Earth's Sphere Flashcards
What is the lithosphere best described as?
The lithosphere includes the crust and upper mantle (landforms, rocks, soil).
Which sphere includes clouds, rainfall, and humidity
The atmosphere includes gases, clouds, and weather phenomena like humidity and rainfall.
What does the biosphere includes?
he biosphere includes all forms of life: plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, etc.
Define each of the following:
Atmosphere
Lithosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
Atmosphere-The blanket of gases surrounding the Earth (includes oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, etc.).
Lithosphere-he solid outer layer of the Earth, including landforms like mountains, valleys, and soil.
Hydrosphere-– All of Earth’s water in liquid, solid, or gas form (oceans, lakes, rivers, glaciers, water vapor).
Biosphere-e zone of life on Earth, where living organisms interact with air, land, and water.
Give one example of how each sphere interacts with another.
A volcanic eruption (lithosphere) releases gases into the atmosphere.
A hurricane (atmosphere) causes flooding in rivers and lakes (hydrosphere).
Deforestation (biosphere) leads to increased soil erosion (lithosphere).
Oil spills (hydrosphere) harm marine life (biosphere).
Identify two ways human activities can affect the atmosphere
Burning fossil fuels → releases greenhouse gases like CO₂
Deforestation → reduces oxygen production and increases carbon dioxide
Why is the biosphere considered a fragile system?
It depends on a balance of temperature, clean air, fresh water, and nutrient-rich soil.
Changes in any other sphere (e.g., pollution in the atmosphere or soil degradation) can easily disrupt ecosystems and lead to loss of biodiversity.
Discuss the importance of the hydrosphere to Caribbean societies
Provides freshwater for drinking, agriculture, and industry.
Supports fishing and marine tourism (crucial for economies).
Influences weather patterns and supports biodiversity.
Plays a role in transport and trade across islands.
Describe the four spheres of the Earth, giving examples of features or elements found in each.
Atmosphere – Weather, climate, oxygen, clouds.
Lithosphere – Mountains, soil, rocks, tectonic plates.
Hydrosphere – Seas, rivers, rain, glaciers, groundwater.
Biosphere – Plants, animals, humans, bacteria.
All four spheres interact and overlap in complex systems.
Using examples, explain how natural disasters (such as hurricanes or earthquakes) affect more than one sphere at a time.
Atmosphere: High winds and intense rain.
Hydrosphere: Flooding of rivers and coastal zones.
Lithosphere: Landslides and coastal erosion.
Biosphere: Human displacement, destruction of wildlife habitats.
