1. EARTH SYSTEMS

2. MATTER Everything in the universe is made of matter
Matter is anything that has mass and volume – anything that takes up space
All matter is composed of elements

3. MATTER
An element is a substance that cannot be broken down into a simpler substance
Gold is an example of an element - Au
Water is not. Water can be broken down into both hydrogen (H) and Oxygen (O) – H2O

4. STATES OF MATTER All matter in the universe exists in one of 4 forms:
Solid (slow moving particles, definite shape)
Liquid (Particles move quicker, shape takes on that of the container the liquid is in)
Gas (Fast moving particles, freely moving/flowing to fill container)
Plasma (extremely hot, ionized gas – most abundant form of matter in universe)

5. LAW OF CONSERVATION OF MATTER
The Law of Conservation of Matter states that matter can neither be created or destroyed.
Matter can change the state it’s in, however, it is still matter

6. CLOSED SYSTEM The earth is said to be a closed system
This means that all the matter on earth stays on earth, it just may move about in different forms (solid, liquid, gas, plasma)
This is true unless matter enters or exists earth through the atmosphere

7. MATTER All matter on earth cycles through four different systems
Hydrosphere
Geosphere/Lithosphere
Atmosphere
Biosphere
At any given point in time, all matter that has ever existed on earth can be found in one of these four systems

8. HYDROSPHERE
All water on earth whether in the atmosphere, oceans, ground makes up the hydrosphere
Water cycles throughout this sphere via the water cycle

9. HYDROSPHERE Water exists in three states on earth
Solid (ice – glaciers)
Liquid (water – oceans, rivers, lakes)
Gas (vapor – atmosphere)
The majority of water on earth (~97% is found in the oceans)

10. GEOSPHERE
Earth’s solid portion is know as the geosphere or lithosphere
The earth’s geosphere is divided into three portions
Crust
Mantle
core

11. GEOSPHERE – CRUST
Earth’s uppermost layer is called the crust or lithosphere
Continental Crust
0-40 km
Less dense than oceanic crust
Oceanic Crust
0-10 km
Denser than continental crust

12. GEOSPHERE - MANTLE Beneath the earth’s crust is the mantle
Area of molten rock – extremely hot (100oC – 4000oC)
Makes up about 83% of earth’s volume

13. GEOSPHERE - CORE
The earth’s core is divided into two layers – the inner core and the outer core
Inner Core
Believed to be solid iron
Extremely hot and dense
Outer Core
Fluid
Not as hot as inner core

14. ATMOSPHERE
The blanket of gases that surrounds the earth is called the atmosphere
The atmosphere extends approximately 700 km – exchange of matter may take place here

15. ATMOSPHERE
The earth’s atmosphere is composed mainly of nitrogen – oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, and water vapor occur in smaller amounts
The atmosphere provides a protective barrier around earth, shielding us from space debris and keeping our temperature within a habitable range.

16. BIOSPHERE The biosphere includes all of earth’s living organisms
Most of the organisms live within a few meters of earth’s surface
Organisms in the biosphere depend on interactions with at least one other earth system

17. SYSTEM INTERACTIONS
All four of earth’s systems exist interdependent on one another
When one of the four systems change, it impacts the other systems

18. SYSTEM INTERACTIONS
For example: earth’s early atmosphere was directly impacted by volcanic activity (geosphere).
Volcanoes emitted gases that greatly shaped earth’s early atmosphere

19. SYSTEM INTERACTIONS ATMOSPHERE HYDROSPHERE BIOSPHERE GEOSPHERE
Interaction among various air masses
Surface currents driven by wind evaporation
Gases for respiration
Dispersal of seeds
Weathering by wind
Input of water vapor and stored solar heat
Water Cycle
Water for life
Precipitation
Weathering and Erosion
Gases from respiration
Removal of dissolved materials by organisms
Global Ecosystems
Food Cycles
Weathering and erosion
Soil formation
Input of stored solar heat
Landscapes affect air movement
Source of solid and dissolved materials
Source of mineral nutrients
Modification of ecosystems
Plate tectonics

20. EXAMPLES OF CHANGES
Talk with the person next to you – come up with at least one example of how changing one earth system affects another earth system
DDT, radon, greenhouse gases, deforestation, landfills

21. CITATIONS
What's Inside the Earth?: An Introduction to the Earth's Interior, Crust, and Mineral Resources. Rainbow Educational Media unitedstreaming. 27 July 2007 <
Wicander, Reed and Monroe, James S., Essentials of Geology: 4th Edition, Thompson Learning, Inc. 2006