The document discusses the four main spheres that make up Earth's systems - the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. It describes each sphere and how they interact with each other. The lithosphere is the solid rocky parts of Earth. The hydrosphere contains Earth's water. The atmosphere is the envelope of air surrounding Earth. The biosphere contains all of Earth's living things. Together, these four spheres interact to form complex Earth systems that sustain life.

1. Spheres of Earth

2. What is Earth?
The earth is the 3rd planet from the sun between
Venus and Mars. The earth is made up of several
unique properties, characteristics, composition
and they all affect the processes of the earth
differently.
Every of these properties and elements in Earth’s
system are largely categorized into one of the f
major subsystems including water, living things,
land, and the air. These are regarded as the four
interlocking “wonders” that create the earth’s
diversity. Cumulatively, they are primarily grouped
into biological (living things) and physical (non-
living things).

3.  These four “wonders” of the earth are
dependent upon each other and have been
used to make the study of biological and
physical components of the earth.
 They are scientifically called the biophysical
elements,
which names are:
1. hydrosphere
2. biosphere
3. Lithosphere
and
4. Atmosphere.
 These spheres are further divided into
various sub-spheres.

4. Earth can be divided into spheres that are
defined according to their location and function.
Earth
• Solid = lithosphere
• Liquid =
hydrosphere
• Gas = Atmosphere

5. The
Atmosphere
The Earth is surrounded by a
blanket of air, which we call
the atmosphere.
•The atmosphere reaches over
560 kilometers (348 miles) up
from the surface of the Earth.
• The atmosphere is primarily
composed of nitrogen (about
78%) and oxygen (about
21%). Other components
exist in small quantities.

6.  The atmosphere consists of four unique
layers (the troposphere, the stratosphere,
the mesosphere, and the thermosphere).
 These atmospheric layers exhibit different chemical
compositions and temperatures, and the temperatures
and chemical compositions widely vary within the different
layers.
 The troposphere is where most of the weather happens
and it becomes colder with altitude. The air is in constant
motion around the planet and it is normally responsible for
some natural events in the planet such as local breeze,
winds, tornado, and tropical cyclones.
 The atmosphere is always in constant interaction with the
hydrosphere, giving rise to the planets weather conditions.

7. Negative Impacts Of
Humans.
-aerosols deplete the ozone layer
- driving cars adds excess greenhouse
gases to the atmosphere
- factories (same as cars)
- burning tires/garbage adds harmful
gases to the atmosphere
Positive Impacts Of Humans.
-hybrid vehicles decreases the amount
of greenhouse gas emissions
- alternative power (wind/solar) (same
as hybrid vehicles)
- planting trees absorbs CO2 from the
atmosphere and adds O2

8. The Biosphere
The biosphere is the “life zone” of the Earth, and includes all
living organisms (including humans), and all organic matter that
has not yet decomposed.
• The biosphere is structured into a hierarchy known as the food
chain (all life is dependant on the first tier – mainly the primary
producers that are capable of photosynthesis).
• Energy and mass is transferred from one level of the food
chain to the next.

9.  The entire ecological communities (living organisms) within
the physical surrounding of the earth are within the
umbrella of living things (biosphere). These ecological
communities interact together with the physical aspects of
the earth including the hydrosphere, lithosphere, and the
atmosphere.
 Collectively, these ecological
communities are made
reference to as biomes.
 Deserts, forests, grasslands,
aquatic, tundra, and
chaparral are the six main
biomes that are present in
the biosphere.

10. Hydrosphere
The hydrosphere contains all the water
found on our planet.
• Water found on the surface of our planet
includes the ocean as well as water from
lakes and rivers, streams, and creeks.
• Water found under the surface of our
planet includes water trapped in the soil and
groundwater.
• Water found in our atmosphere includes
water vapor.
• Frozen water on our planet includes ice
caps and glaciers.
• Only about 3% of the water on Earth is
“fresh” water, and about 70% of the fresh
water is frozen in the form of glacial ice.

