Download Components of the Spheres

GEOSPHERE
Geo means “Ground” so
basically the ground is the
location
 Includes the Earth's interior,
rocks and minerals, landforms
and the processes that shape
the Earth's surface.
Interactions of the spheres :
GEOSPHERE
Changes in the Geosphere are based on physical
evidence such as rocks, fossils, and land forms
Core- makes up 16% of the volume of the earth
and 31% of mass. It is divided into 2 regions :
Solid inner core and liquid outer core.
Mantle- largest layer in the earth 82% of volume
and 68% of mass dominated by magnesium and
iron-rich minerals
Crust- the thinnest layer in the earth only 2% of
volume and 1% of mass.
Tectonic plates- The dozen or so plates that make
up the surface of the Earth. Their motion is studied
in the field of plate tectonics.
HYDROSPHERE
Liquid water component
of the Earth
Covers about 70% of
Earth
3 % of total water is fresh
water, and only 1% of this
is attainable
The hydrosphere is
always in motion
http://earth.rice.edu/mtpe/hydro/hydrosphere/hydrosphere_what.html
HYDROSPHERE
Salinity and temperature of the
water affect motion
 Warm/fresh water = less dense,
rises to top
 Cold/salt water = more dense,
sinks down
Acts as reservoir for chemicals
and gases
 Limits how fast climates can
change
 Distributes heat to entire globe
CRYOSPHERE
The Solid Water or Ice part of the earth
 Antarctica
 The Arctic Circle
The composition of the cryosphere is water. Just. Water.
 Glaciers form sedimentary rock style, except, you
know, ice.
Glaciers are melting due to global warming and this
causes flooding, icebergs, and loss of habitat.
Permafrost is a permanently frozen layer below the
topsoil
Global Warming causes permafrost to melt which
causes the freshwater permafrost supports to sink
below the surface
MID-PRESENTATION QUESTIONS
1. What is the difference between tectonic plates and plate tectonics?
2. How does the Hydrosphere affect climate?
3. How are Glaciers formed?
INTRODUCTION TO ATMOSPHERE
Gaseous layer of the Earth, formed 4 billion years ago.
Started off with water vapor, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide,
hydrochloric acid, methane, ammonia, nitrogen, and sulfur gases.
The lack of free oxygen caused the atmosphere to reduce.
Water vapor eventually rained down forming bodies of water.
The bodies of water became home to the first organisms which began
releasing oxygen, thus oxidizing the atmosphere.
STRUCTURE
71% Nitrogen, 28% Oxygen, 1% Water vapor, argon and carbon
dioxide.
Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, and Thermosphere layers.
THE LAYERS
Troposphere- the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere and site of all
weather on Earth.
Stratosphere- the layer of the earth's atmosphere above the troposphere,
extending to about 32 miles (50 km) above the earth's surface (the lower
boundary of the mesosphere).
Mesosphere- the region of the earth's atmosphere above the stratosphere
and below the thermosphere, between about 30 and 50 miles (50 and 80
km) in altitude
Thermosphere- the region of the atmosphere above the mesosphere and
below the height at which the atmosphere ceases to have the properties of
a continuous medium. The thermosphere is characterized throughout by
an increase in temperature with height.
BIOSPHERE
Everything that contains life
 Includes atmosphere, lithosphere,
hydrosphere, etc.
Erosion and deforestation impact
everything within the biosphere
greatly.
 Basically, people are messing up the part
of the world that has life
BIOMES
The biosphere consists
of several biomes, each
with different climates
and abiotic/biotic factors
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Desert
Deciduous Forest
Rainforest
Grassland
Tundra
Taiga
Savanna
Salt Water
Fresh Water
POST-PRESENTATION QUESTIONS
1. What are the layers of the atmosphere?
2. What two issues affect the biosphere greatly?
3. Name at least four biomes.