EARTH SCIENCE

The EARTH’S
SUBSYSTEMS
SYSTEM
-
 Figure 2. Earth as a system
(Adapted from https://bit.ly/30ALe85)
 ATMOSPHERE
-is the thin gaseous layer that envelopes the
lithosphere.
- • Nitrogen (N2) (about 78%)
- • Oxygen (O2) (about 21%)
- • Argon (Ar) (about 0.93%)
- • Carbon Dioxide (CO2) (about 0.04%)
 ATMOSPHERE
-divided into several distinct layers, each with unique
characteristics:

- •Troposphere: This is the lowest layer, extending

from the Earth's surface up to about 8-15 kilometers
(5-9 miles). It's where all Earth's weather occurs, and
it's where we live and breathe.
 ATMOSPHERE
• Stratosphere: Above the troposphere,
extending to about 50 km (31 miles). It
contains the vital ozone layer, which absorbs
harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun,
protecting life on Earth
 ATMOSPHERE
• Mesosphere: From 50 km to about 85
km (31-53 miles). Most meteors burn up
in this layer, creating "shooting stars."
It's the coldest layer.
 ATMOSPHERE
• Thermosphere: Extends from 85 km to
about 600 km (53-372 miles).
- can be very high due to absorption of solar
radiation, but the air is extremely thin. The
spectacular auroras (Northern and Southern
Lights) occur here.
 ATMOSPHERE
• Exosphere: The outermost layer, gradually
fading into space.
 ATMOSPHERE
-The atmosphere plays several indispensable
roles in making Earth habitable:
1. Regulates Temperature: Through the
greenhouse effect (primarily CO2 and water vapor),
the atmosphere traps some of the sun's heat, preventing
extreme temperature fluctuations between day and
night.
 ATMOSPHERE
2. Protects Life: The ozone layer shields
Earth's surface from damaging UV radiation,
which can cause skin cancer and harm
ecosystems. It also protects us from impacts
by burning up most incoming meteoroids.
 ATMOSPHERE
3. Drives Weather and Climate: The
movements of air masses, temperature differences,
and water vapor within the atmosphere create all
our weather phenomena, from gentle breezes to
powerful storms. These patterns also define Earth's
diverse climates.
 ATMOSPHERE
4. Enables the Water Cycle: The
atmosphere holds water vapor, which forms
clouds and eventually falls as precipitation
(rain, snow, etc.), returning water to the
Earth's surface and completing the water
cycle.
 ATMOSPHERE
5. Provides Essential Gases: It's
the source of oxygen for breathing,
carbon dioxide for plants, and
nitrogen for nutrient cycling.
 GEOSPHERE
• - (a.k.a LITHOSPHERE) includes
the rocks of the crust and mantle,
and the core
 GEOSPHERE
• - It’s a dynamic system with profound
impacts on the rest of the planet:
• 1. Provides Solid Ground and Habitat:
It gives us a stable surface to live on,
build structures, and provides the base
for all terrestrial ecosystems.
 GEOSPHERE
• 2. Source of Resources: We rely on
the geosphere for valuable minerals
(like gold and iron), fossil fuels (coal,
oil, natural gas), and geothermal
energy.
 GEOSPHERE
• 3. Drives Plate Tectonics: The slow
movement of the Earth's plates shapes
continents, creates mountains, causes
earthquakes, and triggers volcanic
eruptions. These processes constantly
recycle Earth materials.
 GEOSPHERE
• 4. Influences Water and Air: The
topography (shape of the land) influences
how water flows (rivers, lakes) and how air
masses move, affecting weather patterns.
Volcanic eruptions release gases and ash
into the atmosphere, impacting the
climate.
 GEOSPHERE
• 5. Long-Term Carbon Storage: Rocks and
sediments store vast amounts of carbon
over geological timescales, playing a role in
regulating Earth's climate.
 hydrosphere
- About 71% of the Earth is covered with
liquid water (hydrosphere), and much of it is
in the form of ocean water.
- Only 3% of Earth's water is fresh: two-
thirds is in the form of ice, and the remaining
one-third is present in streams, lakes, and
groundwater.
 hydrosphere
-The hydrosphere is central to Earth's
systems and to the existence of life:
1. Life Support System: Water is absolutely
essential for all known life forms. It's a key
component of living cells, and many
organisms live directly in water.
 hydrosphere
2. Climate Regulator: The vast amount of
heat absorbed and released by the oceans
helps to moderate global temperatures,
preventing Earth from becoming too hot or
too cold. Ocean currents distribute heat from
the equator towards the poles.
 hydrosphere
3. Drives the Water Cycle: The continuous
movement of water through evaporation,