11. All the water in the hydrosphere is always in motion just like
the atmospheric gases.
The earth’s temperature is highly influenced by the
hydrosphere.
Very low temperatures are associated with icebergs,
glaciers or icecaps; low to moderate temperatures are
associated with the common types of precipitation like
snow, rain, drizzle, sleet or hails; and high temperatures are
tied to dry and hot conditions and evaporation. The glaciers,
icebergs, and icecaps are also categorically called the
cryosphere.

12. Negative Impacts Of Humans.
dumping garbage into the ocean contaminates the water
- driving boats adds gasoline to the water which contaminates
it
- oil spills contaminates water and can kill organisms in the
water
- building on shorelines can contaminate water or kill
vegetation in the water
- overfishing can decrease the amount of organisms in the
water therby decreasing nutrient content overall
- building dams changes water levels which can destroy
habitat and reduce the amount of wildlife
Positive Impacts Of humans.
sewage treatment plants water returning to the lakes and
oceans contains less contaminants
- fish sanctuaries allow a safe habitat for fish which helps
them survive and contribute to the nutrients in the lake

13. Lithosphere (Land)
The lithosphere is made up of all the hard and solid land mass
on the earth’s surface, the semi-solid rocks (molten materials)
underneath the earth crust, and the liquid rocks in the inner
core of the earth.
The surface of the lithosphere is uneven as it is characterized
by various landform features. Some of the landforms include
mountains like the Mount Fuji in Japan and Mount Vesuvius in
Italy, deep valleys within the mountain ranges, huge plains like
the ones in Texas and Brazil, extensive plateaus like Bolivian
plateau in South America and the Colorado plateau of the
United States, and hills like the black hills.

14. The liquid, semi-solid, and solid land
components of the lithosphere form layers that
are chemically and physically different. This is
why the lithosphere is further divided into sub-
spheres namely the crust, the mantle, the outer
core, and the inner core. The crust is made of
loose soil and rocks. The mantle is made of
dense rock made up of nickel and iron in the
form of silicate rocks and its lower part is semi-
solid (partially molten) rocks.

15.  The outer core is made up of liquid (purely
molten) rock materials.
 The inner core is the centre of the earth which is
purely made of very hot and liquid iron and
nickel.
 The rock materials are divided into three primary
categories based on how they are formed
namely
 igneous rocks,
 sedimentary rocks,
 and
 metamorphic rocks.

16. Negative Impacts Of Humans.
- mining strips the earth of nutrients
- littering/using non-recyclables ends up in landfills and
contaminates the earth
- construction destroys natural environments, decreases
drainage
- pesticides add unnatural chemicals to soils
- deforestation increases soil erosion because tree roots no
longer help hold soil in place
Positive Impacts Of Humans.
- composting can decrease the amount of garbage in landfills
- aeration allows for air to enter soils
- conservation areas and provincial parks preserve/protect
the land
- planting trees prevent soil erosion
- gardening/green rooftops regreens the landscape in urban
areas

17. Earth System
Science
Earth System Science
is the study of how the
four spheres of the
Earth system interact
continually, each
affecting the others.
Let’s look at a couple of examples of how a change
in one system (or sphere) affects other Earth
systems.

18. System Interactions
Volcanoes (lithosphere) erupt
sending ash and gases into the air
(atmosphere)
and sending lava and ash down onto
surrounding forests (biosphere)
and human habitations (biosphere).
lithosphere
Atmosphere Biosphere

19. System Interactions
Earthquakes (geosphere) can
damage buildings which may kill
people (biosphere), as well as
cause fires which release gases into
the air (atmosphere). Earthquakes
in the ocean may cause a tsunami
(hydrosphere) which can eventually
hit land and kill both animals and
people (biosphere).
lithosphere
Biosphere
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere

20. System Interactions
Hurricanes (atmosphere)
sweep across the ocean
(hydrosphere) and onto the
land (lithosphere), damaging
the dwellings of people
(biosphere) who live along the
coast.
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
lithosphere
Biosphere

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