Questions and Answers
What are the four major subsystems of the Earth?
Earth contains water in all three phases.
True
What is the primary gas composition of Earth’s atmosphere?
78.1% nitrogen, 20.9% oxygen, 0.9% argon, 350 ppm carbon dioxide
The region within the mesosphere and thermosphere responsible for auroras is called the ______.
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What is the outermost layer of the geosphere?
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Which layer of the atmosphere extends from the troposphere to about 50 km above the ground?
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What is the main source of internal heat in Earth's core?
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Match the following layers of the atmosphere with their characteristics:
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The biosphere includes all living things and extends to the deep parts of the Earth.
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What is the Law of Conservation of Mass?
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The term for the part of the hydrosphere that is permanently frozen is called the ______.
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Study Notes
Earth’s System Overview
- Earth is a complex system with interrelated physical, chemical, and biological processes.
- Four major subsystems: Atmosphere, Geosphere, Hydrosphere, and Biosphere.
- Earth uniquely holds water in all three phases: solid, liquid, and gas.
Atmosphere
- Greek origin: "atmos" (gas) and "sphaira" (globe).
- Protects from harmful UV rays and maintains warmth via greenhouse gases.
- Gravity affects gas concentration; as altitude increases, gas density decreases.
- Extends up to 10,000 km above Earth's surface.
- Composition: 78.1% nitrogen, 20.9% oxygen, 0.9% argon, 350 ppm carbon dioxide.
Layers of the Atmosphere
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Troposphere:
- Lowest layer up to ~10 km (6.2 miles), where humans reside.
- Contains 99% of the atmosphere's water vapor; weather predominantly occurs here.
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Stratosphere:
- Ranges from 10 km to 50 km (31 miles).
- Houses the ozone layer, absorbing harmful radiation; temperature increases with altitude.
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Mesosphere:
- Extends from 50 km to 85 km (53 miles); most meteors burn up here.
- Temperature decreases with altitude, reaching -90°C; low air pressure.
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Thermosphere:
- Ranges from 85 km up to 500-1000 km (311-621 miles).
- Absorbs high-energy radiation; satellites orbit this layer; contains the Karman Line at 100 km.
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Exosphere:
- Outermost layer with very thin air, extending up to 190,000 km (120,000 miles) into space.
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Ionosphere:
- Not a distinct layer; located within the mesosphere and thermosphere.
- Responsible for phenomena like auroras.
Geosphere
- Greek origin: "geos" (ground); the solid part of Earth.
- Composed of three layers: Crust, Mantle, Core.
- Made of rocks, minerals, organic materials, and natural glass.
- Regolith refers to loose rock particles covering Earth's surface.
Layers of the Geosphere
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Crust:
- Outermost layer, made of silicate materials, divided into oceanic and continental crusts.
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Mantle:
- Composed of silicate rocks rich in magnesium and iron; around 2900 km thick.
- Temperature increases with depth.
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Core:
- Innermost layer with a radius of 3400 km, made of iron and nickel.
- Source of internal heat containing radioactive materials.
Hydrosphere
- Greek origin: "hydro" (water); encompasses all water on Earth in any form.
- Includes water vapor and liquid; the Cryosphere refers to permanently frozen water.
Biosphere
- Greek origin: "bios" (life); includes all living organisms and their environments.
- Extends to deep parts of Earth; vital for sustaining life.
Interactions and Energy Flow
- Matter and energy cycle among the four subsystems, sustaining life on Earth.
- Interactions can be biological, geochemical, and chemical involving both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors.
- Essential nutrients, such as carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and water, circulate through these interactions.
- The Law of Conservation of Mass states that matter is neither created nor destroyed but transforms.
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Description
Explore the complex interconnections within Earth's systems, including its physical, chemical, and biological processes. Learn about the four major subsystems: Atmosphere, Geosphere, Hydrosphere, and Biosphere, and how they interact to form a unified whole. Understand Earth's unique ability to contain water in all three phases.
