The Earth System
The Earth System The Earth is a system consisting of 4 major interacting components: Geosphere(lithosphere) Hydrosphere Atmosphere Biosphere
Earth System Cont.’d Physical, chemical, and biological processes act among the 4 components over time to continuously change Earth’s crust, oceans, atmosphere, and living things.
Geosphere (lithosphere) The geosphere represents the solid Earth. Consists of the crust, mantle, lithosphere, and core
The Hydrosphere Consists of the ice and liquid waters of oceans, lakes, streams, groundwater, and glaciers. Driven by the hydrologic cycle (water cycle)
The Water Cycle
The Atmosphere Consists of a thin layer of air surrounding Earth that acts as a blanket
The Biosphere The portion of Earth in which all known life forms exist. Life ranges from tiny bacteria to elephants Includes the land and sea
The Earth System: Review Consists of 4 components: These interact with each other and affect Earth’s surface and it’s organisms throughout time.