Environmental studies and Importance of Earths Components Flashcards
Surface of Earth
Average depth of oceans may be four kilometers.
Earths environment segments
Lithosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
Atmosphere
Lithosphere
Mantle of rocks that constitutes the earth’s crust
Soil
It is composed of inorganic minerals, organic matters, air and water.
Hydrosphere
Composed of surface including oceans, seas, rivers, streams, lakes, glaciers, and ground water
Raw material for the manufacture of edible salts.
Mass of water in hydrosphere
1400*10^18kg^1
Characteristics of water
+ melting point
+ boiling point
Special behavior towards heat
Medium for all biological processes to take place
States of water
Three states:
Steam
Liquid
Ice
Melts at 0
boils at100
Hydrogen bonding forms the basis of its highest density at 4
Biosphere
Segment of environment where life exists
Atmosphere
Umbrella of a mixture of gases that extends from the surface of the earth to an altitude of 500 km.
Atmospheric gases include nitrogen and oxygen as the major components in the ratio of 79:21.
Clouds and rain
The atmosphere also provides a medium for the water vapors to rise from the seas and the ocean as a result of water evaporation to the higher atmospheric regions as they are lighter than the air near the surface of the earth.
Atmosphere’s role
Balance between carbon dioxide and oxygen
Nitrogen balance