THE BIOSPHERE, LITHOSPHERE, HYDROSPHERE AND ATMOSPHERE
The area near the surface surface of the earth can be divided up into four inter-connected geo-spheres that make up the carbon cycle these include the :
The understanding of '-sphere- in this situation means 'to surround or encompass'
The following help us understand the mean of the four spheres :
- Lithosphere
- Hydrosphere
- Biosphere
- Atmosphere
The understanding of '-sphere- in this situation means 'to surround or encompass'
The following help us understand the mean of the four spheres :
- Lithosphere - litho referring to rocks and minerals
- Hydrosphere - hydro referring to water
- Biosphere - bio referring to life
- Atmosphere - atmo referring to steam and vapor
THE LITHOSPHERE -
It is believed the lithosphere evolved about 4.6 billion years ago. The lithosphere refers to the solid, rocky crust that covers the entire planet. This solid, rocky crust is composed of a number of different rocks that have been hrouped into three categories based on how they are formed. These three groups include:
The lithosphere includes a various number of different landforms such as mountains, valleys, rocks, minerals and soil. The lithosphere is constantly changing due to forces and pressures such as the sun, wind, ice, water and chemical changes.
The earth’s surface is composed into two types of lithospheres. There are known as the oceanic and continental lithospheres.
The oceanic lithosphere includes the uppermost layers of mantle which is topped with a thin yet heavy oceanic crust. This is where the hydrosphere and lithosphere meet.
The continental lithosphere include the uppermost layers of mantle which is topped with a thick yet light continental crust. This is where the atmosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere meet the lithosphere.
THE HYDROSPHERE -
The hydrosphere refers to the most important resource which I water. The hydrosphere includes all forms of water in the Earth’s environment. The forms of water include things such as the ocean, lakes, rivers, snow and glaciers, water underneath the earth’s surface and even the water vapour that is found in the atmosphere. The hydrosphere is always in motion as seen through the movement and flow of water in rivers, streams and the ocean (beach). Plant and animal organisms rely on the hydrosphere for their survival as water is essential. The hydrosphere is also home to many plants and animals and it believed that the hydrosphere covers approximately 70% of the earth’s surface
THE BIOSPHERE -
The biosphere is composed of all living organisms, including; plants and animals. It is believed that all life exists in the biosphere. Most of the living organisms are found from up to three meters below ground to thirty meters above it and also in the to 200 meters of the ocean and seas. The biosphere could not survive if it wasn't for the other spheres as all organisms need water from the hydrosphere, minerals for the lithosphere and gases from the atmosphere. Energy flow is essential to maintain the structure of organisms by the splitting of phosphate bonds.
THE ATMOSPHERE -
The atmosphere referrers to the air that surrounds the earth. The atmosphere is always in motion and constantly changing. It’s believed that there are about 14 different gases that make up the atmosphere. The atmosphere is also responsible for the weather as the weather occurs within the lower atmosphere.
The bottom layer of the atmosphere is known as the troposphere. The troposphere is where the weather happens. It is the warmest near the Earth because of the heat rising from the earth’s surface but it becomes colder with altitude. This layer is separated from the next by what is know s as tropopause. The tropopause is the point in which temperatures will begin to change due to the increase of altitude.
Above the tropopause is the stratosphere. The stratosphere is where there large concentration of ozone gas is found. The ozone gasses are essential as they absorb a large percent of radiant solar energy, protecting the earth from harmful ultra violet rays also known as UV.
The coldest of spheres is known as the mesosphere this is where the water vapor often freezes to create clouds that are purely made of ice. The mesosphere is separated from the thermosphere by the mesopause.
The topmost layer is known as the thermosphere, this is where many satellites circle the earth. Due to the thin air and proximity of the sun, the temperatures in the thermosphere tend to rapidly increase and decrease.
It is believed the lithosphere evolved about 4.6 billion years ago. The lithosphere refers to the solid, rocky crust that covers the entire planet. This solid, rocky crust is composed of a number of different rocks that have been hrouped into three categories based on how they are formed. These three groups include:
- Metamorphic rocks – Metamorphic rocks are formed by heat and / or pressure from pre-existing rocks.
- Igneous rocks – igneous rocks are formed by the cooling of hot molten rock also known as magma. When the hot magma cools it begins to harden meaning once it had fully cooled it create what is known to be an igneous rock.
- Sedimentary rocks – sedimentary rocks are formed from pre-existing rocks. When rocks erode and mix with other dirt, clay and particles then settle together the mix together to form a sedimentary rock.
The lithosphere includes a various number of different landforms such as mountains, valleys, rocks, minerals and soil. The lithosphere is constantly changing due to forces and pressures such as the sun, wind, ice, water and chemical changes.
The earth’s surface is composed into two types of lithospheres. There are known as the oceanic and continental lithospheres.
The oceanic lithosphere includes the uppermost layers of mantle which is topped with a thin yet heavy oceanic crust. This is where the hydrosphere and lithosphere meet.
The continental lithosphere include the uppermost layers of mantle which is topped with a thick yet light continental crust. This is where the atmosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere meet the lithosphere.
THE HYDROSPHERE -
The hydrosphere refers to the most important resource which I water. The hydrosphere includes all forms of water in the Earth’s environment. The forms of water include things such as the ocean, lakes, rivers, snow and glaciers, water underneath the earth’s surface and even the water vapour that is found in the atmosphere. The hydrosphere is always in motion as seen through the movement and flow of water in rivers, streams and the ocean (beach). Plant and animal organisms rely on the hydrosphere for their survival as water is essential. The hydrosphere is also home to many plants and animals and it believed that the hydrosphere covers approximately 70% of the earth’s surface
THE BIOSPHERE -
The biosphere is composed of all living organisms, including; plants and animals. It is believed that all life exists in the biosphere. Most of the living organisms are found from up to three meters below ground to thirty meters above it and also in the to 200 meters of the ocean and seas. The biosphere could not survive if it wasn't for the other spheres as all organisms need water from the hydrosphere, minerals for the lithosphere and gases from the atmosphere. Energy flow is essential to maintain the structure of organisms by the splitting of phosphate bonds.
THE ATMOSPHERE -
The atmosphere referrers to the air that surrounds the earth. The atmosphere is always in motion and constantly changing. It’s believed that there are about 14 different gases that make up the atmosphere. The atmosphere is also responsible for the weather as the weather occurs within the lower atmosphere.
The bottom layer of the atmosphere is known as the troposphere. The troposphere is where the weather happens. It is the warmest near the Earth because of the heat rising from the earth’s surface but it becomes colder with altitude. This layer is separated from the next by what is know s as tropopause. The tropopause is the point in which temperatures will begin to change due to the increase of altitude.
Above the tropopause is the stratosphere. The stratosphere is where there large concentration of ozone gas is found. The ozone gasses are essential as they absorb a large percent of radiant solar energy, protecting the earth from harmful ultra violet rays also known as UV.
The coldest of spheres is known as the mesosphere this is where the water vapor often freezes to create clouds that are purely made of ice. The mesosphere is separated from the thermosphere by the mesopause.
The topmost layer is known as the thermosphere, this is where many satellites circle the earth. Due to the thin air and proximity of the sun, the temperatures in the thermosphere tend to rapidly increase and decrease.