Earth Science: Atmosphere Overview

Domains of Earth

Atmosphere

• The layer of gases surrounding the Earth.
• Composed mainly of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%).
• Divided into several layers:
  1. Troposphere: Weather occurs here; closest to Earth’s surface.
  2. Stratosphere: Contains the ozone layer; absorbs UV radiation.
  3. Mesosphere: Meteors burn up in this layer.
  4. Thermosphere: Contains ionosphere; auroras occur here.
  5. Exosphere: Outer layer, where atmospheric particles escape into space.
• Plays a crucial role in climate regulation and weather patterns.

Hydrosphere

• Encompasses all water on Earth, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and groundwater.
• Covers approximately 71% of the Earth's surface.
• Major components:
  • Oceans: Largest part of the hydrosphere; saline water.
  • Freshwater: Found in glaciers, ice caps, lakes, rivers, and aquifers.
• Water cycle involves evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.
• Vital for sustaining life, influencing climate, and supporting ecosystems.

Biosphere

• The global sum of all ecosystems; the zone of life on Earth.
• Includes land (terrestrial), water (aquatic), and atmosphere (airborne) environments.
• Key features:
  • Biomes: Large ecological areas (e.g., forests, deserts, tundras) defined by climate and organisms.
  • Ecosystems: Communities of living organisms interacting with their environment.
• Biodiversity is essential for ecosystem resilience and functionality.
• Human impact through activities like deforestation, pollution, and urbanization affects the biosphere significantly.

Atmosphere

• Surrounds the Earth as a layer of gases, crucial for life.
• Composed mainly of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%).
• Divided into layers:
  • Troposphere: Closest to Earth, where weather occurs.
  • Stratosphere: Houses the ozone layer, which absorbs UV radiation.
  • Mesosphere: Region where meteors burn upon entry.
  • Thermosphere: Contains the ionosphere; site of auroras.
  • Exosphere: The outermost layer, where particles can escape into space.
• Essential for regulating climate and influencing weather patterns.

Hydrosphere

• Encompasses all forms of water on Earth, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and groundwater.
• Covers about 71% of the Earth's surface.
• Major components include:
  • Oceans: Largest part of the hydrosphere, composed of saline water.
  • Freshwater: Found in glaciers, ice caps, lakes, rivers, and aquifers.
• The water cycle consists of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.
• Vital to life, it influences climate and supports a variety of ecosystems.

Biosphere

• Represents the global sum of all ecosystems, the zone where life exists.
• Involves interactions among land (terrestrial), water (aquatic), and air (atmospheric) environments.
• Key characteristics include:
  • Biomes: Large ecological areas defined by specific climates and organisms (e.g., forests, deserts, tundras).
  • Ecosystems: Interactions between communities of organisms and their environments.
• Biodiversity is crucial for resilience and functionality of ecosystems.
• Human activities such as deforestation, pollution, and urbanization significantly impact the biosphere.

Explore the layers of the Earth's atmosphere, from the troposphere where weather occurs to the exosphere where atmospheric particles escape. This quiz will test your knowledge of the composition and characteristics of each layer, including the ozone layer's importance and the phenomena occurring in the thermosphere.