The 4 Spheres
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Transcript of The 4 Spheres
GLOBAL SYSTEMS
Learning Goals:
• To understand the structure of o the atmosphereo the biosphereo the lithosphere, o hydrosphere
• To understand how the three spheres interacts with each other
WEATHER AND CLIMATE
What is the difference between weather and climate?
How would you define them?
WEATHER: the state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time (i.e. the weather in Redcliffe right now)
CLIMATE: The average weather conditions of a certain region (i.e. the climate in Redcliffe includes hot humid summers and mild dry winters)
WEATHER AND CLIMATE
What is the major difference between the two?
THE “SPHERES”
The earth can be divided up into four spheres that interact with each other:
The Atmosphere
The Biosphere
The Lithosphere
The Hydrosphere
Can anyone guess what each is?
GLOBAL SYSTEMS
(earth)(water)
(air)
(life)
THE ATMOSPHERE• The Earth is surrounded by a
blanket of air, which we call the atmosphere• The atmosphere consists of
four unique layers• The atmosphere reaches over
560 kilometers up from the surface of the Earth• The atmosphere is primarily
composed of nitrogen and oxygen
THE ATMOSPHERE
• The biosphere is the zone of life on the Earth. It includes • all living organisms (including humans) • all organic matter that has not yet
decomposed• The biosphere is structured into a
hierarchy known as the food chain• Energy and mass is transferred from
one level of the food chain to the next
THE BIOSPHERE
• The lithosphere includes the crust and the uppermost mantle; the hard and rigid outer layer of the Earth• The lithosphere is about 100
km thick• The lithosphere below the
crust is brittle enough at some locations to produce earthquakes
THE LITHOSPHERE (or geosphere)
• The hydrosphere contains all the water found on our planet.• Water on the surface (oceans,
lakes and rivers, streams, and creeks) • Water under the surface of our
planet (water trapped in the soil, groundwater)• Water vapour in the atmosphere• Frozen water (ice caps and
glaciers)
THE HYDROSPHERE
Only about 3% of the water on Earth is “fresh” water, and about 70% of the fresh water is frozen in the form of glacial ice.
System InteractionsVolcanoes (__________) erupt, sending ash and gases into the air (___________) and sending lava and ash down onto surrounding forests (_________) and human habitations (_________).
Lithosphere
Atmosphere Biosphere
SPHERE INTERACTIONS
Hurricanes (__________) sweep across the ocean (__________) and onto the land (__________), damaging the dwellings of people (__________) who live along the coast.
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Lithosphere
Biosphere
SPHERE INTERACTIONS
Earthquakes (__________) can damage buildings which may kill people (__________), as well as cause fires which release gases into the air (__________). Earthquakes in the ocean may cause a tsunami (__________) which can eventually hit land and kill both animals and people (__________).
Lithosphere
Biosphere
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
SPHERE INTERACTIONS
GLOBAL SYSTEMS
Learning Goals:
• What do we mean when we say:
o the lithosphere?
o the atmosphere?
o hydrosphere?