GLOBAL SYSTEMS

Learning Goals:

• To understand the structure of o the atmosphereo the biosphereo the lithosphere, o hydrosphere

• To understand how the three spheres interacts with each other

WEATHER AND CLIMATE

What is the difference between weather and climate?

How would you define them?

WEATHER: the state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time (i.e. the weather in Redcliffe right now)

CLIMATE: The average weather conditions of a certain region (i.e. the climate in Redcliffe includes hot humid summers and mild dry winters)

WEATHER AND CLIMATE

What is the major difference between the two?

THE “SPHERES”

The earth can be divided up into four spheres that interact with each other:

The Atmosphere

The Biosphere

The Lithosphere

The Hydrosphere

Can anyone guess what each is?

GLOBAL SYSTEMS

(earth)(water)

(air)

(life)

THE ATMOSPHERE• The Earth is surrounded by a

blanket of air, which we call the atmosphere• The atmosphere consists of

four unique layers• The atmosphere reaches over

560 kilometers up from the surface of the Earth• The atmosphere is primarily

composed of nitrogen and oxygen

THE ATMOSPHERE

• The biosphere is the zone of life on the Earth. It includes • all living organisms (including humans) • all organic matter that has not yet

decomposed• The biosphere is structured into a

hierarchy known as the food chain• Energy and mass is transferred from

one level of the food chain to the next

THE BIOSPHERE

• The lithosphere includes the crust and the uppermost mantle; the hard and rigid outer layer of the Earth• The lithosphere is about 100

km thick• The lithosphere below the

crust is brittle enough at some locations to produce earthquakes

THE LITHOSPHERE (or geosphere)

• The hydrosphere contains all the water found on our planet.• Water on the surface (oceans,

lakes and rivers, streams, and creeks) • Water under the surface of our

planet (water trapped in the soil, groundwater)• Water vapour in the atmosphere• Frozen water (ice caps and

glaciers)

THE HYDROSPHERE

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.

System InteractionsVolcanoes (__________) erupt, sending ash and gases into the air (___________) and sending lava and ash down onto surrounding forests (_________) and human habitations (_________).

Lithosphere

Atmosphere Biosphere

SPHERE INTERACTIONS

Hurricanes (__________) sweep across the ocean (__________) and onto the land (__________), damaging the dwellings of people (__________) who live along the coast.

Atmosphere

Hydrosphere

Lithosphere

Biosphere

SPHERE INTERACTIONS

Earthquakes (__________) can damage buildings which may kill people (__________), as well as cause fires which release gases into the air (__________). Earthquakes in the ocean may cause a tsunami (__________) which can eventually hit land and kill both animals and people (__________).

Lithosphere

Biosphere

Atmosphere

Hydrosphere

SPHERE INTERACTIONS

GLOBAL SYSTEMS

Learning Goals:

• What do we mean when we say:

o the lithosphere?

o the atmosphere?

o hydrosphere?