Spheres of the Earth - ednet.ns.cahrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/vturner/handouts Geology/Power...
Transcript of Spheres of the Earth - ednet.ns.cahrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/vturner/handouts Geology/Power...
Essential Questions
• What are the 4 spheres of the Earth?
• How do these spheres interact?
• What are the major cycles of the Earth?
• How do humans impact these cycles?
The Geosphere
• The Geosphere contains all of the cold, hard solid land of the planet's crust (surface), the semi-solid land underneath the crust, and the liquid land near the center of the planet.
The Hydrosphere
• The hydrosphere contains all the solid, liquid, and gaseous water of the planet. It ranges from 10 to 20 kilometers in thickness. The hydrosphere extends from Earth's surface downward several kilometers into the lithosphere and upward about 12 kilometers into the atmosphere.
• Ninety-seven percent of Earth's water is salty.
The Biosphere
• The biosphere contains all the planet's living
things. This sphere includes all of the
microorganisms, plants, and animals of Earth.
• Within the biosphere, living things form
ecological communities based on the physical
surroundings of an area. These communities are
referred to as biomes. Deserts, grasslands, and
tropical rainforests are three of the many types
of biomes that exist within the biosphere.
The Atmosphere
• The atmosphere contains all the air in Earth's system.
• It extends from less than 1 m below the planet's surface to more than 10,000 km above the planet's surface.
• The upper portion of the atmosphere protects the organisms of the biosphere from the sun's ultraviolet radiation. It also absorbs and emits heat. When air temperature in the lower portion of this sphere changes, weather occurs. As air in the lower atmosphere is heated or cooled, it moves around the planet. The result can be as simple as a breeze or as complex as a tornado.
Examples
• Humans (biosphere) built a dam out of rock materials (geosphere).
• Water in the lake (hydrosphere) seeps into the cliff walls behind the dam, becoming groundwater (geosphere), or evaporating into the air (atmosphere).
• Humans (biosphere) harness energy from the water (hydrosphere) by having it spin turbines (geosphere) to produce electricity.
Examples….
• With a partner, practice describing
interactions in this
scene, tracing the movement of
materials or energy through all four of
Earth's spheres if possible. Add this
to your portfolio.
Earth:
Matter does not come and go
Earth is a
closedsystem
to matter
So…matter is
constantly
recycled on Earth
Some Major Cycles of Matter
•Water Cycle
•Rock Cycle
•Chemical Cycles
•Carbon
•Nitrogen
•Phosphorous
•Sulfur
Water Cycle
Atmosphere
HydrosphereGeosphere
Biosphere
Surface run-off
Transpiration
Precipitation
Evaporation
Atmosphere
Precipitation
Evaporation
Carbon Transfer:
Biosphere Atmosphere
Photosynthesis (Atmosphere to Biosphere)
Carbon Dioxide + Water + Sunlight --> Sugar + Oxygen
Respiration (Biosphere to Atmosphere)
Sugar + Oxygen --> Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy
Carbon Cycle
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
Photosynthesis
Respiration& Decay
Burial &
Lithification
Weathering
& Volcanism
Dissolution
Photosynthesis
Burial &
Lithification
Exsolution
Atmosphere
Geosphere
Carbon Cycle
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
HumanImpacts
Burning fossil fuels:
Increased combustion
Deforestation:
Decrease Photosynthesis
Increase Respiration
Net Effect:Increase in Carbon
in Atmosphere
Atmosphere
Geosphere
Nitrogen Cycle
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
Nitrogen fixation:
• bacteria
• lightning
Waste &
Decomposition
Denitification:
bacteria
Erosion
Absorption
Atmosphere
Geosphere
Nitrogen Cycle
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
Nitrogen fixation:
• industrial (fertilizer)
• combustion
Increased Erosion
HumanImpacts
Net Effect:Increase in Nitrogen
in water & soil
Atmosphere
Geosphere
Phosphorous Cycle
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
Never enters the atmosphere
Waste &
Decomposition
Weathering & Erosion
Absorption
SedimentationAbsorption
Atmosphere
Geosphere
Phosphorous Cycle
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
Mining, use (fertilizer, detergent, etc.)
& increased runoff
HumanImpacts
Net Effect:Increase in phosphorous in water &
“algal blooms”; Depletion in soils
More Phos. for organisms
Atmosphere
Geosphere
Sulfur Cycle
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
Waste &
Decomposition
Deep Sea Vents
Absorption
Absorption
Volcanoes
& WeatheringPrecipitation
“Evaporation”
Sedimentation
Weathering
Bacteria
Release
Bacteria
Absorption
Atmosphere
Geosphere