Major Subsystems of the Earth Flashcards
What is the atmosphere made up of?
78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, 0.9% Argon, 0.03% Carbon Dioxide with very small percentages of other elements.
What is the cryosphere?
The frozen part of the Earth’s system, snow and ice are part of it. The other part is ice found in water: icebergs, frozen rivers and lakes.
What is significant about the cryosphere?
The first place it seems where scientists can identify changes in the climate.
What is the lithosphere?
A rigid outermost shell. Top layer of the earth’s crust. It behaves elastically and moves. Made up of rock and soil, otherwise we would be floating in space.
What is the hydrosphere?
The combined mass of water found on, under and above the surface of the planet. Estimated to be 1386 million cubic kilometres of water on earth, includes water liquid and frozen forms in groundwater.
