Earth's Sphere's Flashcards
Biosphere
Layer of the earth were life exists.
Made up of all living things on earth, such as plants, animals and bacteria.
Layer of Earth were land, air and water interact with each other to support life .
20kms from top to bottom, however almost all life exists between 500m below and 6kms above sea level.
Atmosphere
Layers of gases that extend from the layers of the Earth to space.
99% of the gases are found within 80km of the earths surface.
Atmosphere contains, warmth, controls weather, carries sound and protects the earth from dangers of space.
It contains gases essential for the survival of of organisms on the land and in the water.
Lithosphere
Outermost rockiest layer of the earth and consists of the crust and the mantle.
Rocky layer is made from magma which cools slowly. Causing the heat from the magma releasing it into the water and air.
Two layers: Oceanic and continental lithospheres which have 15 tectonic plates.
The plates move 2-10 cm every year due to movement semi-liquid magma and convection currents.
Hydrosphere
Hydrosphere is the total sum of all the water on the earth.
These include, salt water, frozen water, fresh water, water vapour and ground water.
Hydrosphere provides habitats for many organisms and shape the earths landscape and bodily processes of animals.
Earth is made up of 70% water this is why it is known as the blue planet.
Frozen water in the hydrosphere is called cryosphere.
Cryosphere
Cryosphere helps regulate the earths temperature by:
Reflecting UV rays.
Influencing circulation of air and water ways.
Modyfing the amount of moisture in the air.
Interaction between Systems
The layer of dirt and soil on the Earth’s surface - the atmosphere (wind) and hydrosphere (water & ice) cause weathering and erosion of rocks, while the biosphere (plants & animal remains) adds organic components to the eroded rocks to produce fertile soil.
Interaction between Systems Example 2
Temperature differences on Earth - the mountain ranges of the lithosphere interact with low air pressure from the atmosphere and snowy precipitation of the hydrosphere to produce an icy climate zone. This climate zone drives adaptations of organisms in the region’s biosphere.
