Lec 02 Earth System

L/O/G/O
The Earth System

Atmospheric Chemistry SS-09
Fall-2022
Dr. Mujtaba Hassan
Assistant Professor
Department of Space Science IST,

Islamabad
The Earth System
• “Earth is a complex
system of interacting
physical, chemical and
biological processes,
and provides a natural
laboratory whose
experiments have been
running since the
beginning of time.”
NASA
www.themegallery.com
http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/earthsystem/nutshell /
Earth As A Closed System
Closed system: exchange of energy but negligible

exchange of mass with surroundings
Earth System Science
• Earth is a dynamic body

with many separate, but
highly interacting parts or
spheres.
• Earth system science
studies Earth as a system
composed of numerous
parts, or subsystems.

The Earth System M. Ruzek, 1999

The Earth’s Four Spheres
Earth’s Four Spheres
The Earth is a system consisting of four major interacting

components:
Geosphere: comprises the solid Earth and includes both Earth’s
surface and the various layers of the Earth's interior.
Atmosphere: gaseous envelope that surrounds the Earth and
constitutes the transition between its and the vacuum of space.
Hydrosphere: includes all water on Earth (including surface
water and groundwater)
Biosphere: the life zone of the Earth and includes all living
organisms, and all organic matter that has not yet decomposed.
Earth Interacting Components
Scale
Processes operating in the Earth system take place on spatial scales varying
from fractions of millimeters to thousands of kilometers, and on time scales
that range from milliseconds to billions of years.
• Examples of instantaneous - breathing; rotation of the Earth; earthquake
• Examples of long term - making coal; plate tectonics
Cycles
The Earth system is characterized by numerous overlapping cycles in which
matter is recycled over and over again. Cycles involve multiple spheres and
systems interactions.
Examples of cycles: day and night; rock cycle; seasons
Energy
The Earth system is powered by energy from two major sources: the Sun
and the planet's internal heat.
Humans and the Earth System
People are part of the Earth system and they impact and are impacted by its
materials and processes.
Overlapping Cycles in the Earth System
http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/GRAPHIC0/Astronomy/EarthSystems.gif
Interactions between Spheres
Atmosphere Geosphere Hydrosphere Biosphere
Ozone change Ozone change;

Atmosphere Ozone change El Nino photosynthesis
Hurricanes;
tsunamis;
Hurricanes; tectonics; erosion; Hurricanes;
tsunamis; volcanoes tsunami; coal,
volcanoes; wave Earthquakes; nutrient cycles;
Geosphere action Volcanic eruptions wave action volcanoes
Hydrosphere El Nino Waves Wave action photosynthesis

photosynthesis
Biosphere through soils transpiration
http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/GRAPHIC0/Astronomy/EarthSystems.gif
The Atmosphere
The Earth is surrounded by a blanket of air,

which we call the atmosphere.
 The atmosphere consists of four unique
layers (the troposphere, the stratosphere, the
mesosphere, and the thermosphere).
 The atmosphere reaches over 560
kilometers (348 miles) up from the surface of
the Earth.
 The atmosphere is primarily composed of
nitrogen (about 78%) and oxygen (about
21%). Other components exist in small
quantities.
http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/academy/space/atmosphere.html
Atmosphere
consists of a mixture of gases composed primarily of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and
water vapour
The mesosphere,
thermosphere, and
exosphere are zones of
diffuse atmospheric
components in the far The stratosphere
reaches of the (10 to 50 km),
atmosphere. contains ozone that
protects life on the
planet by filtering
The troposphere (0- harmful ultraviolet
10 km) constitutes the radiation from the
climate system that Sun.
maintains the conditions
suitable for life on the
planet's surface.
Atmosphere: Interactions with other Earth System
components
Hydrosphere: The gases of the atmosphere readily exchange

with those dissolved in water bodies (e.g. oceans, lakes, etc.)
Biosphere: The atmosphere supplies oxygen and carbon dioxide

that form the basis of life processes (photosynthesis and
respiration).
Geosphere: Gases in the atmosphere react with water to produce

weak acids that aid in the breakdown of rock.
System Interactions
Hurricanes (atmosphere) sweep across
the ocean (hydrosphere) and onto the
land (geosphere), damaging the
dwellings of people (biosphere) who
live along the coast.
Hydrosphere
Atmosphere Geosphere
Biosphere
http://www.itvs.org/risingwaters/
The Biosphere
The biosphere is the “life zone” of the Earth, and includes all
living organisms (including humans), and all organic matter that has not
yet decomposed.
 The biosphere is 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).
 Energy and mass is transferred from one level of the food chain to
the next.
www.themegallery.com http://www.geology.ufl.edu/Biosphere.html
Biosphere: Interactions with other Earth System components
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).
Hydrosphere: Evaporation of water from leaf surfaces

