GEOG 111: INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL

GEOGRAPHY

Lecture 4:
The Earth System

Instructor: Dr. Peter Bilson Obour

1
 Learning Goals

To examine earth system in terms of:

 The atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the lithosphere

and the biosphere
 To understand relationships between the system

2
 The Earth System/The Four Earth Realms

 The natural systems encountered in physical

geography operate within the four great realms, or
spheres, of the Earth. These are the atmosphere;
the lithosphere, the hydrosphere, and the biosphere.

 These components of the Earth are regarded as a

system:
 Earth Systems Overview

The Earth is a system consisting of four

major interacting components:

 the atmosphere,
 the biosphere,
 the hydrosphere, and
 the lithosphere

Let’s examine each of these four spheres in

detail………
 The Atmosphere

 The Earth is surrounded by a blanket of air,

which we call the atmosphere.
 The atmosphere consists of 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.
 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.
 Lithosphere

The Lithosphere 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 Lithosphere is not static,
but its surface (crust) is in a
constant state of motion.
 Mineral resources are mined
from the geosphere.
 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.
 Biosphere: Meaning and Scope

 The biosphere is the sum of all ecosystems. It is the zone of

life on Earth.

 Most of the biosphere is contained in the shallow surface zone

called the life layer.

 It includes the surface of the lands and the upper 100 meters
of the ocean.

 On land, the life layer is the zone of interactions among the

hydrosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere.
 Biosphere: Meaning and Scope

 It consists of the water, air and soil.

 It is the thin layer at the surface of the earth that supports

living organisms.

 the biosphere is the global ecological system integrating all

living beings and their relationships, including their interaction
with the elements of the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and
atmosphere.
 The Earth System/The Four Earth Realms

see Gabler et al, pp.12-14 & Strahler and Strahler 2006,

pp.14-15
 Biosphere: Meaning and Scope

 The biosphere is postulated to have evolved, beginning with

a process of biopoesis (life created naturally from non-living
matter such as simple organic compounds) or biogenesis (life
created from living matter), at least some 3.5 billion years
ago.

 The earliest evidence for life on Earth includes biogenic

graphite found in 3.7 billion-year-old metasedimentary rocks
from Western Greenland and microbial mat fossils found in
3.48 billion-year-old sandstone from Western Australia.
 Functions of the Biosphere

The functions of the biosphere is encapsulated in the functions of

its component units.
 Functions of the Atmosphere

 Provides the necessary gases for metabolic processes such as

respiration, photosynthesis etc;

 Filters sunlight (UV), deflecting the blue and violet rays (giving
the sky its blue colour);

 Responsible for determining weather conditions such as

storms, wind and lightning.

 Medium for the transfer of pollen grains and spores and other
bacterial material
 Functions of the Hydrosphere

 Contains many living organisms - organisms are found in

freshwater and marine biomes;

 Essential for the functioning of all living organisms as the

greater proportion of their bodies is formed by water.

 Medium of exchange of nutrients in organisms

 Function of the Lithosphere

 It is an important source of minerals that are essential for the

survival of organisms.

 Support to certain organisms e.g., plants

 Abode for certain organisms, e.g., termites, rodents

 Earth System Science

Earth System Science is the

study of how the four spheres of
the Earth system interact
continually, each affecting the
others.

Let’s look at a couple of

examples of how a change in
one system (or sphere) affects
other Earth systems.
 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).

Lithosphere

Atmosphere Biosphere
 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 Lithosphere

Biosphere
 System Interactions
Earthquakes (Lithosphere) can damage buildings
which may kill people (biosphere), as well as cause
fires which release gases into the air (atmosphere).
Earthquakes in the ocean may cause a tsunami
(hydrosphere) which can eventually hit land and kill
both animals and people (biosphere).

Biosphere

Lithosphere Atmosphere

Hydrosphere
End of Class

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