Transcript Physical Geography and the Four Spheres of the Earth PowerPoint

The Four Spheres
Geosphere
 This term refers to the EARTH. It is made up of four
separate spheres:




lithosphere
atmosphere
hydrosphere
biosphere
Lithosphere
 Solid part of the Earth
 Includes: soil, rocks,
mountains, continents, crust,
mantle, and core
 4.6 billion years old
 Energy flow allows for the
lithosphere to constantly
changing and develop
Atmosphere
Made up of gases that encircle
the planet
 Nitrogen
 Oxygen
 Carbon dioxide
Formed from gases given off by
volcanoes
Constantly changing and
evolving
Hydrosphere
• Made up of all of the Earth’s water elements.
• Includes:
–
–
–
–
–
–
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Oceans
Seas
Lakes
Glaciers
Rivers
Streams
groundwater
Biosphere
 Consists of all of the
planet’s living elements:
 Plants
 Animals
 People
Most recent of the spheres
to develop
LIFE and the spheres
Life began in the hydrosphere
(water), but later
moved to the lithosphere
(land) as the
atmosphere (air) became
better suited to
sustaining life.
Spaceship Earth
The Earth is like a spaceship that provides essentials for life
 Closed System
 A system in which there is no transfer of matter into or out of
a structure – nothing leaves or enters
 Open System
 A system that is not separate from its environment but
transfers matter in and out of it
 This is the Earth – it is constantly being renewed by its own
forces – it is a constantly changing environment
video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojGYJZntEmI