Living Systems-- Earth's Spheres. Flashcards
Name the four major spheres of Earth.
The four major spheres of Earth are the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.
What does the biosphere consist of?
The biosphere consists of all living organisms, including plants, animals, humans, and unicellular organisms like bacteria.
What are biomes, and can you provide examples?
Biomes are areas where plants and animals of similar nature can be found. Examples of biomes include deserts, coral reefs, and forests.
What gases make up the majority of Earth’s atmosphere, and what are their percentages?
The atmosphere primarily consists of approximately 79% nitrogen and just under 21% oxygen, with the remaining being trace gases like carbon dioxide.
What are the five zones of the atmosphere, based on their altitude?
The five zones of the atmosphere are the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.
What is the hydrosphere composed of, and what percentage of Earth’s water is in the oceans?
The hydrosphere is composed of all the water on or near Earth’s surface, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers. Approximately 97% of Earth’s water is found in the oceans.
What is the lithosphere, and how is it divided?
The lithosphere refers to all the rocks of the Earth, including the planet’s mantle and crust. It is divided into 12 major tectonic plates and includes the oceanic and continental crust.
Explain how waves undercut cliffs, demonstrating an interaction between Earth’s spheres.
Waves undercut cliffs, causing upper portions of rock to collapse, representing an interaction between the hydrosphere and lithosphere.
How is air pollution related to Earth’s spheres, and which sphere is primarily affected?
Air pollution is related to the atmosphere and primarily affects the atmosphere sphere. Chemicals in the air can impact the quality of life for humans and animals.
What are carbon sinks, and can you provide examples?
Carbon sinks are natural systems that absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Examples of carbon sinks include plants, the ocean, and soil.
What is the main process by which carbon is recycled through the biosphere?
The main process by which carbon is recycled through the biosphere is cellular respiration, which releases carbon back into the atmosphere and the hydrosphere as carbon dioxide.
How does deforestation impact the carbon cycle, and what is the result of removing trees from forests?
Deforestation increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as there are no longer trees to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, disrupting the carbon cycle.
