Download Earth`s Spheres

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Scientists like to classify
and organize information.
One of the newest ways
Earth scientists think about
the study of the Earth is to
organize it into “spheres.”
The biosphere is the living portions of the
Earth. The plants, animals, and humans
make up this sphere.
Earth scientists study
how each of the spheres
interacts and works with
other spheres. The water
that is part of the hydrosphere
can weather rocks that are part of
the lithosphere. What other examples
can you think of that would show
how the spheres interact? Write your
ideas in your journal.
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EARTH BOOK
When you
think about the topics
you study in Earth Science, you list things
like rocks, water, and soil. Earth Science
also includes the study of clouds and air.
Earth scientists study fossils, as well as
other planets.
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© 2011 AIMS Education Foundation
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The hydrosphere is the liquid part of the
Earth. Water on the Earth can be grouped
as fresh water, frozen water, and salt water.
Most of the water on the Earth is salt water.
The lithosphere is the solid part of the
Earth. Rocks, minerals, and soils are
the primary components of this sphere.
The crust of the Earth is made up of
combinations of
different rock
and minerals.
The atmosphere is made up of elements
like oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide,
as well as water vapor. The atmosphere
surrounds the Earth and provides
important gases that the Earth needs.
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EARTH BOOK
The four spheres are the lithosphere,
the hydrosphere, the atmosphere,
and the biosphere. Each sphere has
unique characteristics and each sphere
interacts with the others.
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© 2011 AIMS Education Foundation