1. Earth’s Spheres

2. Spheres of Function Earth can be divided into spheres that are defined according to their location and function

4. The Geosphere Rocks and minerals on and below Earth’s surface: Crust: Thin, cool, rocky outer “skin” Mantle: Very hot and mostly solid Core: Outer core is molten metal, inner core is solid metal Rock formation, Ouray National Wildlife Refuge, Utah

5. Lithosphere: Part of the geosphere, it includes the crust and uppermost mantle

6. The Biosphere The part of Earth in which living and nonliving things interact

7. Atmosphere Contains the gases that organisms need, such as oxygen; keeps Earth warm enough to support life Earth’s atmosphere, seen from space

8. The Hydrosphere Consists of Earth’s water Most of Earth’s water (97.5%) is salt water. Only 0.5% of Earth’s water is unfrozen fresh water usable for drinking or irrigation. Earth’s available fresh water includes surface water and ground water Did You Know? If it is depleted, groundwater can take hundreds or even thousands of years to recharge completely. Greenlaw Brook, Limestone, Maine

9. The Water Cycle

10. How do Earth’s spheres interact? Matter moves between earth’s spheres Give examples Energy moves between spheres Give examples

11. Name Earth’s 4 major spheres. Which sphere includes groundwater? Which sphere includes the soil? Which sphere are you part of?