Biosphere Bio = Life Contains ALL living organisms Smallest to largest, on land or in water.

Biosphere Bio = Life Contains ALL living

organisms Smallest to largest,

on land or in water

Lithosphere Litho = stone A.K.A. Geosphere All layers of the

Earth (Crust, Mantle, Core)

Hydrosphere

Hydro = water ALL water (below

ground, on land, in sky)

Can be solid, liquid, or a gas

Atmosphere Atmo = air/vapor All gases found in

ground and above the Earth’s surface

Sphere Interactions

Spheres are always interacting with each other

A change in one sphere can cause an effect in another sphere

Ex: A lake (hydrosphere) dries up causing all the aquatic life (biosphere) to die.

The continuous movement of water between the Earth’s 4 spheres.

Water Cycle

Convection Circulation of gases or liquids due to thermal energy

Evaporation Occurs when liquid water absorbs thermal energy

Liquid changes to gas

Condensation occurs when water vapor loses thermal energy

changes from a gas to a liquid

Precipitation Rain, hail, sleet, snow

Runoff Water on the

surface Collects in

lakes, rivers, oceans

Infiltration Water that is

absorbed into the ground

Collects in the water table (groundwater)

Transpiration

Evaporation that plants perform during photosynthesis