Unit 2: SubsytemsUnit 2: SubsytemsAustin Lyles, Bret Austin Lyles, Bret

Montgomery, J NajeraMontgomery, J Najera

EQ#1 EQ#1 • What makes Earth a System?What makes Earth a System?

What is a system?What is a system?• A A systemsystem is an assemblage of things to is an assemblage of things to

create a uniform purpose.create a uniform purpose.• The Earth can be defined as a system The Earth can be defined as a system

because it is an assemblage of other because it is an assemblage of other subsystems that keeps all things on Earth subsystems that keeps all things on Earth sustained.sustained.

• The subsystems (The The subsystems (The Lithosphere, Lithosphere, Atmosphere,Atmosphere, BiosphereBiosphere, and , and HydrosphereHydrosphere) ) are are interdependentinterdependent of one another, which of one another, which means each of them rely on the others.means each of them rely on the others.

•The interactions that can occur The interactions that can occur within the earth system often within the earth system often occur as a series of chain occur as a series of chain reactions. This means one reactions. This means one interaction leads to another interaction leads to another interaction, which leads to yet interaction, which leads to yet another interaction--it is a ripple another interaction--it is a ripple effect through the earth's spheres.effect through the earth's spheres.

– Most scientists believe that 3.5 Most scientists believe that 3.5 billion years ago electrical billion years ago electrical discharges from lightning discharges from lightning interacted with chemical interacted with chemical compounds in the oceans to compounds in the oceans to produce cells of living matter. produce cells of living matter. Another vital part of why earth is a Another vital part of why earth is a system is biosphere because it is system is biosphere because it is part of the earth's crust, waters, part of the earth's crust, waters, and atmosphere that supports lifeand atmosphere that supports life

•There is a system we have There is a system we have called a called a closed systemclosed system which means it is isolated which means it is isolated from its surroundings by a from its surroundings by a boundary that admits no boundary that admits no transfer of matter or transfer of matter or energy across it.energy across it.

• Another main key of why earth is a Another main key of why earth is a system is because most of our planet system is because most of our planet is made up of liquid which is is made up of liquid which is Hydrosphere that contains water on or Hydrosphere that contains water on or surrounding the surface of the globe, surrounding the surface of the globe, including the water of the oceans and including the water of the oceans and the water in the atmosphere. The the water in the atmosphere. The hydrosphere is a hydrosphere is a Habitat Habitat for many of for many of Earth’s creatures. A habitat is an Earth’s creatures. A habitat is an environment in which a creature lives.environment in which a creature lives.

EQ#2EQ#2

What specific traits What specific traits define each define each

subsystem, and how subsystem, and how do the subsystems do the subsystems interact with one interact with one

another?another?

LithosphereLithosphere• The lithosphere, (or GeosphereThe lithosphere, (or Geosphere)) consists of consists of

all of the earth from core to crust. Without all of the earth from core to crust. Without it, there would be no hydrosphere, it, there would be no hydrosphere, atmosphere, or biosphere.atmosphere, or biosphere.

• The land is home to the dominant species The land is home to the dominant species of life on the planet (humans) as well as a of life on the planet (humans) as well as a decent amount of plant life. This is how decent amount of plant life. This is how the Lithosphere and the Biosphere are the Lithosphere and the Biosphere are interdependent of one another. The life interdependent of one another. The life helps maintain the land, and the soil helps maintain the land, and the soil assists in providing food for Earth’s assists in providing food for Earth’s Inhabitants.Inhabitants.

BiosphereBiosphere• The Biosphere encompasses all of the Life The Biosphere encompasses all of the Life

on the planet, from the smallest bacteria on the planet, from the smallest bacteria to the largest Blue Whale. to the largest Blue Whale.

• Forms of life can exist in all of the Forms of life can exist in all of the subsystems. Without the biosphere, the subsystems. Without the biosphere, the rest of the earth would seem unneccesary, rest of the earth would seem unneccesary, and empty.and empty.

• Mammals exist on the Mammals exist on the LithosphereLithosphere, Fish in , Fish in the Hydrosphere, while reptiles could exist the Hydrosphere, while reptiles could exist in both of these. All forms of life depend in both of these. All forms of life depend on the gasses found in the Atmosphere.on the gasses found in the Atmosphere.

• 90-99% of life exists in the Hydrosphere. 90-99% of life exists in the Hydrosphere.

HydrosphereHydrosphere• The Hydrosphere consists of Fish, many reptiles, as The Hydrosphere consists of Fish, many reptiles, as

well as countless plant life and microorganisms. It well as countless plant life and microorganisms. It is important, because it is a habitat for much of the is important, because it is a habitat for much of the biosphere, and the majority of the biosphere biosphere, and the majority of the biosphere requires water to survive.requires water to survive.

• 90-99% of life resides under our water, with much 90-99% of life resides under our water, with much of it still undiscovered. of it still undiscovered.

• The Hydrosphere interacts with the Lithosphere by The Hydrosphere interacts with the Lithosphere by means of tidal waves, other tidal activity, etc. means of tidal waves, other tidal activity, etc.

• Much of the Hydrosphere is responsible for Much of the Hydrosphere is responsible for erosionerosion as well, which could over time reshape the land as well, which could over time reshape the land mass. Erosion is the movement of already broken mass. Erosion is the movement of already broken down minerals by either wind or water currents.down minerals by either wind or water currents.

The AtmosphereThe Atmosphere• This subsystem is vital to the survival of This subsystem is vital to the survival of

the Biosphere due to its gasses, which the Biosphere due to its gasses, which protect the biosphere from harmful protect the biosphere from harmful UV UV raysrays. UV rays are harmful rays of radiation . UV rays are harmful rays of radiation that come from the sun. Without the that come from the sun. Without the atmosphere, no human could completely atmosphere, no human could completely survive them. survive them.

• The Atmosphere is approx. 600 miles long, The Atmosphere is approx. 600 miles long, and contains many different kinds of and contains many different kinds of gasses. The most common is Carbon gasses. The most common is Carbon Dioxide, filling 85% of the atmosphere. Dioxide, filling 85% of the atmosphere.

Videos!Videos!• M.youtube.com/watch?M.youtube.com/watch?

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