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DEFINITIONS:
The biosphere is a closed self-regulating system that integrates living organisms with nonliving components of a planet (Lenkeit). The biosphere is part of the outer shell of a planet and includes the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere (answers.com).
The hydrosphere is an open system that contains all of a planet's solid, liquid, and gaseous water (Answers.com). As an open system, the hydrosphere interacts with the surrounding systems through inputs and outputs (Lenkeit).
The atmosphere is an open system that consists of a gaseous mixture enveloping a planet (Answers.com). These gasses, known as air, include O2, N2 and H2O. The atmosphere is also composed of water, ice and dust particles. Atmosphere functions like a blanket, keeping Earth's heat from escaping into space (Lenkeit). It has also been compared to a greenhouse: like glass it lets short wave insulation inside, but keeps most of long wave ground radiation from going out (Lenkeit).
The lithosphere is an open system, which contains all of the cold, hard, solid rock of the planet's crust (surface), the hot semi-solid rock that lies underneath the crust, the hot liquid rock near the center of the planet, and the solid iron core (center) of the planet (Answers.com). On Earth, the lithosphere comprises the crust and the upper part of the mantle. The lithosphere is about sixty miles thick (Lenkeit).
INTERACTIONS:
The four spheres of the Earth system are highly interdependent causing interactions between the spheres to have many cause and effect relationships. A change in one sphere can cause changes in another sphere, which may cause changes in yet another sphere. The biosphere is sustained through interactions with the gasses from the atmosphere, minerals of the lithosphere, and water of the hydrosphere in the energy cycle (Answers.com). The atmosphere is essential for the biosphere because it supplies oxygen, water, CO2 and some nutrients (N) to living organisms, and protects living organisms from temperature extremes and excessive UV radiation (Answers.com). Outside of the biosphere, the atmospheric interacting with the lithosphere and hydrosphere is when the ocean waves are affected by the wind being slowed by friction from the land (Lenkeit). The lithosphere interacts with the hydrosphere and atmosphere through processes such as erosion where rock and soil become removed through physical and chemical weathering.
Our understanding of the Earth’s interior has been a focus for scientific study for multiple decades, recognised in the early 1900’s. Throughout the years, scientists have debated and quarreled over their findings, observations and theories for the most correct model of the composition and internal structure of the Earth.
Hydrosphere: This is where the water sphere is located. It is made up of everything
The earth’s surface and the mantle make up the composition of the tectonic plates. This layer, called the lithosphere, rests on top of the asthenosphere, a layer of molten rock. The asthenosphere is constantly moving and flowing due to the extreme pressures...
Ecosystems can be as small as a tide pool or a rotting log or as large as a body of water, forest or desert. Each system can consist of a community of plants and animals and this community is sustained by raw materials, chemical elements and water. Each community is surrounded by soil, water, climate and other conditions of the environment. An example of an ecosystem is a pond it supports a community of fish, frogs, insects and plants. Basic food is small organisms and plankton for the fish to consume. If the ecosystem does not maintain a balance it can weaken and the species will suffer. The systems are affected by fire, disease and severe climate changes not including predators and man such as building, pollution and mining.
Just one look outside and you will see all kinds of ecosystems. For example the oak tree is a ecosystem to all kinds of amazing creatures in the world. It is home to birds and bugs that live in it’s bark and its branches, and to the squirrels who make their nests in the trunks. It also provides food for other animals to. When an acorn falls off the branch deer and mice eat them too fatten up for the winter. The squirrel keeps them in it’s mouth. Another ecosystem is the ocean. One big part of that ecosystem is the coral reef. It is home to many plants and animals. For example sea plants move back and forth in the current, and fish and other sea animals come to hide in it just incase an animal harms or hurts it. Cool fact is that one quarter of all the fish in the sea live in that ecosystem. The coral reef also attracts other animals like birds, whales, turtles and seals. There are many different kinds of ecosystems small or big they are still a really big part of
A biome, also known as life zones, consists of all plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as the physical environment in a particular area. A biome is characterized by its’ plant life, climate, and location. Climate and physical features determine the boundaries of a biome. A biome is made up of many different ecosystems. Ecosystems tend to have the same plants and animals as neighboring biomes around the boundaries.
General Description: Earth may be the most unique of all planets because of the life forms we know exist here and the way they utilize the Suns energy. The Earth is composed of a great amount of water, mostly in the form of oceans, which make up most of its surface. It also contains various gases, of which make it possible for us humans to exist and is a system that exists between plants and animals here.
Ecosystems are a system involving the interactions between a community of living organisms in a particular area and its nonliving environment. In the tropical forest there are many living and nonliving organisms that interactive for the daily growth and life in the forest. Tropical forest’s cover about seven percent’s of the earth and contains approximately fifty percent of the worlds’ species. Tropical rain forest is and interesting ecosystem, it contains different and a wide variety of species. All the species interact with one another to help sustain way of life.
