Unit 2 – Earth Systems Unit 2 – Earth Systems By: Table 2

E.Q. HOW DOES EACH SYSTEM AFFECT HUMAN LIFE?

BIOSPHERE The biosphere is the sphere that encompasses all life on Earth, so it's quite clear what impact it has on human life -- without the biosphere, we would not be alive.

HYDROSPHERE The hydrosphere is the sphere that encompasses all water on Earth. The hydrosphere is where we get the water cycle (hydrologic cycle) from. Water can change states among liquid, vapor, and ice (cryosphere) at various places in the water cycle. Without the hydrosphere, we would all die from dehydration.

GEOSPHERE The geosphere is the solid portion of the earth. It supplies all of the raw materials that we need to build up our bodies. This sphere also gives us something to walk on. Without the geosphere, there wouldn’t even be a planet since Earth itself is made up of a mantle, and inner and outer core.

ATMOSPHERE The atmosphere protects us from dangerous radiation from the sun. This sphere also keeps us warm. It gives us weather. It protects us from objects coming toward the earth from outer space. It gives us air to breathe.

CONCLUSION Overall, all 4 spheres need each other in order for the Earth to work the way it does. Without one sphere working properly, the Earth suffers. We, as humans, all need each sphere to be working!

HOW DOES EARTH’S SYSTEMS AFFECT LIFE ON EARTH?

WHEN ONE OF EARTH’S SYSTEMS UNDERGOES A CHANGE OR EXPERIENCES A CATASTROPHIC EVENT, IT AFFECTS ALL OTHER SYSTEMS OF THE EARTH. Ex: When a volcano erupts it is an interaction of all of Earth‘s systems. Magma and ash from the geosphere devastates the wildlife and vegetation which is the biosphere. The volcano also releases large amounts of CO 2 and ash into the atmosphere. If the volcano is near water, it affects the hydrosphere too.

EARTH’S SYSTEMS INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER DUE TO THEIR INTERDEPENDENCE ON ONE ANOTHER. The biosphere needs water from the hydrosphere, and oxygen from the atmosphere, to survive.

THE ATMOSPHERE RECEIVES GASSES FROM THE BIOSPHERE AND WATER FROM THE HYDROSPHERE.

THE GEOSPHERE GIVES MINERALS TO THE BIOSPHERE, ATMOSPHERE, AND THE HYDROSPHERE. HUMANS, AS PART OF THE BIOSPHERE, ALSO HARNESS FORCES OF THE HYDROSPHERE (LIKE RIVERS) FOR POWER.

THE HYDROSPHERE, AND THE ATMOSPHERE SHAPE THE GEOSPHERE THROUGH THE WEATHERING OF ROCKS AND SOIL.

THE ATMOSPHERE IS WHERE WEATHER OCCURS. THE ATMOSPHERE DETERMINES THE CLIMATE FOR A REGION, WHICH AFFECTS THE BIOSPHERE BY DETERMINING WHERE PLANTS AND ANIMALS CAN LIVE, AND THE GEOSPHERE THROUGH WEATHERING.

MY EQ! How does the Atmosphere interact with all of the other spheres?

INTRODUCTION The subsystems of the Earth interact with one another in all things. Every process happens from the smallest of sizes to the largest of sizes, and on time scales that range from milliseconds to billions of years.

THE LAYERS, (WITH EMPHASIS ON : THE ATMOSPHERE) Geosphere - consists of the core, mantle and crust of the Earth. Atmosphere - contains all of the Earth’s air and is divided into troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and ionosphere. Hydrosphere - contains all of the solid, liquid and gaseous water on Earth, Biosphere - is the collection of all Earth’s life forms.

Our atmosphere is a weird place. LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!

OUR ATMOSPHERE Obviously, everyone has to breathe. We need oxygen to keep our bodies working. Just try holding your breath for a few seconds and see what happens. People are not the only ones who need oxygen; all kinds of animals need it too. Without the atmosphere, we would all quickly die. The atmosphere of Earth also protects us and all living things on the earth from dangerous radiation from the sun.

These are the 5 Layers of the Atmosphere! Well, only 4 are shown so far.. But, the Exosphere will be brought up in the last slide!

Here is the Troposphere!

Next, is the Stratosphere!

Here comes the Mesosphere!

Welcome to the Thermosphere!

EXOSPHERE And now, lastly is the Exosphere!

HOW DO THE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS OF THE EARTH INTERACT AND AFFECT ONE ANOTHER? E.Q.

WHAT ARE EARTH SYSTEMS? Well, Earth is divided into 5 different systems. Cryosphere, Biosphere, Geosphere, Atmosphere, and Hydrosphere. Earth’s systems have a wide range of different climates and conditions! For example, the Cryosphere is very cold, and the Geosphere is quite rocky. All of these systems interact (Interaction) with one another. The biggest system is the Geosphere.

CRYOSPHERE The term “Cryosphere” comes from the Greek word, “krios” which means cold. People who study the Cryosphere are called Snow Hydrologists. Snow Hydrology is a branch of Hydrology, which studies the composition, dispersion, and movement of snow and ice.

HYDROSPHERE The hydrosphere includes all of Earth’s water. Oceans, seas, lakes, ponds, rivers and streams are all a part of the Hydrosphere. The hydrosphere covers about 70% of the surface of the Earth, and is the home for many plants and animals.

GEOSPHERE The Geosphere goes through many cycles which makes up our geosphere as we see it today. Cycles - a series of events that are regularly repeated in the same order. People who study the Geosphere are called Geodesiologists.

BIOSPHERE AND ATMOSPHERE Both of these go together since the Biosphere needs the Atmosphere. Not saying they don’t need the others, but without an Atmosphere there would be no ecosystem as we see it today. The term “ biosphere” was coined by geologist Eduard Suess in 1875, People who study the atmosphere are known as Climatologists, Climatology - study of climate over long-term trends in global weather A Climatologist would most likely be the one studying the Atmosphere.