Compo Of Enviroment Flashcards
What is the definition of environment?
All that surrounds us; our basic life support system
It provides air, water, food, and land, and includes both natural and man-made elements.
What are the two groups of the natural environment?
Physical environment and Biological environment
The Physical environment includes non-living things, while the Biological environment includes living things.
What does the Physical environment include?
All non-living things like land, water, and air.
What does the Biological environment include?
All living things, such as plants and animals.
Who is considered the most important component of the biological environment?
Man.
What happens when there is a major change in the physical environment?
It brings a change in the biological environment.
What are the four spheres of the natural environment?
Lithosphere, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, and Biosphere.
What is the lithosphere?
The ‘sphere of rocks’; the earth’s solid layer.
What is the thickness of the lithosphere?
About 100 km.
What are the two layers of the lithosphere?
- Sial (rich in silica and aluminium)
- Sima (rich in silica and magnesium).
What does the hydrosphere refer to?
The ‘sphere of water’; includes oceans, rivers, lakes.
What is the atmosphere?
The ‘sphere of air’; a mixture of gases surrounding the earth.
How high does the atmosphere extend?
About 1,600 km above the earth’s surface.
What percentage of the atmosphere’s mass exists within 32 km of the earth’s surface?
99 percent.
Why is Earth often called the Water Planet or Blue Planet?
Due to the abundance of water on its surface.
