The Earth’s Systems

LEARNING COMPETENCIES
The learners explain that the Earth consists of four
subsystems, across whose boundaries matter and
energy flow.

SPECIFIC LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the lesson, the learners will be able to:
[Link] the concept of a system.
[Link] the earth as a system composed of
subsystems
 The Earth System
CHALLENGE:
Be able to explain how do matter and energy flow
through the four subsystems of the Earth.
Terrarium
 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
[Link]
 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 (Lithosphere): 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.
Overlapping Cycles in the Earth System

[Link]
 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.
[Link]
 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
reaches of the
atmosphere.

The stratosphere
(10 to 50 km),
•The troposphere (0-10 contains ozone that
km) constitutes the protects life on the
climate system that planet by filtering
maintains the conditions harmful ultraviolet
suitable for life on the radiation from the
planet's surface. Sun.
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

[Link]

Biosphere
 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 [Link]

“fresh” water, and about 70% of the fresh

water is frozen in the form of glacial ice.
Subcomponents of hydrosphere are
connected via the hydrologic cycle
Distribution of Water on
Earth
 Ocean Zones
 Oceans are divided into layers called zones:
horizontal and vertical.
VERTICAL OCEAN ZONES
HORIZONTAL OCEAN ZONES
Epipelagic Zone
Intertidal Zone Photic Zone or Sunlight Zone
Neritic Zone Mesopelagic Zone
Disphotic Zone or Twilight Zone
Oceanic Zone Bathypelagic Zone
Benthic Zone Aphotic zone or Midnight Zone
Abyssopelagic Zone
Aphotic Zone or Midnight Zone
Hadopelagic Zone
Aphotic Zone or Midnight Zone
Intertidal Neritic Oceanic Zone
Zone Zone

Continental Sunlight
Shelf

Benthic Zone
Epipelagic Zone
0
Mesopelagic Zone 200

1000
Bathypelagic Zone
4000
Abyssopelagic Zone
6000

Hadopelagic Zone 11,000

Hydrosphere: Interactions with other Earth System components

Atmosphere: Water is transferred between the hydrosphere

and biosphere 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 geopsphere is not static
(unchanging), but its surface
(crust) is in a constant state of
motion.
•Mineral resources are mined from
the geosphere.
[Link]
 Earth’s Layers: Composition and Mechanical Characteristics
Composition Physical Characteristics
crust Primarily silica
lithosphere brittle solid
plus light asthenosphere solid (but
metallic nearly
elements liquid)

mantle
mesosphere solid
Primarily
silica plus
iron and
magnesium

outer core liquid

Primarily iron
core and nickel
inner core solid

Note: Lithosphere contains both crust and uppermost (brittle) layer of mantle
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).
 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

[Link]
Atmosphere Biosphere [Link]
[Link]
 System Interactions
Earthquakes (geosphere) 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

Geosphere Atmosphere

Hydrosphere
 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 dependant 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.

[Link]
Biosphere is divided into biomes
Biomes are regions in the world that share
similar plant structures, plant spacing,
animals, climate and weather.
Biomes are the world’s major communities.
They are classified according to the
predominant vegetation characterized by
adaptations of organisms to that particular
climate.
 There are 4 major biomes:

1. aquatic- includes freshwater(ponds, lakes,

rivers, etc.) and marine (ocean,estuaries, etc.)
2. Forest- includes tropical, temperate,
coniferous and taiga.
3. Desert- is characterized by low rainfall( less
than 50 cm/year).
[Link] is the coolest of all biomes, has low
biotic diversity and simple vegetation
structure.
 Tropical
Rainforest
Abiotic factors
 high biodiversity and
biomass
 both hot and moist;
 ideal for bacteria and other
microorganisms; they
quickly decompose matter
on the forest floor allowing
nutrients to be recycled.
 <1 cm of topsoil
 About 100 in/yr of rainfall

[Link]
 Taiga
Abiotic factors

 Winters are long and

cold
 Averages 100 in/yr
precipitation—
mostly snow
 Soil poor in nutrients
and very acidic
 Growing season is
very short
[Link]
ecosystems_biomes/biomes_northern_forest.html
Coniferous/Boreal ( aka Taiga)
Balsam Fir

 Coniferous (needle-bearing) trees

are abundant
 Roots long to anchor trees
 Needles long, thin and waxy
 Low sunlight and poor soil keeps
plants from growing on forest floor
[Link]
Desert
Abiotic
factors
 <10 in/yr of
rain
 Little to no
topsoil due to
high winds.
 Minerals not
deep in soil. While there are many types of
 Too dry for deserts, they all share one
decay characteristic: They are the
[Link]
earthsysflr/[Link] driest places on Earth!
 Tundra Abiotic Factors
 <25 in/year
 Temp rarely higher than 100C
 Permafrost layer
 Short growing season