(transpiration) transfers water to the atmosphere.
Geosphere: The 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.
www.themegallery.com http://www.geology.ufl.edu/Biosphere.html
Hydrosphere
The hydrosphere contains all the water
found on our planet.
 Water found on the surface of our planet
includes the ocean as well as water from lakes
and rivers, streams, and creeks.
 Water found under the surface of our planet
includes water trapped in the soil 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 the form of glacial ice.
http://water.tamu.edu/watercycle.html
Subcomponents of hydrosphere are connected via the hydrologic
cycle
Hydrosphere: Interactions with other Earth System
components
Atmosphere: Water is transferred between the hydrosphere

and atmosphere by evaporation and precipitation. Energy is
also exchanged in this process.
Biosphere: Water is necessary for the transport of nutrients

and waste products in organisms.
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.
Geosphere
The geosphere is the solid
Earth that 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.
 The geosphere is not static
(unchanging), but its surface
(crust) is in a constant state of
motion.
 Mineral resources are mined
from the geosphere.
http://ess.geology.ufl.edu/ess/Introduction/Geosphere.html
Geosphere: Interactions with other Earth System
components
Atmosphere: volcanism spews significant amounts of gases
into the atmosphere. For example, volcanoes inject large
amounts of sulphur dioxide to the upper atmosphere, resulting
in global cooling.
Hydrosphere: The 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.
Biosphere: Nutrients released from rocks during their

breakdown are dissolved in water (to be used by aquatic
plants).
http://ess.geology.ufl.edu/ess/Introduction/Geosphere.html
System Interactions
Volcanoes (geosphere) erupt, sending ash
and gases into the air (atmosphere) and
sending lava and ash down onto surrounding
forests (biosphere) and human habitations
(biosphere).
Geosphere
Atmosphere Biosphere
http://www.ecuador-travel.net/information.volcano.pichincha.eruption.htm
Source: Geophysical Fluid Dynamic Laboratory (GFDL) NOAA
Interaction of Earth’s Spheres
Matter and energy move back and forth between the

different Earth spheres, and the different spheres
interact every day, all around you
Interactions among the Earth’s spheres change the

spheres to differing degrees
These impacts can be single events, temporary changes,

or ongoing change
Cycles and the Earth
Some cycles (water cycle) repeat over

relatively short periods of time, while others
repeat over millions of years (tectonic cycle).
On Earth, the water cycle, energy cycle,

carbon cycle, tectonic cycle and rock cycle
“work” together to maintain a dynamic
planet.
The Bottom Line
Considerations on how processes within the Earth System

interact are extremely important in the understanding of
the real world !
Understanding physical and chemical processes in the Earth

System is as important as understanding biological
entities in terms of understanding biological systems (all
are connected)
Sources of Earth’s Energy
1. Solar energy- 99.895 %
2. Geothermal energy- 0.013 %
3. Tidal energy- 0.002 %
Solar Energy
• Comes from nuclear fusion reactions in the

sun
• Drives wind, ocean currents, waves
• Source of energy that causes rocks to

weather forming soil
Geothermal Energy
• Comes from the Earth as radioactive

materials decompose
• Drives the movement of the continents,

powers geysers, earthquakes, and volcanoes
Tidal Energy
• The result of the pull of the moon

on the Earth’s oceans
• Slows down Earth’s rotation and

causes the oceans to bulge

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L/O/G/O

The Earth System

Department of Space Science IST,

Closed system: exchange of energy but negligible

• Earth is a dynamic body

The Earth System M. Ruzek, 1999

The Earth is a system consisting of four major interacting

Atmosphere Geosphere Hydrosphere Biosphere

Ozone change Ozone change;

Hydrosphere El Nino Waves Wave action photosynthesis

The Earth is surrounded by a blanket of air,

Hydrosphere: The gases of the atmosphere readily exchange

Biosphere: The atmosphere supplies oxygen and carbon dioxide

Geosphere: Gases in the atmosphere react with water to produce

Atmosphere: Life processes involve a many chemical reactions

Hydrosphere: Evaporation of water from leaf surfaces

Geosphere: The biosphere is connected to the geosphere

Atmosphere: Water is transferred between the hydrosphere

Biosphere: Water is necessary for the transport of nutrients

Geosphere: Water is the primary agent for the chemical and

Hydrosphere: The formation of many minerals involve

Biosphere: Nutrients released from rocks during their

Matter and energy move back and forth between the

Interactions among the Earth’s spheres change the

These impacts can be single events, temporary changes,

Some cycles (water cycle) repeat over

On Earth, the water cycle, energy cycle,

Considerations on how processes within the Earth System

Understanding physical and chemical processes in the Earth

1. Solar energy- 99.895 %

2. Geothermal energy- 0.013 %

3. Tidal energy- 0.002 %

• Comes from nuclear fusion reactions in the

• Drives wind, ocean currents, waves

• Source of energy that causes rocks to

• Comes from the Earth as radioactive

• Drives the movement of the continents,

• The result of the pull of the moon

• Slows down Earth’s rotation and

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