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