12 Questions
Which sphere of the Earth is considered biotic?
Biosphere
What does the term 'geosphere' refer to?
All solid land in Earth's crust
Which sphere of the Earth contains no living organisms?
Atmosphere
What is the hydrosphere composed of?
All water on Earth
'Biosphere' originates from the Greek prefix which means 'life'?
"Bio-"
'Atmosphere' is composed of what state of matter?
Gaseous state of matter
'Geosphere' originates from the Greek prefix which means 'earth'?
"Geo-"
Which layer of Earth's atmosphere contains the ozone layer?
Stratosphere
What percentage of Earth's atmosphere is composed of nitrogen?
78%
What is the main component of Earth's geosphere?
Solid rock and liquid molten rock
Which layer of the atmosphere is the densest?
Troposphere
What encompasses all living organisms on Earth, including plants, animals, and microorganisms?
Biosphere
Study Notes
- Earth's atmosphere is composed mainly of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%), with small amounts of other gases
- Five layers of Earth's atmosphere: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere
- Troposphere is the densest layer, extending approximately 15 kilometers above Earth's surface; layers become less dense further away from Earth's center
- Stratosphere contains the ozone layer, which shields Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation
- The biosphere includes all living organisms on Earth, encompassing plants, animals, and microorganisms; it extends 500 meters below the surface and 6 kilometers above sea level
- The geosphere consists of Earth's solid rock and liquid molten rock, extending from the planet's core to its surface
- Geosphere is composed of four layers: inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust; temperatures increase as you go deeper into the geosphere
- The hydrosphere consists of all water on Earth, in liquid, solid, and gaseous forms; over 97.5% of water is in oceans
- Interaction between spheres: the atmosphere and hydrosphere are interconnected through water vapor and rain, the geosphere and biosphere through the use of water by living organisms, and the hydrosphere and atmosphere through the presence of water vapor and the interaction of the water cycle.
Test your knowledge of the four interconnected spheres of the Earth - atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere. Understand the characteristics and interactions of air, living things, land, and water on our planet.
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