Scientists have begun to say that we have to do more to protect our ecosystem, because our very existence is depending upon it. When the ecosystem is not functioning properly the continuation of plant, animal and human life ecosystems would be impossible. Life cycles can not function without ecosystems. The ecosystem provides us with clean air, water, habitats for fish and other services. They also aid in the mod...
Air is composed of molecules. Air is matter. It has mass and takes up space. Air is composed of different gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases. Air molecules are in constant motion. As they move, they come in contact with surfaces. Air molecules push and press on the surfaces they contact. The amount of force per unit area that air molecules exert on a surface is called air pressure. (What is Air Pressure 6) Air pressure is caused by all of the air molecules in the Earth's atmosphere pressing down on the Earth's surfaces. We can measure air pressure to help us predict weather conditions around the world. Temperature also affects air pressure because air contracts when it cools and expands when it is heated. So if air above a region of Earth cools, it does not extend to as high an altitude as the surrounding air. In this case, its pressure at higher temperature is lower than in the surroundings even when the pressure at the surface is the same as in surrounding areas. Then air flows into the cooler region at high altitude, making the total weight of air above the region greater than in the surroundings. This is a "high". The cool air descends to the earth's surface. Near the surface, the falling air spreads out,
The earth is divided into three main layers: the core, the mantle and the crust. The core is further divided into the solid inner core and the liquid outer core. This layer is mostly iron and nickel and is extremely hot. The mantle is divided into the lower and upper mantle and is composed mostly of iron, magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. The outermost layer, which contains all life on earth, is the crust. This layer is rich in oxygen and silicon as well as aluminum, iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and sodium. It is in between the crust and the mantle that we find tectonic plates. The outermost layers of the earth are divided into two categories based on their physical properties. The asthenosphere is the lower of these categories, composed of clastic or flowing mantle. The upper layer is known as the lithosphere and contains both the top, rigid layer of the mantle and the crust. The lithosphere is what makes up the tectonic plates. The composition of these plates is based on their location. Plates under the surface of the ocean are made of mostly of basalt, while continental plates are comprised of rocks such as andesite and granite.
Biosphere 2 is a supersealed “greenhouse” enclosing an area of 3.15 acres. Exit and entry is through a double airlock. It consists of several different ecosystems within the “greenhouse.” It houses a tropical rainforest, savannah, scrub forest, desert, fresh- and salt-water marshes and a miniocean that even contains a coral reef. This biosphere is inhabited by over 4000 species in all.
The amount of water that is on earth at any one time remains fairly constant because the water is moving form one reservoir into another such as river to ocean or ocean to atmosphere. This cycle involves the exchange of energy causes a change in temperature. This is why when evaporation occurs, it takes energy from its surroundings and cools the environment. While condensation occurs energy is released and the surrounding environment becomes warmer. The atmosphere is a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and other gasses that surround the earth. The atmosphere is made up of five layers known as the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, the thermosphere, and the exosphere. The troposphere is the lowest layer of the earth’s atmosphere; it is also where all weather on earth takes place. The stratosphere is the second layer of the atmosphere, right above the troposphere. Above the stratosphere is the mesosphere and above that is the troposphere. The uppermost region of earth’s atmosphere is the exosphere. The air in the exosphere is extremely thin and almost the same as space. One of the many reasons the earths atmosphere is important is because it blocks
The branch of science that deals with how living things, including humans, are related to their surroundings is called ecology . The Earth supports some 5 million species of plants, animals, and microorganisms. These interact and influence their surroundings, forming a vast network of interrelated environmental systems called ecosystems. The arctic tundra is an ecosystem and so is a Brazilian rain forest. The islands of Hawaii are a relatively isolated ecosystem. If left undisturbed, natural environmental systems tend to achieve balance or stability among the various species of plants and animals. Complex ecosystems are able to compensate for changes caused by weather or intrusions from migrating animals and are therefore usually said to be more stable than simple ecosystems. A field of corn has only one dominant species, the corn plant, and is a very simple ecosystem. It is easily destroyed by drought, insects, disease, or overuse. A forest may remain relatively unchanged by weather that would destroy a nearby field of corn, because the forest is characterized by greater diversity of plants and animals. Its complexity gives it stability.
Water covers about seventy one percent of Earth’s surface. Earth is the only planet to have stable bodies of liquid water on its surface which is crucial for all known life forms. Water is a substance which acts as a solvent in which organic compounds can mix, and it is the substance which is thought to be necessary to facilitate the formation of life. There are many forms of water which include ice, liquid, and gas. Because water can exist as a gas, it can be stored in the atmosphere and be delivered as precipitate. Water also helps regulate the climat...