Download Components of the Earth

Components
of the Earth
Environment & Resource Management
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Components of the Earth
• Atmosphere is the mixture of gases surrounding
the Earth and other planets.
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Thermosphere
Mesopause
Mesosphere
Stratopause
Stratosphere
Tropopause
Troposphere
Components of the Earth
• Hydrosphere is the part of the Earth composed
of water (including clouds, oceans, seas, ice
caps, glaciers, lakes, rivers, underground water
supplies, and atmospheric water vapour).
• Approximately 71% of the Earth is covered by
water.
– 97% of this water is in the oceans (salt water)
– 3% is freshwater
• 77% of freshwater is locked in ice
• 22% of freshwater is in the ground
• <1% of freshwater is in lakes, rivers, and wetlands
Hydrosphere
Components of the Earth
• Lithosphere is the solid outer crust of the earth,
while the mantle and core comprise the interior of
the earth.
• The lithosphere runs up to 60 miles deep, is
divided into the crust and upper mantle.
– The upper part of the crust is made of igneous and
sedimentary rocks; this makes up the continents.
– The lower crust is made of igneous rocks which form
the ocean floors.
• The inner layers of the earth are the mantle and
the core
Components of the Earth
• Lithosphere is the outer part of the earth,
consisting of the crust and upper mantle.
Components of the Earth
• Biosphere is the life zone of the Earth and
includes all living organisms, including man, and
all organic matter that has not yet decomposed.
• The biosphere is structured into a hierarchy
known as the food chain whereby all life is
dependent upon the first tier (i.e. mainly the
primary producers that are capable of
photosynthesis).
• Energy and mass is transferred from one level of
the food chain to the next with an efficiency of
about 10%.
Components of the Earth
• All organisms are intrinsically linked to their
physical environment and the relationship
between an organism and its environment is the
study of ecology.
• The biosphere can be divided into distinct
ecosystems that represent the interactions
between a group of organisms forming a trophic
pyramid and the environment or habitat in which
they live.
Components of the Earth
• Biosphere is the combination of the lithosphere,
hydrosphere, and atmosphere that can support
life.
Components of the Earth
Key Terms
• Ecology - the study of how organisms interact
with each other and their physical environment
• Biodiversity - the variety of life on our planet,
(measurable as the variety within species,
between species, and the variety of ecosystems)
• Carrying Capacity - the maximum number of
individuals of a given species that a site can
support during the most unfavorable time of year,
without causing deterioration of the site
Key Terms
• Ecological Footprint - a calculation that
estimates the area of Earth required to supply the
resources that an individual demands, as well as
to absorb the wastes that the individual produces
• Sustainable Development - Development that
meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs
• Global Commons - natural assets outside
national jurisdiction (e.g., oceans, outer space,
Antarctica)