosphere

Waste &

Decomposition

Deep Sea Vents

Absorption

Absorption

Volcanoes

& WeatheringPrecipitation

“Evaporation”

Sedimentation

Weathering

Bacteria

Release

Bacteria

Absorption

Atmosphere

Geosphere

Sulfur Cycle

Atmosphere

Hydrosphere

Biosphere

Burning

Fossil Fuels

Precipitation”

Acid Rain

HumanImpacts

Net Effect:Increase in

atmosphere

(health effects) and

acid rain

Atmosphere

Geosphere