EARTH
SYSTEM
PREPARED BY ENGR. ROGIN PAUL IAN G. GOPEZ
A SYSTEM is a
regularly interacting or
interdependent group of
items forming a unified
whole.
EARTH SYSTEM
is the science that studies
Earth as a system, where the
constant interaction of the
four principal components of
the Earth makes life possible
in it.
CLOSED SYSTEM
is a system in which there
is only an exchange of heat
or energy and no exchange of
matter
The earth receives energy
from the sun and returns
some of this energy to the
space.
EARTH’S FOUR SPHERES
The Earth is a system consisting of four major interacting
components:
Geosphere: 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 the Earth 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.
EARTH’S FOUR SPHERES
ATMOSPHERE
BIOSPHERE
GEOSPHERE HYDROSPHERE
GEOSPHERE
• The geosphere is the solid Earth that
includes the continental and ocean
crust as well the various layers of
Earth’s interior.
• 89% of the Earth is composed of the
elements oxygen, silicon, aluminum
and iron.
• The geosphere is not static (changing),
but its surface (crust) is in a constant
state of motion.
• Mineral resources are mined from the
geosphere.
• It is important because the underlying
mantle convection fractured the Earth’s
lithosphere into more dozen pieces of
plates. These plate move, over, under and
around each other which lead to plate
tectonics.
SYSTEM INTERACTION
ATMOSPHERE
VOLCANIC
BIOSPHERE
ERUPTION
GEOSPHERE
HYDROSPHERE
SYSTEM INTERACTION
ATMOSPHERE
EARTHQUAKES BIOSPHERE
GEOSPHERE
HYDROSPHERE
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 dependent 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.
ANTHROPOSPHERE
The anthroposphere (sometimes also
referred as technosphere) is that part of
the environment that is made or
modified by humans for use in human
activities and human habitats.
Build a chain!
BIOSPHERE:
INTERACTIONS
WITH OTHER
EARTH SYSTEM
COMPONENTS
BIOSPHERE:
INTERACTIONS
WITH OTHER
EARTH SYSTEM
COMPONENTS
BIOSPHERE:
INTERACTIONS
WITH OTHER
EARTH SYSTEM
COMPONENTS
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 “fresh”
water, and about 70% of
the fresh water is frozen
in the form of glacial ice.
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.
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.
What is the atmosphere?
• Some gases of the atmosphere absorb and reflect
harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun,
protecting Earth and its living things.
• The atmosphere also causes space debris to burn
up before reaching Earth’s surface and causing
harm.
ATMOSPHERE
consists of a •The mesosphere,
mixture of gases thermosphere, and
exosphere are zones
composed of diffuse atmospheric
components in the far
primarily of reaches of the
atmosphere.
nitrogen, oxygen, The stratosphere
carbon dioxide, and •The troposphere (0-10
km) constitutes the
(10 to 50 km),
contains ozone that
water vapor climate system that
maintains the
protects life on the
planet by filtering
conditions suitable for harmful ultraviolet
life on the planet's radiation from the
surface. Sun.
SYSTEM INTERACTION
GEOSPHERE
HURRICANES BIOSPHERE
ATMOSPHERE
HYDROSPHERE
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.
Each of these spheres is also considered a system
because they are always moving and being
recycled.
• In the biosphere the life forms have a lifespan and
when they die they provide nourishment for other
organisms.
• In the geosphere, the rocks are endlessly being
broken down, then recycled into new rocks.
• In the hydrosphere, the water is endlessly
moving, changing states and becoming refreshed.
• In the atmosphere, the air is continually rising,
falling and mixing.
• In what ways do the interaction between
Earth and it’s moon influence the Earth
System?
• If the Moon disappears, what will be the
effect among 4-systems of Earth?
