Biosphere
What is the biosphere?
part of Earth made up of all living things
What is the geosphere?
part of Earth made up of its solid and molten rock, sediments, soil, and minerals
What is the atmosphere?
air above Earth’s surface
What is the hydrosphere?
water on Earth’s surface, as well as water above and below the surface
A bird drinks water from a pond.
Which two spheres are interacting, and how?
Biosphere and hydrosphere. The bird is a living thing, and it is using water from the hydrosphere.
Provide 3 examples of the biosphere
Possible Answers) Mr. Connelly, a dog, plants, animals, etc.
Provide 3 examples of the geosphere
Possible Answers) Rock, diamond, sand, mineral, etc.
Provide 2 examples of the gases in the atmosphere
Possible Answers) Oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide
Provide 3 examples of the hydrosphere
Possible Answers) Ocean, river, stream, lake, pond, etc.
Rain falls on a hillside and carries loose soil into a river.
Which two spheres are interacting? Explain.
Hydrosphere and geosphere. The water moves across the land and carries soil with it.
Why are humans considered part of Earth's living system?
Humans are living organisms. Like other organisms, people need resources such as water, air, food, and shelter from their environment in order to survive.
You pick up a rock from the ground. Which part of Earth does the rock belong to?
A rock is part of Earth's solid material. Rocks, soil, mountains, and other solid parts of the planet make up Earth's land and rocky material.
Why do we need the atmosphere to survive?
The atmosphere contains gases that living things need, including oxygen for many organisms. It also helps regulate Earth's temperature and provides the environment where weather occurs.
What percent of all water on Earth is freshwater?
Where is 2/3 of freshwater found?
3% of all water is freshwater
2/3 freshwater is found in ice
A tree's roots grow through soil while the tree absorbs water from the ground.
Which three spheres are interacting?
Biosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere.
The tree = biosphere
Soil = geosphere
Water = hydrosphere
A forest contains trees, birds, insects, mushrooms, and bacteria. Why are all of these considered part of the same Earth sphere?
They are all living organisms, so they are part of the biosphere. Although they are very different from one another, they interact with each other and their environment.
A volcano erupts and releases lava, ash, and gases. Which Earth sphere is most directly involved, and why?
The geosphere is most directly involved because a volcano is part of Earth's solid structure. The eruption can also affect other spheres by releasing gases into the atmosphere and changing habitats in the biosphere.
Why would life on Earth be very different if Earth did not have an atmosphere?
The atmosphere provides gases needed by living things and helps regulate Earth's temperature. It also protects Earth from some harmful radiation and allows weather to occur.
What is the movement of water and energy throughout the hydrosphere, atmosphere, and geosphere?
The Water Cycle
The Sun heats ocean water. The water evaporates into the atmosphere, forms clouds, and eventually falls as rain onto a mountain.
Identify at least three spheres involved and explain how they interact.
Hydrosphere: ocean water and rain
Atmosphere: water vapor and clouds
Geosphere: mountain/land receiving the rain
The spheres interact as water moves between Earth's surface and atmosphere.
Scientists remove a large number of wolves from an ecosystem. Deer populations increase, and many plants begin to disappear. How could these changes affect the biosphere?
Removing wolves can change relationships between organisms in the biosphere. With fewer predators, there may be more deer. More deer can eat more plants, which may reduce the number of plants available for other organisms. This demonstrates how organisms can depend on one another.
Heavy rain causes a hillside to erode, carrying soil into a nearby river. Which spheres are interacting?
The geosphere and hydrosphere are interacting. Soil and rocks are part of the geosphere, while rain and the river are part of the hydrosphere. Moving water can break down and transport materials from the geosphere.
How can human activities change the atmosphere?
Activities such as burning fossil fuels can add gases to the atmosphere. Some of these gases can contribute to changes in Earth's climate. Air pollution can also introduce harmful particles and gases that affect living things and the environment.
Name and describe 3 phases of the Water Cycle
Answers may vary
A forest experiences a long drought. Plants begin to die because there is not enough water. With fewer plants holding the soil in place, heavy rain later washes large amounts of soil into a river.
Explain how all four spheres are involved.
Hydrosphere: There is not enough water during the drought, followed by heavy rain.
Biosphere: Plants die because they do not have enough water.
Geosphere: Soil is washed away by the rain.
Atmosphere: The weather includes the drought and later heavy rainfall.
All four spheres interact in this example.