Earth's Subsystems

I CAN…
explain that the Earth consists

of four subsystems, across
whose boundaries matter and
energy flow
How do Earth’s subsystems
affect each other?
– The amount of matter within a closed
system is fixed.
– The resources used can never be
regenerated, and the waste produced
cannot really be disposed.
– Once used up, the mineral resources are
transformed into something else,
maintaining the amount of matter within
the closed system.
– Earth is a dynamic body with many
separate, but highly interacting parts
or spheres.
– Earth system science studies Earth as
a system composed of numerous
parts, or subsystems.
▪Atmosphere
▪Geosphere
▪Hydrosphere
▪Biosphere
▪ The air blanket surrounding the Earth.
▪ It is a mixture of gases (nitrogen,
oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, and
water vapor) that surround the planet.
▪ The atmosphere composed mostly of
78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, 0.9%
Argon, and 0.10% for the remaining
gases.
▪ The atmosphere consists of
four unique layers:
troposphere, stratosphere,
mesosphere, thermosphere.
▪ The geosphere is the solid
Earth that includes the
continental and ocean crust
as well as the various layers
of Earth’s interior.
▪ It is composed of naturally-
occurring solid aggregate of
minerals, organic material or
natural gas called rocks, and
loose particles of rocks that
blanket the surface of the Earth
called regolith.
▪ The hydrosphere contains
all the water found on our
planet such as oceans, lakes
and rivers, streams and
creeks.
▪ Water under the surface of our
planet includes water trapped in the
soil and groundwater.
▪ Water found in the atmosphere
includes water vapor.
▪ Frozen water includes ice caps and
glaciers.
▪ Only about 3%of the water
on Earth is “fresh” water,
and about 70% of the fresh
is frozen in the form of
glacial ice.
▪ 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.
▪ ATMOSPHERE
The gases of the
atmosphere readily exchange
with those dissolved in water
bodies. (e.g. oceans, lakes etc.)
▪ ATMOSPHERE
The atmosphere supplies
oxygen and carbon dioxides
that form the basis of life
processes (photosynthesis and
respiration).
▪ ATMOSPHERE
Gases in the atmosphere
react with water to produce
weak acids that aid the
breakdown of rock.
▪ GEOSPHERE
Volcanism spews significant
amount of gases (sulphur
dioxide) into the atmosphere
resulting to global cooling.
▪ GEOSPHERE
The formation of many minerals
involved incorporation or release of
water. Also, water speeds up chemical
reactions that produce or destroy
minerals, and aids up melting of rock.
▪ GEOSPHERE
Nutrients released of rocks
during their breakdown are
dissolved in water to be used
by aquatic plants.
▪ HYDROSPHERE
Water is transferred
between the hydrosphere and
biosphere by evaporation and
precipitation.
▪ HYDROSPHERE
Water is necessary for the
transport of nutrients and
waste products in organisms.
▪ HYDROSPHERE
Water is the primary agent for the
chemical and mechanical breakdown
of rock (weathering), to form loose
rock fragments and soil, and sculpts
the surface of the Earth.
▪ BIOSPHERE
Life processes involved
many chemical reactions which
either extract or emit gases to
and from the atmosphere, and
releases oxygen.
▪ BIOSPHERE
Evaporation of water from
leaf surfaces (transpiration)
transfers water to the
atmosphere.
▪ BIOSPHERE
The biosphere is connected to the
geosphere through soils. Plant activity
(root growth and organic acid
production) are also for the
mechanical and chemical breakdown
of the rocks.
Volcanoes
(geosphere) erupt,
sending ash and
Geosphere
gases into the air
(atmosphere) and
sending lava and ash
down onto
Atmosphere Biosphere
surrounding forests
(biosphere) and
human habitations
http://www.ecuador-
travel.net/information.volcano.pichin
(biosphere).
cha.eruption.htm
Earthquakes (geosphere)
can damage buildings
which may kill people
Biosphere
(biosphere), as well as Geosphere
cause fires which release
gases into the air
(atmosphere). Geosphere Atmosphere
Earthquakes in the ocean
may cause a tsunami Atmosphere Biosphere
(hydrosphere) which can
Hydrosphere
eventually hit land and
kill both animals and
people (biosphere).
▪ Humans are temporary receptacles of
the matter and energy that flows
through Earth system.
▪ “You are what you eat, drink, and
breathe”.
▪ Problems of human health are
fundamentally linked to the natural
distribution of Earth

Earth's Subsystems

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I CAN…

explain that the Earth consists

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