DIFFERENT DOMAINS OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

These are the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere.

Lithosphere

 The lithosphere is the solid crust and the hard top layer of the earth. It is made up of rocks and
minerals and covered with a thin layer of soil. The lithosphere is an irregular surface with mountains,
plateaus, plains, valleys, landforms, etc.

 It extends to a depth of about 60 miles (100 km). In depth, it is divided into about a dozen separate,
rigid blocks, or tectonic plates. Slow convection currents deep within the mantle, generated by
radioactive heating of the interior, are believed to cause the lateral movements of the plates (and
the continents that rest on top of them) at a rate of several inches per year.

 Lithosphere is a source of minerals for living organisms. It also provides substratum for support.

Hydrosphere

 Hydrosphere is the domain of water.

 It comprises of the various sources of water and different types of water bodies like rivers, lakes, seas,
oceans, estuaries, etc.

 It is essential for all living organisms as it supplies water to the organisms.

Atmosphere

 The atmosphere is the thin layer of air that surrounds the earth.

 It is held by the gravitational force of the earth.

 It contains a number of gases like oxygen, which is essential for life, dust and water vapour.

 The Atmosphere protects us from the harmful UV rays from the sun by blocking them due to an ozone
sheet.

 Changes in atmosphere bring changes in weather and climate.

 Atmosphere supplies gases, specially oxygen and carbon dioxide to the organisms for respiration and
photosynthesis.

Biosphere

 All life makes up the biosphere. It is the zone of the earth where land, water and air interact with each
other to support life.
 The earth’s atmosphere extends about 1000 kilometers, but only about 6 kilometers are inhabited by
living organisms. In sea, living organisms have been found as far deep as 7 kilometers. Thus the
maximum spread of living forms i.e. the extent of biosphere is about 13 kilometers.