EARTH SUBSYSTEMS / SPHERES

LEARNING
COMPETENCY
Explain that the Earth consists of four
subsystems across whose boundaries matter
and energy flow
 LEARNING TARGET
I can create a presentation showing the flow of matter across
the earth’s subsystems

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 TASK A

Describing the 4 subsystems of the

• EVERYTHING IN EARTH'S SYSTEM CAN BE PLACED INTO ONE OF
FOUR MAJOR SUBSYSTEMS: LAND, WATER, LIVING THINGS, OR AIR.
THESE FOUR SUBSYSTEMS ARE CALLED "SPHERES." SPECIFICALLY,
THEY ARE THE "LITHOSPHERE" (LAND), "HYDROSPHERE" (WATER),
"BIOSPHERE" (LIVING THINGS), AND "ATMOSPHERE" (AIR).
 WATER CYCLE PROCESSES
• EVAPORATION IS THE PRIMARY PATHWAY THAT WATER MOVES FROM THE LIQUID
STATE BACK INTO THE WATER CYCLE AS ATMOSPHERIC WATER VAPOR.
• SUBLIMATION IS MOST OFTEN USED TO DESCRIBE THE PROCESS OF SNOW AND ICE
CHANGING INTO WATER VAPOR IN THE AIR WITHOUT FIRST MELTING INTO WATER.
• CONDENSATION GENERALLY OCCURS IN THE ATMOSPHERE WHEN WARM AIR RISES,
COOLS AND LOOSES ITS CAPACITY TO HOLD WATER VAPOR. 
• PRECIPITATION IS WATER RELEASED FROM CLOUDS IN THE FORM OF RAIN, FREEZING
RAIN, SLEET, SNOW, OR HAIL. IT IS THE PRIMARY CONNECTION IN THE WATER CYCLE
THAT PROVIDES FOR THE DELIVERY OF ATMOSPHERIC WATER TO THE EARTH.
• TRANSPIRATION IS THE PROCESS OF WATER MOVEMENT THROUGH A PLANT AND ITS
EVAPORATION FROM AERIAL PARTS, SUCH AS LEAVES, STEMS AND FLOWERS.
• THE GEOSPHERE IS
CONSIDERED THAT
PORTION OF THE EARTH
SYSTEM THAT INCLUDES
THE EARTH'S INTERIOR,
ROCKS AND MINERALS,
LANDFORMS AND THE
PROCESSES THAT SHAPE
THE EARTH'S SURFACE.
•  EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE IS A

THIN LAYER OF GASES THAT

HOVER ABOVE OUR PLANET'S
SURFACE.
THE ATMOSPHERE PROVIDES US
WITH OXYGEN TO BREATHE,
SHELTERS US FROM SOLAR UV
RADIATION, AND WARMS
EARTH'S SURFACE VIA THE
GREENHOUSE EFFECT.
 LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE

• THE EXOSPHERE IS THE OUTERMOST LAYER OF THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE.  WITHIN THIS

REGION PARTICLES OF ATMOSPHERE CAN TRAVEL FOR HUNDREDS OF KILOMETERS IN A
BALLISTIC TRAJECTORY BEFORE BUMPING INTO ANY OTHER PARTICLES OF THE ATMOSPHERE.
• THE THERMOSPHERE IS THE LAYER IN THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE DIRECTLY ABOVE THE
MESOSPHERE AND BELOW THE EXOSPHERE. WITHIN THIS LAYER OF THE ATMOSPHERE,
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION CAUSES PHOTOIONIZATION/PHOTODISSOCIATION OF MOLECULES,
CREATING IONS IN THE IONOSPHERE.
•  THE MESOSPHERE IS DIRECTLY ABOVE THE STRATOSPHERE AND BELOW THE
THERMOSPHERE. IT EXTENDS FROM ABOUT 50 TO 85 KM (31 TO 53 MILES) ABOVE OUR PLANET.
TEMPERATURE DECREASES WITH HEIGHT THROUGHOUT THE MESOSPHERE.
• THE STRATOSPHERE IS A LAYER OF EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE. IT IS THE SECOND LAYER OF THE
ATMOSPHERE AS YOU GO UPWARD.
• THE TROPOSPHERE IS THE LOWEST LAYER OF EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE, AND IS ALSO WHERE
NEARLY ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS TAKE PLACE. IT CONTAINS 75% OF THE ATMOSPHERE'S
MASS
• THE BIOSPHERE IS MADE
UP OF THE PARTS OF
EARTH WHERE LIFE
EXISTS. THE BIOSPHERE
EXTENDS FROM THE
DEEPEST ROOT SYSTEMS
OF TREES TO THE DARK
ENVIRONMENT OF OCEAN
TRENCHES, TO LUSH RAIN
FORESTS AND HIGH
• THE CRYOSPHERE (FROM THE
GREEK ΚΡΎΟΣ KRYOS, "COLD",
"FROST" OR "ICE" AND ΣΦΑΙ͂ΡΑ
SPHAIRA, "GLOBE, BALL") IS
AN ALL-ENCOMPASSING TERM
FOR THOSE PORTIONS OF
EARTH'S SURFACE WHERE
WATER IS IN SOLID FORM,
INCLUDING SEA ICE, LAKE ICE,
RIVER ICE, SNOW COVER,
GLACIERS, ICE CAPS, ICE
Create a graphic organizer that shows the flow of
energy on earth through its subsystems.
• REFERENCES / SOURCES:
• HTTPS://SCIED.UCAR.EDU/SHORTCONTENT/TROPOSPHERE-OVERVIEW
• HTTPS://WWW.NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.ORG/ENCYCLOPEDIA/BIOSPHERE/