Earth systems

Earth Systems Review Reinforce Scientists divide Earth into four systems to help better understand the planet. These systems interact and affect one another. They are thebiosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. The Earth system that contains all living things is the biosphere. Living things are found in air, water, and soil so the biosphere has no distinct boundaries. The force of Earth’s gravity pulls molecules of gases into a layer surrounding the planet known as the atmosphere. It is made up of 78% nitrogen gas, 21% oxygen gas, and other trace gases such as argon, carbon dioxide, and ozone. Water vapor is part of the hydrosphere, the system that includes all water on Earth. About 97% of Earth’s water is in the ocean. Ocean water is salty because of dissolved minerals that flow and collect from the solid Earth. Living things need freshwater that is not salty in order to survive. Only about 3% of Earth’s water is freshwater and is found in places such as glaciers, groundwater, lakes, ponds and rivers. Runoff is the portion of precipitation on land that ultimately reaches lakes and streams and can carry minerals and pollution with it. The last Earth system is the geosphere. The geosphere is the solid part of Earth and includes the rocks and soil on land and beneath the oceans. The geosphere is divided into three basic layers. The crust is the thin layer of rock and soil found as continental crust or below the ocean as oceanic crust. The mantle is the middle layer made of hot, dense, molten rock. The core is the center made mostly of the metals iron and nickel. It’s divided into the outer liquid core and the inner solid iron core. Changes are always taking place in Earth’s systems. Water flows and changes state as it moves through the water cycle. The sun provides the energy that drives the water cycle. Thermal energy is absorbed during evaporation as water changes from liquid to gas. Energy is released during condensation as water changes from gas to liquid. The rock cycle is the series of processes that transport and continually change rocks into different forms. Soil, rock, and metal are composed of smaller particles called minerals. Minerals are identified by their physical properties and they are the building blocks of rocks. Rocks are broken down into sediment by glaciers, wind, rain, and activities of some organisms in a process called weathering. The atmosphere continually changes and affects the other systems by changes in pressure and temperature. Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a certain time and place. It can be influenced by conditions in the atmosphere, the geosphere, and the hydrosphere. Climate is the average weather pattern for a region over a long period of time. Earth has many climates. Earth Systems Label each photo with the system best represented by each. (Use the choices below to spell correctly.)atmospherebiospherehydrospheregeosphere biosphere hydrosphere geosphere atmosphere Earth Systems II Match each definition with the system described. biosphere Earth system that contains all living things atmosphere Thin layer of gases surrounding the planet geosphere Solid part of Earth hydrosphere System containing all Earth's water 97% of the Earth's water is found in rivers glaciers oceans lakes What are the major gases of the atmosphere? carbon dioxide and water vapor nitrogen and carbon dioxide nitrogen and oxygen oxygen and water vapor What does the hydrosphere contain? air plants soil water The Biosphere includes which of these things? (select all that fit) cats trees mountains rain Water Cycle Label the diagram with the four processes shown at each location. (Use the choices below to spell correctly.)precipitationevaporationcondensationrunoff evaporation condensation precipitation runoff Landforms Watch the video and think about how it relates to the Geosphere. Select all of the ways that a mountain can be worn away. by water by ice by wind The wearing away of land is called erosion evaporation geosphere plateau This is a landform that loses more water to air than it gets through rain, snow, or other kinds of moisture. rainforest desert wetland woodlands Chose the places listed below that would be considered deserts. Sahara Washington, D.C. Antarctica Describe a way that the atmosphere (such as wind) or hydrosphere (such as rain, ice, ocean) can impact the geosphere (landforms such as mountains, islands, deserts). Look back at the video and select one specific example. Describe that example being sure to use the appropriate vocabulary. You can pause the video to help take notes and write down important words.