EARTH SYSTEM

The Earth system encompasses all living and nonliving components of the planet Earth that interact and
influence each other. It includes the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, biosphere, and cryosphere.

Here are some key characteristics of the Earth system:

Interconnectedness- All components of the Earth system are intricately linked and influence each
other. Changes in one sphere can trigger cascading effects in others.

Dynamic and Ever-Changing- The Earth system is constantly in flux. Weather patterns, climate,
geological processes, and biological activity are constantly evolving.

Self-Regulating-The Earth system has feedback mechanisms that help maintain stability and balance.
For example, the carbon cycle helps regulate the Earth's temperature. However, these mechanisms can
be disrupted by human activities.

Complex and Non-Linear- Predicting how the Earth system will respond to changes is challenging due to
its complexity and the presence of non-linear relationships between its components.

Resilient but Vulnerable-The Earth system has a remarkable capacity to adapt and recover from
disturbances. However, there are limits to its resilience, and excessive stress can lead to irreversible
changes.

Finite Resources-The Earth system contains finite resources, such as water, minerals, and fossil fuels.
Sustainable management of these resources is crucial for ensuring the well-being of future generations.

Atmosphere-The layer of gases surrounding Earth, primarily composed of nitrogen and oxygen. It
regulates temperature, protects from harmful radiation, and drives weather patterns.

Atmosphere Composition

The atmosphere is primarily composed of nitrogen (N₂) and oxygen (O₂), making up about 99% of its
total volume. Other significant components include argon (Ar), carbon dioxide (CO₂), water vapor
(H₂O), and trace gases like methane (CH₄) and ozone (O₃). The relative proportions of these gases vary
with altitude and location. The atmosphere is layered, with the troposphere being the lowest layer
where weather occurs. Above the troposphere are the stratosphere (containing the ozone layer),
mesosphere, and thermosphere

Main Layers of the Atmosphere

•4th layer Exosphere and thermosphere is the outermost layer

•3rd layer Mesosphere protects Earth's surface from being hit by most meteoroids
•2nd layer Stratosphere contains ozone layer

•1st layer Troposphere is where weather occurs

Example -An example of an atmosphere is the layer of gases surrounding a planet. Earth's atmosphere is
composed primarily of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%), with trace amounts of other gases like argon, carbon
dioxide, and water vapor. This layer protects life by regulating temperature, filtering harmful solar radiation,
and enabling weather patterns and climate

Hydrosphere- All the water on Earth, including oceans, lakes, rivers, groundwater, and ice. It plays a
crucial role in climate regulation, erosion, and the transport of nutrients.

Hydrosphere Composition

The hydrosphere encompasses all water on Earth, including oceans, lakes, rivers, groundwater, and
ice. The vast majority (about 97%) is saltwater in the oceans. Seawater has a relatively constant
composition of major elements, with sodium (Na⁺) and chloride (Cl⁻) being the most abundant ions.
However, the concentrations of minor and trace elements can vary significantly with depth and location
due to biological activity and other processes. Freshwater sources, like rivers and lakes, have different
compositions, often influenced by the surrounding geology and biological activity

Example -The hydrosphere encompasses all the water on Earth, including oceans, lakes, rivers,
groundwater, ice, and even water vapor in the atmosphere

Geosphere- The solid, rocky part of Earth, including the crust, mantle, and core. It provides the physical
foundation for the other spheres and influences tectonic activity, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes.

Geosphere Composition

The geosphere consists of the Earth's solid parts, including the crust, mantle, and core. The crust is
primarily composed of silicate rocks, such as granite and basalt. The mantle is largely composed of
ferro-magnesium silicate rocks, while the core is predominantly iron and nickel. The composition of the
geosphere varies significantly with depth, reflecting the different pressures and temperatures at
different levels

Examples-The Geosphere is associated with solid portions of the Earth. It includes the continental and
oceanic crust and all other layers of the Earth's interior. This includes all rocks, sediments and soils,
surface landforms and the processes that shape th

Biosphere- All living organisms on Earth, from microscopic bacteria to giant trees. It encompasses all
ecosystems and plays a critical role in nutrient cycling, photosynthesis, and regulating the Earth's
climate.
Biosphere Composition

The biosphere encompasses all living organisms on Earth. Its composition is incredibly diverse,
ranging from microscopic bacteria to large plants and animals. The biosphere's composition is
determined by the interplay of biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors, including climate, soil
composition, and available nutrients

Example-The biosphere encompasses all living things on Earth, including plants, animals, fungi,
bacteria, and all their interactions with the environment.

- Forests: Large areas dominated by trees, such as the Amazon rainforest in South America and the
boreal forests of Canada.

- Oceans: The vast marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, kelp forests, and open ocean.

- Grasslands: Open areas dominated by grasses, such as the African savanna and the North American
prairie.

- Deserts: Arid regions with sparse vegetation, such as the Sahara Desert in Africa and the Atacama
Desert in Chile.

- Wetlands: Areas where water is the dominant factor, such as swamps, marshes, and bogs.

- Microorganisms: Tiny living things, including bacteria, fungi, algae, and viruses, that play crucial
roles in ecosystems.

Cryosphere-All frozen water on Earth, including ice sheets, glaciers, sea ice, and permafrost. It
influences sea level, reflects solar radiation, and affects global climate patterns.

Cryosphere Composition

The cryosphere includes all frozen water on Earth, mainly in the form of ice sheets, glaciers, sea ice,
and permafrost. Its composition is primarily water (H₂O) in its solid state, but it can also contain various
impurities depending on the source and formation process.

Example-The cryosphere refers to all the frozen parts of Earth's water, including:

- Glaciers: Massive bodies of ice formed over long periods, found in mountainous regions and polar
areas. Examples include the Greenland ice sheet and the glaciers of the Himalayas.

- Ice Caps: Large areas of ice covering landmasses, such as the Antarctic ice sheet.

- Sea Ice: Frozen seawater that floats on the ocean's surface, found in polar regions.
- Permafrost: Permanently frozen ground, found in high-latitude and high-altitude regions.

- Snow: Frozen precipitation, covering large areas of the Earth's surface, especially in polar regions
and during winter.

- Frozen Lakes and Rivers: Bodies of water that freeze over during cold periods.

Biogeochemical Cycle

“Biogeochemical cycles mainly refer to the movement of nutrients and other elements between biotic
and abiotic factors.”

The term biogeochemical is derived from “bio” meaning biosphere, “geo” meaning the geological
components and “chemical” meaning the elements that move through a cycle.

Types of Biogeochemical Cycles

Biogeochemical cycles are basically divided into two types:

Gaseous cycles –Gaseous cycles are a type of biogeochemical cycle in which the reservoir is the air or
the oceans (via evaporation). Such cycles include those of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon, and water.

Sedimentary cycles –Sedimentary cycles are a type of biogeochemical cycle, in which the reservoir is
Earth’s crust. Sedimentary cycles include those of iron, calcium, phosphorus, sulfur, and other more-
earthbound elements.

Patindol, Jeric D.

Sabela, Julius S.

Balais, Lourelyn