CORNELL NOTES: THE EARTH’S SUB-SYSTEMS

Essential Questions: WHAT ARE THE CONNECTIONS OF THE EARTH’S SUBSYSTEMS?

What is a closed The system that exhibits exchange of energy but

What are the 4 GEOSPHERE: comprises the solid Earth and The overlapping cycles in the Earth System
major sub- includes both Earth’s surface and the various
systems of the layers of the Earth's interior.
earth? ATMOSPHERE: gaseous envelope that surrounds
the Earth and constitutes the transition between
its last layer 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.
What are the The Earth is surrounded by a blanket of air, which we call the ATMOSPHERE.
features of the • The atmosphere consists of four unique layers (the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere,
atmosphere? thermosphere, and the exosphere).
• 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.
How are the • The TROPOSPHERE (0-10 km) constitutes the climate system that maintains the conditions suitable
layers of the for life on the planet's surface.
atmosphere • The STRATOSPHERE (10 to 50 km), contains ozone that protects life on the planet by filtering harmful
differ from one ultraviolet radiation from the Sun.
another? • The MESOSPHERE, THERMOSPHERE, and EXOSPHERE are zones of diffuse atmospheric components
in the far reaches of the atmosphere.
Atmosphere: HYDROSPHERE: The gases of the atmosphere readily exchange with those dissolved in water bodies (e.g.,
Interactions oceans, lakes, etc.)
with other Earth BIOSPHERE: The atmosphere supplies oxygen and carbon dioxide that form the basis of life processes
System (photosynthesis and respiration).
components GEOSPHERE: Gases in the atmosphere react with water to produce weak acids that aid in the breakdown of
rock.
(SYSTEM INTERACTION) TYPHOONS (atmosphere) sweep across the ocean (hydrosphere) and onto the land
(geosphere), damaging the dwellings of people (biosphere) who live along the coast.
What are the The BIOSPHERE is the “life zone” of the Earth, and includes all living organisms (including humans), and all
features of the organic matter that has not yet decomposed.
Biosphere? • The biosphere is structured into a hierarchy known as the food chain (all life is dependent on the first
tier (level) – mainly the primary producers that are capable of photosynthesis).
• Energy and mass are transferred from one level of the food chain to the next.
Biosphere: ATMOSPHERE: Life processes involve a many chemical reactions which either extract or emit gases to and
Interactions from the atmosphere (e.g., photosynthesis consumes carbon dioxide and releases oxygen, whereas
with other Earth respiration does the opposite).
System HYDROSPHERE: Evaporation of water from leaf surfaces (transpiration) transfers water to the atmosphere.
components 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.
What are the The HYDROSPHERE contains all the water found on our planet.
features of the • Water found on the surface of our planet includes the ocean as well as water from lakes and rivers,
hydrosphere? 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.
• Earth is 71% covered by water and only 29% is land.
Hydrosphere: ATMOSPHERE: Water is transferred between the hydrosphere and biosphere by evaporation and
Interactions with precipitation. Energy is also exchanged in this process.
other Earth System BIOSPHERE: Water is necessary for the transport of nutrients and waste products in organisms.
components 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.
What are the The GEOSPHERE is the solid Earth that
features of the includes the continental and ocean crust
geosphere? 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.
Geosphere: ATMOSPHERE: volcanism spews significant amounts of gases into the atmosphere. For example, volcanoes
Interactions with inject large amounts of Sulphur dioxide to the upper atmosphere, resulting in global cooling.
other Earth System HYDROSPHERE: The formation of many minerals involves incorporation or release of water. Also, water
components 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).
What are the latest A. The CRYOSPHERE is those portions of Earth's surface where water is in solid form, including sea ice,
sub-systems added lake ice, river ice, snow cover, glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets, and frozen ground (which
to the 4 major includes permafrost).
systems? Thus, there is a wide overlap with the hydrosphere. The cryosphere is an integral part of the global
climate system with important linkages and feedbacks generated through its influence on surface
energy and moisture fluxes, clouds, precipitation, hydrology, atmospheric and oceanic circulation.
B. The impact of man to the environment has become so massive that scientists propose the addition
of man or the “ANTHROPOSPHERE” to the Earth system.
What are some A. The term "biosphere" was popularized by Vladimir Vernadsky (1863-1945), a Russian - Ukrainian
important details scientist who hypothesized that life is a geological force that shapes the Earth.
about the earth’s B. In 1983, NASA advisory council established the Earth Systems Science Committee. The committee,
subsystem? chaired by Moustafa Chahine, published a ground breaking report Earth System Science: A Program
for Global Change in 1988. For the first time, scientists were able to demonstrate how the many
systems interact.
SUMMARY:
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