1. Spheres of system Earth

2. Understanding How Our Planet Works The first step to understanding how our planet works is to think about our planet as a SYSTEM. The first step to understanding how our planet works is to think about our planet as a SYSTEM. Earth System Science (ESS) is the study of the parts of the Earth and how they work together (their interactions). ESS is a new science, established in 1987. Earth System Science (ESS) is the study of the parts of the Earth and how they work together (their interactions). ESS is a new science, established in 1987.

3. In the past we thought about the Earth as many separate places.... land, ocean, sky, ice caps... and separate things, such as people, animals, plants. In the past we thought about the Earth as many separate places.... land, ocean, sky, ice caps... and separate things, such as people, animals, plants. Now we are discovering how Earth works as a whole system. Now we are discovering how Earth works as a whole system.

4. Earth is MORE than round. Earth is whole: Earth is MORE than round. Earth is whole: –its features and living organisms are interconnected. –its features and living organisms are interconnected. –The clouds, oceans, mountains, volcanoes, plants, bacteria, people and animals all work together and have important roles in how our planet works. –The clouds, oceans, mountains, volcanoes, plants, bacteria, people and animals all work together and have important roles in how our planet works.

5. The 6 interconnected spheres of earth The lithosphere The lithosphere The hydrosphere The hydrosphere The cryosphere The cryosphere The atmosphere The atmosphere The biosphere The biosphere The anthrosphere The anthrosphere

6. The lithosphere - rocks The Earth's solid surface The Earth's solid surface It includes: It includes: –continental crust –oceanic crust –various layers of the Earth's interior.

7. The hydrosphere The sphere which includes all of the water on Earth. The sphere which includes all of the water on Earth. 71% of the Earth is covered by water and only 29% is solid land. 71% of the Earth is covered by water and only 29% is solid land.

8. The Cryosphere part of the Earth's surface where water is in a solid form, usually as snow or ice, and includes glaciers, ice shelves, snow, icebergs, and snow fields. part of the Earth's surface where water is in a solid form, usually as snow or ice, and includes glaciers, ice shelves, snow, icebergs, and snow fields.

9. The atmosphere The atmosphere is a gaseous layer that surrounds the Earth. The atmosphere is a gaseous layer that surrounds the Earth. The atmosphere consists of a mixture of gases composed primarily of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. The atmosphere consists of a mixture of gases composed primarily of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor.

10. The Biosphere The biosphere is all life on earth, including man, and all organisms (both plants and animals ). The biosphere is all life on earth, including man, and all organisms (both plants and animals ). The life zone on our planet is unique.... it makes our planet different from the other 7 planets in the solar system. The life zone on our planet is unique.... it makes our planet different from the other 7 planets in the solar system.

11. The Anthrosphere Humans and our constructions make up the anthrosphere. Humans and our constructions make up the anthrosphere. It includes: It includes: –human population –our cities –bridges –dams and roads - everything we build

12. How are these spheres connected? These spheres are closely connected in many ways. These spheres are closely connected in many ways. –For example, many birds (biosphere) fly through the air (atmosphere), while water (hydrosphere) often flows through the soil (lithosphere). –In fact, the spheres are so closely connected that a change in one sphere often results in a change in one or more of the other spheres.

14. Warm water from the ocean evaporates until the atmosphere above can hold no more. Warm water from the ocean evaporates until the atmosphere above can hold no more. The wind (atmosphere) moves the moisture (water vapor) over a colder part of the ocean. The wind (atmosphere) moves the moisture (water vapor) over a colder part of the ocean. The atmosphere becomes cold and the water vapor changes to rain. The atmosphere becomes cold and the water vapor changes to rain. The rain falls on the ocean and some islands in that area get heavy rain too. The rain falls on the ocean and some islands in that area get heavy rain too. Hydrosphere   atmosphere interactions