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The Earth as a System The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of: - Geosphere - Hydrosphere - Atmosphere - Biosphere
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The Earth as a System The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of: - Geosphere- Hydrosphere - Atmosphere- Biosphere.

Mar 26, 2015

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Page 1: The Earth as a System The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of: - Geosphere- Hydrosphere - Atmosphere- Biosphere.

The Earth as a System

The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of:

- Geosphere - Hydrosphere- Atmosphere - Biosphere

Page 2: The Earth as a System The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of: - Geosphere- Hydrosphere - Atmosphere- Biosphere.

The GeosphereComposition

• The solid part of the Earth (rocks, minerals, soil, etc.)– Most of the geosphere is below the surface

Thickness What is it?

Lithosphere 15-300km Cool, rigid layer that includes the crust; divided into plates

Asthenosphere 250km Plastic layer of the mantle that flows slowly, allowing plates above it to move

Outer Core 2200km Liquid nickel and iron

Inner Core 1228km Solid nickel and iron

Page 3: The Earth as a System The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of: - Geosphere- Hydrosphere - Atmosphere- Biosphere.

The GeospherePlate Tectonics

• Look at the world map. Does anything look like it could fit together like a puzzle?

Pangaea – Wegener’s idea that all of Earth’s continents were joined into one giant landmass 200 million years ago.

Page 4: The Earth as a System The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of: - Geosphere- Hydrosphere - Atmosphere- Biosphere.

The GeospherePlate Tectonics

• The tectonic plates ride atop the asthenosphere, moving in different directions

Boundary Movement Result

Convergent 2 plates move together

Mountains, volcanoes, earthquakes

Divergent 2 plates move apart

Ocean ridges (volcanic), rift valleys, earthquakes

Transform 2 plates slide past each other

Faults, earthquakes

Page 5: The Earth as a System The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of: - Geosphere- Hydrosphere - Atmosphere- Biosphere.

The GeospherePlate Tectonics

Global Earthquake Distribution Global Volcano Distribution

Page 6: The Earth as a System The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of: - Geosphere- Hydrosphere - Atmosphere- Biosphere.

The GeosphereEarthquakes Volcanic Eruptions

How does it happen?

Earth’s crust slips along a fault (crack in the crust)

Local Effects

Destruction, injuries, death

Global Effects

Tsunamis

Which of these geologic hazards poses the greatest threat to the environment? Why?

Page 7: The Earth as a System The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of: - Geosphere- Hydrosphere - Atmosphere- Biosphere.

The GeosphereEarthquakes Volcanic Eruptions

How does it happen?

Earth’s crust slips along a fault (crack in

the crust)

Pressure of magma inside the volcano becomes so great that it blows open the solid surface.

Local Effects

Destruction, injuries, death

Destruction, injuries, death, mudflows,

improved soil fertility

Global Effects

Tsunamis Ash clouds from major eruptions can

block sunlight & change drop the

average global temp.

Page 8: The Earth as a System The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of: - Geosphere- Hydrosphere - Atmosphere- Biosphere.

The GeosphereErosion

• Rocks on the surface are changed by wind, running water, and weather.

• Erosion is the removal and transport of weathered surface materials.

• Over long periods of time, erosion can wear away entire mountains and produce spectacular landforms.

Page 9: The Earth as a System The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of: - Geosphere- Hydrosphere - Atmosphere- Biosphere.

The Atmosphere

• The atmosphere is a mixture if gases surrounding Earth

• Composition: Air Pressure: air pressure as altitude

Page 10: The Earth as a System The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of: - Geosphere- Hydrosphere - Atmosphere- Biosphere.

The Layers of the AtmosphereThermosphere – high temps but molecules spread out, ions

Mesosphere – coldest layer, disintegrates meteors

Stratosphere – ozone layer (absorbs UV rays)

Troposphere – densest layer, weather occurs here

Page 11: The Earth as a System The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of: - Geosphere- Hydrosphere - Atmosphere- Biosphere.

