SUBSYSTEMS OF EARTH

Earth Science - 11 STEM

EARTH AS CLOSED SYSTEM atmosphere

● Reaches over 560 kilometers (348 miles)
up from the surface of the Earth
● Consists of five unique layers (the
troposphere, the stratosphere, the
mesosphere, the thermosphere, and the
exosphere)

● Closed system: exchange of energy but

negligible exchange of mass with
surroundings 1.) Exosphere
● Within the atmosphere, the systems do not ● uppermost region
interact with the solar system or universe. ● no air to breathe, very cold

EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE 2.) Thermosphere

● absorbs the sun's radiation, very hot
● puts on a light show (auroras) from
colliding particles
● where satellites orbit

3.) Mesosphere
● coldest atmospheric layer
● cold enough to freeze water vapor into ice
clouds
● where meteors burn up, creating the
streaks of light (shooting stars)

4.) Stratosphere
● second layer as you go upward
● temperature increases with height
(temperature inversion)
● where jets and ozone layer can be found

5.) Troposphere
● lowest layer
● contains 75% of the total mass of the
planetary atmosphere
● site of all weather

interactions of atmosphere with others

EARTH’S FOUR SPHERES
1.) Geosphere
● comprises the solid Earth and includes
both Earth’s surface and the various layers
of the Earth's interior.
2.) Atmosphere
● gaseous envelope that surrounds the Earth
and constitutes the transition between it
and the vacuum of space
3.) Hydrosphere
● includes all water on Earth (including
surface water and groundwater)
4.) Biosphere
● the life zone of the Earth and includes all
living organisms, and all organic matter that
has not yet decomposed.
1.) Geosphere
● gases in the atmosphere react with water
to produce weak acids that aid in the
breakdown of rock
2.) Biosphere
● atmosphere supplies oxygen and carbon
dioxide that form the basis of life
processes (photosynthesis and
respiration)
3.) Hydrosphere
● gases of the atmosphere readily exchange
with those dissolved in water bodies
biosphere
● “life zone”; includes all living organisms
(including humans) and all organic matter
that has not yet decomposed
● structured into a hierarchy known as the
food chain (all life is dependent on the first
tier – mainly the primary producers that are
capable of photosynthesis).
 SUBSYSTEMS OF EARTH
Earth Science - 11 STEM
● energy and mass is transferred from one
level of the food chain to the next.

interactions of biosphere with others

1.) Geosphere
● biosphere is connected to the geosphere
through soils (mixtures of air, mineral
matter, organic matter, and water). Plant
activity (e.g. root growth and organic acid
production) are also for the mechanical
and chemical breakdown of the rocks.

2.) Atmosphere
● life processes involve a many chemical
reactions which either extract or emit
gases to and from the atmosphere (e.g.
photosynthesis consumes carbon dioxide
and releases oxygen, whereas respiration
does the opposite).
3.) Hydrosphere
● evaporation of water from leaf surfaces
(transpiration) transfers water to the
atmosphere.
hydrosphere
● contains all the water found on our planet
● water found on and under the surface of
our planet includes bodies of water and
groundwater
● water found in our atmosphere includes
water vapor
● frozen water on our planet includes ice
caps and glaciers
● only about 3% of the water on Earth is
“fresh” water, and about 70% of the fresh
water is frozen in
interactions of hydrosphere to others
interactions of geosphere with others
1.) Hydrosphere
● formation of many minerals involve
incorporation or release of water. Also,
water speeds up chemical reactions that
produce or destroy minerals, and aids in
the melting of rock
2.) Atmosphere
● volcanism spews significant amounts of
gases into the atmosphere. For example,
volcanoes inject large amounts of sulfur
dioxide to the upper atmosphere, resulting
in global cooling
3.) Biosphere
● nutrients released from rocks during their
breakdown are dissolved in water (to be
used by aquatic plants)

1.) Geosphere
● water is the primary agent for the chemical
and mechanical breakdown of rock
(weathering), to form loose rock fragments
and soil, and sculpts the surface of the
Earth

2.) Atmosphere
● water is transferred between the
hydrosphere and biosphere by
evaporation and precipitation. Energy is
also exchanged in this process

3.) Biosphere
● water is necessary for the transport of
nutrients and waste products in organisms

geosphere
● solid Earth
● includes the continental and ocean crust as
well the various layers of Earth’s interior
● 94% of the Earth is composed of the
elements oxygen, silicon, and
magnesium
● not static (unchanging), but its surface
(crust) is in a constant state of motion
● mineral resources are mined from the
geosphere