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Chapter 3 Earth System
Chapter 3 Earth System
and Earth
Subsystems
El Niño (e.g. hot and dry, no
rain, water crisis, etc.)
•Emphasize that El Nino is not
limited to atmospheric
conditions. It is the result of
hydrosphere (ocean)-
atmosphere interaction.
El Niño means The Little Boy, or Christ Child in
Spanish. El Niño was originally recognized by
fishermen off the coast of South America in the
1600s, with the appearance of unusually warm water
in the Pacific Ocean. The name was chosen based
on the time of year (around December) during which
these warm waters events tended to occur.
The term El Niño refers to the large-scale ocean-
atmosphere climate interaction linked to a periodic
warming in sea surface temperatures across the
central and east-central Equatorial Pacific.
Typical El Niño effects are likely to develop over
North America during the upcoming winter season.
Earth as a SYSTEM
SYSTEM - A set of interconnected components that are
interacting to form a unified whole.
EXAMPLE of a system- ECOSYSTEM.
(Organisms are interrelated and interacting)
-condensation
- precipitation
-Evaporation
- transpiration
-- infiltration
-- surface run-off
.Condensation is the
process where water vapor
(a gas) changes into water
droplets (a liquid). This is
when we begin to see
clouds.
Precipitation is water that
falls to the earth. Most
precipitation falls as rain but
includes snow, sleet, drizzle,
and hail. On average, about
39 inches (980 mm) of rain,
snow and sleet fall each
year around the world.
Evaporation is the change of
state of water (a liquid) to water
vapor (a gas). On average, about
47 inches (120 cm) is evaporated
into the atmosphere from the
ocean each year.
2. Transpiration is evaporation of
liquid water from plants and
trees into the atmosphere.
Nearly all (99%) of all water that
enters the roots transpires into
the atmosphere.
Infiltration is the process by
which water on the ground
surface enters the soil.
The Earth system is essentially a CLOSED SYSTEM.
Geosphere Atmosphere
Major Themes
Scale
Energy
The Earth system is powered by one external
source: the Sun
- radioactive decay
- gravitational energy (heat still being lost from
planetary formation).
Major Themes
Cycles
Dynamic mass of
water that is
continuously on the
move
1. About 70% of the Earth is covered with liquid
water (hydrosphere) and much of it is in the
form of ocean water.
2. Only 3% of Earth's water is fresh: two-thirds
are in the form of ice, and the remaining
one-third is present in streams, lakes, and
groundwater.
Hydrosphere Biosphere
Atmosphere
LITHOSPHERE
The lithosphere
includes the crust and
the upper part of the
mantle.
Layers of the Earth
- Denser layer
- the Earth’s magnetic field
- strengthens the idea that the
Earth’s outer core is molten/liquid.
Historical Development of
the concept of EARTH SYSTEM
Sources:
1.Ms. Laguda ppt. (Regional SHS
Mass Training of Grade 11
Teachers)
2.TG Earth & Life Science