Energy in the Atmosphere• Radiation – transfer of energy in waves (ex:

sunlight)• Conduction – flow of heat from objects that are

touching• Convection – hot fluids rise and cool fluids sink

Page 12: The Earth as a System The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of: - Geosphere- Hydrosphere - Atmosphere- Biosphere.

Greenhouse Effect• Greenhouse Effect - atmospheric gases

(greenhouse gases) trap heat near the Earth.

• Without the Greenhouse Effect the Earth would be too cold for life to exist!

Page 13: The Earth as a System The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of: - Geosphere- Hydrosphere - Atmosphere- Biosphere.

The HydrosphereIncludes all of the water on or near the Earth’s surface (oceans, lakes, rivers, polar icecaps, groundwater, & clouds)

Page 14: The Earth as a System The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of: - Geosphere- Hydrosphere - Atmosphere- Biosphere.

The Water Cycle is the continuous movement of water into the air, onto the land, and then

back to water sources.

- Evaporation – the change of state from a liquid to a gas (liquid water to water vapor)– Condensation – the change of

state from a gas to a liquid (water vapor to liquid water)

– Precipitation – any form of water that falls to Earth’s surface from clouds (rain, snow, etc.)

– Runoff – excess water that flows off of the surface

Page 15: The Earth as a System The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of: - Geosphere- Hydrosphere - Atmosphere- Biosphere.

The HydrosphereThe Water Cycle

Think-Pair- Share

How are all of Earth’s spheres (geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere) connected by the water cycle?

Page 16: The Earth as a System The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of: - Geosphere- Hydrosphere - Atmosphere- Biosphere.

The HydrosphereEarth’s Oceans

All of Earth’s oceans (Atlantic, Pacific, Indian,& Arctic Oceans) are connected. Oceans cover over 70% of Earth’s surface.

Page 17: The Earth as a System The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of: - Geosphere- Hydrosphere - Atmosphere- Biosphere.

The HydrosphereOcean Currents

Surface Currents Caused by wind patterns Influence climates of land

areas they flow pastEx: The Gulf Stream (warm

surface current) makes the British Isles warmer than other areas at the same latitude)

Deep CurrentsCaused when cold, dense

polar water sinks below warmer, less dense water and flows toward the equator

Page 18: The Earth as a System The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of: - Geosphere- Hydrosphere - Atmosphere- Biosphere.

Surface Ocean Currents

Common surface ocean currents show the flow of

the sea

In 1993, thousands of rubber duckies washed up on Alaskan

beaches. Oceanographers determined that a ship carrying the toys lost a container during a storm near Hawaii in 1992. The ducks were used to map

ocean currents.

Page 19: The Earth as a System The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of: - Geosphere- Hydrosphere - Atmosphere- Biosphere.

Oceans: The Global Temperature Regulator

The main function of the world ocean is to:Absorb & store energy

from the sun How?Water absorbs and

releases heat slower than land does.

**Without the ocean, the temperature of Earth’s atmosphere would be too extreme for life

Page 20: The Earth as a System The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of: - Geosphere- Hydrosphere - Atmosphere- Biosphere.

Fresh WaterOnly 3% of Earth’s water is

freshMost freshwater is held in

polar icecaps and glaciersLess than 1% of all Earth’s

water is groundwaterRain and melted snow sinks into

the ground forming groundwater. A rock layer called an Aquifer stores and allows the flow of groundwater.

Groundwater gives people drinking water and supplies water for many agricultural & industrial needs

Page 21: The Earth as a System The Earth is a system of 4 interacting components. Consists of: - Geosphere- Hydrosphere - Atmosphere- Biosphere.

The biosphere is the narrow layer of Earth where life can exist.

• Life on Earth requires:A. Liquid water

B. Temperatures between 10°C and 40°C

C. Source of energy

a. Plants & algae use sunlight to make food

b. Most other organisms get energy from what they eat

Earth is a closed system – energy is transferred among living things through the food chain.