Lesson 1

What is Earth? A group of systems made of different materials that work in different ways Air, Water, Land, Life Biosphere – the system that contains all living things Atmosphere – the mixture of gases that forms a thin layer around Earth Hydrosphere – the system containing all Earth’s water ___________

How much water? 1.3 billion cubic kilometers Ocean – largest bodies of water with lots of dissolved minerals, salt water, 97% Freshwater – 3% of Earth’s water; 79% of which is frozen and 20% is in the ground Surface water – 87% lakes; 2% rivers ______________________

More spheres Groundwater – water stored in cracks and pores beneath Earth’s surface Cryosphere – the frozen portion of water on Earth’s surface Geosphere – the solid part of Earth; rock and soil Minerals – naturally occurring, inorganic solids that have crystal structures and definite chemical compositions Rock – a naturally occurring solid composed of minerals and sometimes other materials such as organic matter ________________________

Earths’ Structure Crust Mantle Core

Lesson 2

Water Cycle the continuous movement of water on, above, and below Earth’s surface Evaporation – the process by which a liquid, such as water, changes into a gas Transpiration – the process by which plants release water vapor through their leaves Condensation – the process by which a gas changes into a liquid Precipitation – moisture that falls from clouds to Earth’s surface 75% of precipitation falls into the ocean

Review Weather – the state of the atmosphere at a certain time and place Temperature, pressure, wind, humidity, clouds Influenced by conditions in the geosphere and hydrosphere Climate – the average weather pattern for a region over a long period of time

Rock cycle the series of processes that transport and continually change rocks into different forms Cooling and crystallization Magma Uplift – the process that moves large bodies of Earth materials to higher elevations

Rock Cycle (cont) Weathering and erosion Deposition Compaction and cementation High temperatures and pressure Process – a natural phenomenon marked by gradual changes that lead toward a particular result