Unit 1: Earth and Its Place in the Universe

Lesson 1 - What makes Earth so special? (4:12)

Life on Planet Earth

● Earth is home to countless habitats and organisms.
● A habitat is a place where an organism lives.
○ 2 types of habitats: terrestrial (land) or aquatic (water)
● Earth (3:33) is perfectly suited for LIFE!

The Spheres of Earth

1) Lithosphere
2) Hydrosphere
3) Atmosphere
4) Biosphere

1) Lithosphere
● “lithos” is Greek for stone
● Lithosphere is the Earth’s solid outer
layer (crust and uppermost mantle)
including mountains & ocean floors.

2) Hydrosphere
● “hydro” is Greek for water
● Hydrosphere is all of the Earth’s
water on, above, or below the
Earth’s surface.
● It exists in solid, liquid, and gas
form such as oceans, lakes,
groundwater, and clouds.
● 97% of Earth’s water is
contained in the oceans.
● Earth is the only known planet to
have a consistent and stable
source of water on its surface.
● There is evidence of water on
moons of other planets in our
solar system. Given the reliance
of life on water, the search for
life on other planets begins with
the search for water.
● Reading extension: Water in the Solar System
3) Atmosphere
● “atmos” is Greek for vapour
● Atmosphere is the layer of
gases surrounding Earth,
including about 78% nitrogen,
21% oxygen, and less than
1% of argon, water vapour,
carbon dioxide, etc.
● The role of the atmosphere
for Earth is to moderate
surface temperatures by
acting as an insulator;
prevents excessive heating
during the day and cooling
during the night. It also helps
to block solar radiation (UV
light).
● Layers of the Atmosphere
(3:59)

4) Biosphere
● “Bio” is Greek for life
● Biosphere is where life can exist.
● All living things need space, water, and nutrients to survive.
● The different combinations of the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere allow the
diversity of life on Earth to exist!

Ecosystem Introduction
● All of the living organisms that share a region and
interact with each other and their non-living
environment.
● The living components, called biotic factors, include
all organisms, their remains and their products or
wastes.
● The non-living components or abiotic factors,
include physical and chemical components such as
temperature, wind, water, minerals and air.
● Ecosystems can be characterised by their
particular organisms, temperature range or water
depth.

Sustainable Ecosystems
● An ecosystem that is maintained through natural
processes.
● Sustainability is the ability to maintain natural
ecological conditions or processes without
interruption, weakening or loss of value.
● These types of ecosystems support a wide variety
of organisms.