“We are all connected.

To
each other, biologically. To
the earth, chemically. To the
rest of the universe
atomically.”
The quote above is said by Neil
DeGrasse Tyson, an American
astrophysicist. Do you agree with
him? Why do you think he said that
we are all connected?
A certain group of interacting, interrelated, or
interdependent parts that work together to
form a complex whole is called a system.

The scientists around the world try to study our

planet through the smaller systems it have and
fit them together to form a whole picture which
is known as the Earth System Science.
The Earth
System
All parts of the earth- land, water, air and
life - are interconnected which means that
they continuously interact with one
another. These interacting parts that form
a complex whole define a “system” and
each part in earth’s system is called a
“subsystem” (“The Earth System”)
 Earth As A Closed System

What does it mean as closed system?

 Earth System Science

 Earth is a dynamic body

with many separate, but
highly interacting parts or
spheres.
 Earth system science
studies Earth as a system
composed of numerous
parts, or subsystems.
Based on the picture, what are the different
subsystems of the Earth?
The Earth System M. Ruzek, 1999
The Earth’s Four Spheres
 Earth’s Four Spheres
The four subsystems of the Earth are:
1.Atmosphere – the gaseous layer above the Earth’s surface
primarily composed of different gases such as nitrogen and
oxygen.
2.Biosphere – the zone of the Earth where all forms of life exist.
This serves as the ecosystem of all living and non- living
organisms.
3.Geosphere – the solid part of the Earth that consists the entire
planet from the center of the core to the outer crust. It includes
core, mantle, and crust of the Earth.
4.Hydrosphere – the water part of the Earth that includes oceans
and glaciers.
Overlapping Cycles in the Earth System
 The Atmosphere-(“atmos” means vapor)

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.
http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/academy/space/atmosphere.html
An asteroid is a small rocky object that orbits the Sun.
A comet is a ball of ice and dust that obits the Sun.
A meteoroid is a small piece of an asteroid or a comet.
A meteor is a streak of light in the sky that appears when
a meteoroid burns up upon entering Earth's atmosphere.
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.
 System Interactions
Hurricanes (atmosphere) sweep
across the ocean (hydrosphere) and
onto the land (geosphere), damaging
the dwellings of people (biosphere)
who live along the coast.

Hydrosphere

Atmosphere Geosphere

http://www.itvs.org/risingwaters/

Biosphere
 The Biosphere-(“bio” means life)
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 dependant 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.

http://www.geology.ufl.edu/Biosphere.html
 Biosphere: Interactions with other Earth System components
Atmosphere: Life processes involve a many chemical reactions
which either extract or emit gases to and from the atmosphere (e.g.
photosynthesis consumes carbon dioxide and releases oxygen,
whereas respiration does the opposite).

Hydrosphere: Evaporation of water from leaf surfaces

(transpiration) transfers water to the atmosphere.

Geosphere: The biosphere is connected to the geosphere through

soils (mixtures of air, mineral matter, organic matter, and water).
Plant activity (e.g. root growth and organic acid production) are also
for the mechanical and chemical breakdown of the rocks.
Hydrosphere-(“hydro “means water)
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.
Subcomponents of hydrosphere are
connected via the hydrologic cycle
 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.
Geosphere/Lithosphere-(“litho” means stone or rock)
The geosphere is the solid Earth
that includes the continental and ocean
crust as well the various layers of
Earth’s interior.
•94% of the Earth is composed of the
elements oxygen, silicon, and
magnesium.
• The geopsphere is not static
(unchanging), but its surface (crust) is
in a constant state of motion.
•Mineral resources are mined from the
geosphere.
 Earth’s Layers: Composition and Mechanical Characteristics
Composition Physical Characteristics
crust Primarily silica
lithosphere brittle solid
plus light asthenosphere solid (but
metallic nearly
elements liquid)

mantle
mesosphere solid
Primarily
silica plus
iron and
magnesium

outer core liquid

Primarily iron
core and nickel
inner core solid

Note: Lithosphere contains both crust and uppermost (brittle) layer of mantle
 Geosphere: Interactions with other Earth System components

Atmosphere: volcanism spews significant amounts of gases

into the atmosphere. For example, volcanoes inject large amounts
of sulphur dioxide to the upper atmosphere, resulting in global
cooling.

Hydrosphere: The formation of many minerals involve

incorporation or release of water. Also, water speeds up chemical
reactions that produce or destroy minerals, and aids in the melting
of rock.

Biosphere: Nutrients released from rocks during their breakdown

are dissolved in water (to be used by aquatic plants).
 System Interactions
Volcanoes (geosphere) erupt, sending ash and
What are the different
gases into the air (atmosphere) and sending
systems of the Earth are
lava and ash down onto surrounding forests
(biosphere) and human habitations
involved during volcanic
(biosphere).

eruption? Explain the

interaction.

Atmosphere Biosphere
 System Interactions
Earthquakes (geosphere) can damage buildings which may kill
people (biosphere), as well as cause fires which release gases into
the air (atmosphere). Earthquakes in the ocean may cause a
tsunami (hydrosphere) which can eventually hit land and kill both
animals and people (biosphere).

Biosphere

Geosphere Atmosphere

Hydrosphere
 Where Do Humans Fit In ?
As components of the biosphere, humans are temporary
receptacles of the matter and energy that flows through the
Earth System.

“You are what you eat, drink, and breathe”

Human health is, to some degree, a function of how this flow of

matter and energy flows through, and interacts with, the human
body.

In many cases, problems of human health are fundamentally

linked to the natural distribution of Earth materials.
The Bottom Line

Considerations on how processes within the Earth System

interact are extremely important in the understanding of the
real world !

Understanding physical and chemical processes in the Earth

System is as important as understanding biological entities
in terms of understanding biological systems (all are
connected)

Let’s break down some walls this term !

Activity
Directions: Try to analyze
the diagram on the right
which shows the
interconnected interactions
within the different Earth
systems or spheres. Write
the corresponding number
that matches to the
interconnection of two
respective Earth spheres.
For example,
connection no. 1
shows how
atmosphere is related
to the biosphere. One
explanation is that the
atmospheric chemistry
and temperature
(atmosphere) affect
organisms (biosphere).
Weathering and
erosion controls
nutrient supply
to life in the
oceans

LINE 7
Atmospheric
temperature
affects
evaporation

LINE 3
Locations of
continents
controls
circulation
pattern of oceans

LINE 9
Locations of
continents
controls
circulation
pattern of oceans

LINE 9
Plants aid
weathering
(physical and
chemical) of
rocks

LINE 5
Atmospheric
chemistry and
temperature
affect weathering
of rocks.

LINE 2