Biosphere  Bio = Life  Contains ALL living organisms  Smallest to largest, on land or in water

Lithosphere  Litho = stone  A.K.A. Geosphere  All layers of the Earth (Crust, Mantle, Core)

Hydrosphere  Hydro = water  ALL water (below ground, on land, in sky)  Can be solid, liquid, or a gas

Atmosphere  Atmo = air/vapor  All gases found in ground and above the Earth’s surface

Sphere Interactions  Spheres are always interacting with each other  A change in one sphere can cause an effect in another sphere  Ex: A lake (hydrosphere) dries up causing all the aquatic life (biosphere) to die.

 The continuous movement of water between the Earth’s 4 spheres. Water Cycle

Convection  Circulation of gases or liquids due to thermal energy

Evaporation  Occurs when liquid water absorbs thermal energy  Liquid changes to gas

Condensation  occurs when water vapor loses thermal energy  changes from a gas to a liquid

Precipitation  Rain, hail, sleet, snow

Runoff  Water on the surface  Collects in lakes, rivers, oceans

Infiltration  Water that is absorbed into the ground  Collects in the water table (groundwater)

 Transpiration  Evaporation that plants perform during photosynthesis