condensation, precipitation, and runoff is
fundamental to replenishing freshwater
supplies and shaping landscapes.
 hydrosphere
4. Shapes Landforms: The erosive and
depositional power of rivers, glaciers, and
ocean waves constantly sculpts the Earth's
surface, creating valleys, deltas, and
coastlines.
 hydrosphere
• 5. Transports Nutrients and Sediments:
Water acts as a powerful solvent,
transporting dissolved nutrients vital for
ecosystems and carrying sediments that
contribute to the formation of new
landforms and rocks.
 biosphere
• -is the set of all life forms on Earth.
• -It covers all ecosystems - from the soil
to the rainforest, from mangroves to
coral reefs, and from the plankton-rich
ocean surface to the deep sea.
 biosphere
• - is not just a collection of living things;
it actively shapes and regulates the
entire Earth system:
 biosphere
• 1. Regulates Atmospheric Composition:
Through processes like photosynthesis and
respiration, the biosphere plays a critical role in
maintaining the balance of gases in the
atmosphere.
 biosphere
• 2. Influences the Water Cycle: Plants
release water vapor into the atmosphere
through transpiration, contributing to cloud
formation and precipitation. Forests can
also help regulate local rainfall patterns.
 biosphere
• 3. Shapes the Geosphere: Organisms contribute
to weathering rocks (e.g., roots breaking rocks),
form soil, and create new landforms (e.g., coral
reefs, peat bogs). The fossil fuels (coal, oil,
natural gas) we extract from the geosphere are
derived from ancient buried biomass.
 biosphere
4. Recycles Nutrients: Decomposers are
vital for breaking down dead organic
matter, returning essential chemical
elements (like carbon, nitrogen,
phosphorus) to the soil, water, and air
for reuse by other organisms.
 biosphere
5. Maintains Biodiversity: The incredible
variety of life within the biosphere
ensures the resilience and health of
ecosystems, providing crucial services
like pollination, water purification, and
pest control.
 ASSESSMENT
1. Which of the following best illustrates the
interaction between the hydrosphere and
atmosphere?
A. Flowing lava C. Boy catching fish
B. Falling leaves D. Evaporating water
ASSESSMENT
2. What can you infer from the illustration
about the four spheres of Earth?
A. The processes in the Earth’s sphere are unidirectional
processes.
B. The atmosphere regulates all the processes in the other
spheres.
C. The four spheres of Earth are interconnected and
interrelated.
D. This cannot be answered since the information is incomplete.
ASSESSMENT
3. Which biophysical component of Earth is
composed of all the living organisms on Earth,
including those in land, water, and air?
A. A. biosphere C. atmosphere
B. B. geosphere D. hydrosphere
ASSESSMENT
4. Which of the following is NOT a
component of the geosphere?
A. A. valleys C. glaciers
B. B. volcanoes D. mountains
ASSESSMENT
5. Which Earth subsystem encompasses all
the solid parts of our planet, from the
surface rocks to the molten core?
A) A. Hydrosphere C. Atmosphere
B) B. Geosphere D. Biosphere
ASSESSMENT
6. Which elements comprise the largest fraction
in the composition of the atmosphere?
A. A. Oxygen & Argon
B. B. Nitrogen & Oxygen
C. C. Nitrogen & Argon
D. D. Oxygen & traces of gas
ASSESSMENT
7. Matter and energy flow between the Earth's
subsystems through processes such as
A) Photosynthesis
B) Weathering
C) Erosion
D) All of the above
ASSESSMENT
8. The biosphere is best described as
A. The layer of gases surrounding the Earth
B. The zone of life on Earth
C. The solid outer part of the Earth
D, The total amount of water on Earth
ASSESSMENT
9. Which of the following best explains the flow of
energy from the sun?
A) It only affects the lithosphere
B) It is absorbed by the hydrosphere and biosphere
C) It only influences the atmosphere
D) It is irrelevant to the Earth's systems
ASSESSMENT
10. In the context of Earth’s subsystems, what is the
significance of the water cycle?
A. It only affects the hydrosphere
B. It demonstrates the interaction between the
hydrosphere and atmosphere
C. It is a closed system with no external influences
D. It is primarily a geological process
 “We are all connected. To each other,
biologically.
To the earth, chemically. To the rest of the
universe atomically.”
Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Thank
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