Geosphere and Atmosphere Quiz

Subsystems of Earth's Environment

• Geosphere: Solid part of Earth; includes landforms, landmasses, tectonic plates, rocks, minerals, and internal layers.
• Atmosphere: Gaseous layer enveloping Earth, composed primarily of Nitrogen (78%) and Oxygen (21%); contains traces of other gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor.
• Layers of the Atmosphere:
  • Troposphere: Lowest layer; 75% of the atmosphere; weather occurs here; temperature ranges from 15°C to -57°C.
  • Stratosphere: Ranges 15-50 km up; contains the ozone layer; temperature from -57°C to -5°C.
  • Mesosphere: Between 50-80 km; cool and dense; where meteors burn upon entry.
  • Thermosphere: Above 80 km; temperature can reach 1,727°C; gases arranged by mass.

Hydrosphere

• Liquid portion of Earth, covering three-quarters of the surface; predominantly composed of water (H2O).
• Forms of Water:
  • Liquid (oceans, lakes).
  • Vapor (clouds, fog).
  • Ice (glaciers, polar caps).
• Types of Water:
  • Saltwater (97% of Earth's water, found in oceans).

Space Agencies

• Institutions promoting astronomy and exploring celestial bodies; examples include NASA, ESA, and Roscosmos.

Spacecraft Types

• Space Shuttles: Manned missions (e.g., Discovery, Challenger).
• Space Probes: Unmanned spacecraft collecting data (e.g., Viking 1, Pioneer 11).
• Rockets: Launch satellites (e.g., Apollo missions, Voyager).
• Space Stations: Habitats for scientists (e.g., Skylab).

Mars Exploration

• Numerous missions targeting Mars's geology and potential habitability; started in the 1960s.
• Significant Missions:
  • Mars 2 and Mars 3 (1971): First contact with Martian surface.
  • Mariner 9 (1971): First spacecraft to orbit Mars.
  • Spirit and Opportunity (2004): Found evidence of past water.
  • MAVEN (2013): Studying Mars's upper atmosphere.
  • ExoMars project: Aims to find signs of past life.
  • Mars 2020: Focused on gathering evidence of life forms.

Pluto and Dwarf Planets

• New Horizons mission (2007) studied Pluto and Charon; first probe to fly by Pluto in 2015.
• Five recognized dwarf planets: Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, Eris.
• Plutoids: Bodies beyond Neptune that are round and orbit the Sun.

Earth's Layers

• Crust: Outermost layer, thin (1% of Earth's mass); includes continental (35-70 km thick) and oceanic crust (5-10 km thick).
• Mantle: Thickest layer (2,900 km), comprised of solid and semi-solid rock, drives tectonic movements; divided into lithosphere (upper) and asthenosphere (lower).
• Core: Inner layer; 2,500 km deep; includes a liquid outer core responsible for Earth's magnetic field and a solid inner core.

Minerals and Rocks

• Rocks: Naturally occurring solid made up of minerals.
• Mineral Formation: Inorganic crystallization and re-crystallization.
• Properties of Minerals:
  • Luster: Reflectivity; can be metallic or non-metallic.
  • Specific Gravity: Density comparison with water.
  • Tenacity: Strength and cohesion of particles.
  • Diaphaneity: Light transmission capability (transparent, translucent, opaque).
  • Odor and Taste: Some minerals react to heat or moisture; solubility gives taste.

Mineral Groups

• Silicates: Most abundant group of rock-forming minerals (e.g., quartz, feldspar).
• Other groups include native elements, sulfides, oxides, carbonates, phosphates, and halides.

Test your knowledge on the geosphere and atmosphere of Earth. This quiz covers essential topics such as landforms, mineral composition, and the atmospheric layers along with their gas composition. Dive deep into the interactions between Earth's solid portions and its gaseous blanket.