Lithosphere:

The solid component of earth is called lithosphere. Land is a major portion of the
lithosphere. It is the source of many essential materials required for the biotic
community. Human as well as neutral activities need space for their location and
development. This space is provided by land. This is put to various uses like food
and energy production, disposal of waste, industrial activities, commercial and
residential purposes.

The main layers of earth are:

1. Crust
2. Mantle
3. Core
1. Crust:
• It is the outermost solid layer of the earth. Its surface is covered with soil.
• It is the only part that is supporting biotic communities.
• The crust and the upper mantle together constitute the lithosphere.

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 • Oxygen is the most predominant element and silicon is the second most
abundant element of this portion.
• Fe, Mg, K and Na are also available in the crust.
2. Mantle:
• This is in molten state.
• It represents about 68% of the mass of the earth.
• It consists of three portions upper transition and outer mantle.
3. Core:
• It is the central fluid or vaporised sphere of the lithosphere.
• The major components existing in this layer are Ni and Fe.
• The two sub- divisions are:
a) Outer core, 2140 km thick and exists in the liquid state.
b) Inner core, 1300 km thick and exists in the solid state.

Soil:

It is the most important part of the lithosphere. Soil is a mixture of various

inorganic and organic compounds.

Organic compounds of the soil humus which consists organic compounds such as
proteins, amino acids, sugars, alcohols, oils, fats, pigments, lignin, resins etc.

Inorganic components of the soil, Na, K, Ca, Al, Fe, Mg, Si, as main constituents,
while small amount of compounds of Zn, Co, B, Mn, Cu, I, F, Mo, etc are present
in the soil.

Physical characteristic of the layers of Earth:

Layer of earth Thickness in km Mass %

Crust 30 0.50
Mantle 2900 68.00
Core 3440 31.5
Whole earth 6370 100

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Hydrosphere:

Water is the driver of life on the earth. Most living tissues is composed of a very
high percentage of water upto and even exceeding 90%. Among many essential
elements for the existence of living being, water is rated as the most important.
Hydrosphere includes various water resources such as rivers, lakes, oceans, ground
water etc. About 97% available water in ocean is not fit for drinking as it is salty.
2% of water is locked up in the polar region as ice and remaining 1% water is
available as fresh water used for various human activities. The original source of
water is precipitation from the atmosphere. The water available on the earth may
occur in all three stages as gas, liquid, and solid. Temperature is the main factor in
deciding the state of water. As a liquid the water forms hydrosphere.
Hydrological cycle:
Hydrological cycle is defined as the interchange of water between the atmosphere
and the earth surface.

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Evaporation of water from water bodies and transpiration of water from green
plants from clouds in the atmosphere. By cooling of the clouds precipitation on the
earth is produced. It makes runoff over the earth’s surface.

The runoff is taken by the soil and plants for photosynthesis and the excess flow
into lakes, rivers and oceans. Approximately about 2/3 of the precipitation
evaporates quickly or transpired y vegetables. Flood and drought are caused by
natural variations in precipitations.

Fresh water environment:

It is the home for various organisms and it can be divided into two groups.

1. Standing or lentic water e.g., pond, lake etc

2. Running or lotic water, e.g., spring stream and river.

Zones of aquatic environment: -

The aquatic environment can be divided into three zones: -

1. Littoral zone
2. Limnetic zone
3. Profundal zone

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 1. Littoral zone: -

It is the top layer of lake, light can reach up to the bottom of this layer. Rooted
plants occupy this portion and they have projected leaves above the surface of
water for photosynthesis.

2. Limnetic zone: -

This is the intermediate zone of a lake. The depth of this zone is up to the depth of
effective light penetration. Planktons, nektons and neustons are the biotic
community in this zone.

3. Profundal zone: -

It is the bottom and deep most portion of the lake. The sunlight does not penetrate
in this zone. Hence producer organisms are not present in this zone. In ponds this
zone is often absent. The organisms living in the bottom sediments are called as
benthos.

Generally, in ponds, the littoral zone is large and the limnetic and profundal zones
are small or absent, whereas in lakes, the littoral zone is small and the limnetic and
profundal zones are large.

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