1. Earth as a System

2. A. What Is A System?
1. Earth is a system…the interaction between matter, energy, and life.
2. Made of interacting components
a. Atmosphere
b. Biosphere
c. Hydrosphere
d. Geosphere
e. Cryosphere

3. Two Types of Systems
Closed System: Energy may enter and leave, but matter does not. (examples?)
Open System: System and its surroundings freely exchange both matter and energy. (examples?)

4. Past Perceptions of Earth
Studied as a collection of parts.
Was studied from the surface.

5. 20th Century Lead to New Understandings
Earth has interacting spheres that affect one-another. Affect one, affect them all.
Understanding came about because of environmental incidents. (ozone depletion, oil spills, cutting down the rain forest, etc.)
Technology has allowed us to see Earth from a different perspective.
New perspective.

6. Technology
Computers & software allow for modeling and interpretation of data
GIS
Discovery
And to see Earth from a different perspective.

7. Powerful computer programs called GIS (Geographic Information Systems) help scientists organize, layer and interpret huge amounts of data in order to study how the Earth changes over time.

8. Earth Systems Science studies the flow of matter and energy in and out of the Earth’s open systems, or Spheres.

9. Interaction of the Spheres
Earth

10. System Interactions
Volcanoes (geosphere) erupt, sending ash and gases into the air (atmosphere) clouds of ash fall to earth and replenishes soil nutrients which help plants grow (biosphere) other organisms that feed on those plants also thrive. (biosphere). Main gas that comes from volcanic eruptions is water vapor, steam, (hydrosphere) enters the atmosphere and becomes part of the water cycle (hydrosphere).
Image is from the website:
Geosphere
Biosphere
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere

11. System Interactions
Hurricanes (atmosphere) feed by warm oceans (hydrosphere) sweep across the water and onto the land (geosphere), damaging the dwellings of people and displacing animals (biosphere) who live along the coast. Large amounts of Precipitation replenishes lakes and streams(Hydrosphere).
Image is from the website:
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
Atmosphere
Geosphere

12. Atmosphere Atmo – Means vapor Gaseous envelope Mixture of Gases
Nitrogen, Oxygen, CO2, Argon, Water vapor.
Allows life (O2 CO2)
Protects from UV (O3)
Water vapor drives weather systems.
CO2 regulates temperature
Original atmosphere:CO2, H2O, S
90% of all gases in first 16 km of the atmosphere.

13. Geosphere Geo- Means Earth
Physical Features, (mountains, rocks, beaches, ocean floor)
7-70 km thick
Composition: Al, K, Ca, Fe, Mg, silicates
Density: g/cm3
Age: 4by-180my

14. Hydrosphere Oceans cover 71% of surface, 97% of all water.
Avg. depth 3,800 m.
3% is fresh water but 70% is frozen (CRYOSPHERE) and 20% is ground & surface water
½ of 1% is useable fresh water
Formed from degassing and comet impact
All water is recycled (closed system)

15. Biosphere
All living things of the planet; protozoa-fish- plants-people.
Interactions of the spheres allow for conditions to support life.
Human impact has changed & altered the other spheres.
Extremophiles

16. Extremophiles Thermophiles Halophiles Black Smokers
Morning Glory Pool, Yellowstone, MT
Great Salt Lake, UT
Juan De Fuca Ridge, Pacific Ocean

17. What Do You Know? What are Earth’s subsystems?
How do satellites help us understand the Earth as a system?
How does the Sun’s energy affect the oceans, atmosphere and life on Earth?
What is the role of the atmosphere and oceans on the average temperature of the Earth?
How is the Earth changing and what are the consequences for life on Earth?

18. Spheres of the Earth Lab/Project

19. THE END