[Link]
 Freshwater Ecosystems
 Salinity <0.5 ppt.
 Lake are the deepest of fresh water systems
 Lakes are fed by underground aquifer or stream
 Ponds are fed by rainfall and may be seasonal
[Link]
 Ocean Abiotic factors

Open ocean is one of the least Covers nearly ¾ of

productive areas on earth, too the Earth’s
little sunlight to support plant surface.
growth

[Link]
biomes_aquatic.htm
Grasslands

There are two types of grasslands. The tropical

grasslands (savannah) and the temperate
grasslands (chaparral)

 Dominated by gasses
 savannah has a wet and dry season
 Temperate grassland has a hot summer and cold
winter
 Savanna tropical grasslands.
 A savanna is a rolling grassland scattered with shrubs and
isolated trees, which can be found between a tropical
rainforest and desert biome. Not enough rain falls on a
savanna to support forests.

Dry season:4 inches of rain falls
 Summer; there is lots of rain
 lions, zebras, elephants, and
 giraffes and many types of
 ungulates(animals with
 hooves) graze and hunt
 Chaparral Biome
 very hot and dry.
 the winter is very mild and

is usually about 10 °C.

 Summer is so hot and dry at

40 °C that fires and droughts

are very common.
 Organisms are well-adapted

to hot & dry weather“:coyotes,

jack rabbits, mule deer, alligator
lizards, horned toads,
praying mantis and ladybugs.
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.
How do matter and
energy flow across
boundaries of the four
subsystems of the
Earth?
 The carbon cycle
 Carbon is found in carbohydrates, fats, proteins,
bones, cartilage and shells
 Carbon cycle = describes the route of carbon
atoms through the environment
 Photosynthesis by plants, algae and cyanobacteria
 Removes carbon dioxide from air and water
 Produces oxygen and carbohydrates
 Plants are a major reservoir of carbon
 Respiration returns carbon to the air and oceans
 Plants, consumers and decomposers
 The nitrogen cycle
 Nitrogen comprises 78% of our atmosphere
 It is contained in proteins, DNA and RNA
 Nitrogen cycle = describes the routes that
nitrogen atoms take through the environment
 Nitrogen gas cannot be used by organisms
 Nitrogen fixation = lightning or nitrogen-fixing
bacteria combine (fix) nitrogen with hydrogen
 To form ammonium
 Which can be used by plants
 Nitrification and denitrification
 Nitrification = bacteria convert ammonium ions first
into nitrite ions then into nitrate ions
 Plants can take up these ions
 Animals obtain nitrogen by eating plants or other
animals
 Decomposers get it from dead and decaying plants or
other animals
 Releasing ammonium ions to nitrifying bacteria
 Denitrifying bacteria = convert nitrates in soil or
water to gaseous nitrogen
 Releasing it back into the atmosphere
Harmful Effects of Human Activities
Carbon
Cycle
 The phosphorus cycle
 Phosphorus (P) is a key component of cell
membranes, DNA, RNA, ATP and ADP
 Phosphorus cycle = describes the routes that
phosphorus atoms take through the environment
 Most phosphorus is within rocks
 It is released by weathering
 There is no significant atmospheric component
 With naturally low environmental concentrations
 Phosphorus is a limiting factor for plant growth
The hydrologic cycle
 Water is essential for biochemical reactions
 It is involved in nearly every environmental system
 Hydrologic cycle = summarizes how liquid, gaseous and
solid water flows through the environment
 Oceans are the main reservoir
 Evaporation = water moves from aquatic and land
systems into the atmosphere
 Transpiration = release of water vapor by plants
 Precipitation, runoff, and surface water = water returns
to Earth as rain or snow and flows into streams, oceans,
etc.
Sun is the major source of energy. When light energy
reaches Earth, three things happen:
•Light is reflected back into space.
•Light is transmitted thru an object.
•Light energy is absorbed and captured into

photosynthesis, where energy transformation happens.

•Energy transfer is governed by the laws of

thermodynamics:
•1. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed( 1 st law)
•2. No transfer of energy is 100 % complete ( second

law)
As a general rule, only 10 % of the energy is made available to th
next consumer as one goes up in the pyramid.
 Where Do Humans Fit In ?

As components of the biosphere, humans are temporary

receptacles of the matter and energy that flows through
the Earth System

“You are what you eat, drink, and breathe”

Human health is, to some degree, a function of how this

flow of matter and energy flows through, and interacts
with, the human body

In many cases, problems of human health are

fundamentally linked to the natural distribution of Earth
materials
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)

Everything is connected with everything else.