Download Spheres of the Earth

Properties of Earth
• Shape of Earth
– Almost a sphere
– Bulges at the equator from Earth’s rotation
• Albedo = Reflection of light
– Ice close to –high
– Clouds/water –medium
– Dirt - low
• Age
– About 4.5 billion years old
Spheres of the Earth
Atmosphere
Biosphere
Hydrosphere
Lithosphere
Atmosphere
• The Earth is surrounded by a blanket of
air, which we call the atmosphere.
• It reaches over 560 kilometers (348
miles) from the surface of the Earth.
• Life on Earth is supported by the
atmosphere, solar energy, and our
planet's magnetic fields.
Biosphere
• The biosphere is the life zone of the
Earth.
– includes all living organisms
– including man
– all organic matter
• Life evolved on earth during its early
history between 4.5 and 3.8 billion years
ago.
Biotic vs. Abiotic
• Bio = means life
• Biotic—living parts or components
• Abiotic—nonliving parts of components (air, water,
temperature)
Hydrosphere
• The hydrosphere includes all water
on Earth.
• 71% of the Earth is covered by water
and only 29% is land.
• Earth called “Blue Planet”
• Water to exist in all three states:
solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas
(water vapor).
• Water is the universal solvent and
the basis of all life on our Planet.
Hydrosphere
Lithosphere
• The lithosphere solid outermost shell of
a rocky planet.
• Lithosphere includes crust and
uppermost layer of mantle.
• Earth’s lithosphere made of a series of
lithospheric plates.
Lithosphere