Earth System Spheres Quiz

Earth's system consists of four major subsystems: lithosphere (land), hydrosphere (water), biosphere (living things), and atmosphere (air).
Each subsystem, or sphere, can be further divided into sub-spheres.

Comprises the solid land of Earth's crust, semi-solid land beneath, and liquid land near the core.
Surface features include high mountain ranges (Rockies, Andes), huge plains (in Texas, Iowa, Brazil), and deep ocean valleys.
Layers of the lithosphere are distinct in physical and chemical characteristics, comparable to layers of an onion.
Outermost layer has nutrient-rich, loose soil; beneath it lies a thin, solid crust made of oxygen and silicon.
Following the crust, the mantle consists of oxygen, silicon, iron, and magnesium; below it is a liquid outer core of nickel and iron.
The innermost layer is a solid inner core made of nickel and iron.

Encompasses all forms of water (solid, liquid, gaseous) on Earth, ranging from 10 to 20 km in thickness.
Extends from Earth's surface into the lithosphere and up to 12 km into the atmosphere.
Fresh water is a small portion; most is frozen (glaciers, icecaps, icebergs).
Approximately 97% of Earth's water is salty, collected in oceans, which are deep valleys of salty water.
Water temperature varies geographically; polar regions are cold, while equatorial regions are warm, leading to changes in physical state (freezing vs. evaporation).

Includes all living organisms, microorganisms, plants, and animals on Earth.
Living organisms form ecological communities based on their physical environment, classified as biomes (e.g., deserts, grasslands, tropical rainforests).

Comprises all the air surrounding Earth, extending from less than 1 meter below the surface to over 10,000 km above.
The upper atmosphere protects organisms from ultraviolet radiation and regulates heat absorption and emission.
Changes in air temperature cause weather phenomena, leading to various atmospheric movements, from breezes to tornadoes.

Each sphere interacts with the others; changes in one sphere can affect the others.
Environmental scientists study these interactions, which include ten potential types.
Events such as volcanic eruptions can impact the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere simultaneously.
Example: The eruption of Mount Saint Helens on May 18, 1980, allowed for the observation of volcanic impacts on all four spheres, underlining their interconnectedness and relevance to human activity near dormant volcanoes.

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