Earth's Systems
What are the four main systems of Earth?
What are the geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere?
What is the atmosphere?
The layer of gases surrounding Earth.
What is the hydrosphere?
The part of Earth that contains water, including oceans, lakes, rivers, and glaciers.
What makes up the geosphere?
The solid parts of Earth, including rocks, soil, and landforms.
What is the biosphere?
The part of Earth where life exists, including land, water, and the atmosphere.
How do Earth's systems interact with each other?
They interact by exchanging energy and matter, influencing each other in various ways.
Name the layers of the atmosphere.
Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.
What percentage of Earth's surface is covered by water?
About 75%.
What is erosion?
The process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface.
Name three types of ecosystems found in the biosphere.
Forests, deserts, and oceans.
Give an example of an event that affects multiple Earth systems.
A volcanic eruption affects the geosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.
What is weather?
The short-term conditions of the atmosphere at a specific time and place.
What is the water cycle?
The continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
Name one process that shapes the geosphere.
Weathering, volcanic activity, or tectonic movements.
What is biodiversity?
The variety of living organisms in an ecosystem.
What role does energy from the sun play in Earth's systems?
It drives weather patterns, ocean currents, and photosynthesis in plants.
How does the atmosphere protect life on Earth?
It filters harmful solar radiation and regulates temperature.
How do rivers affect the landscape?
Rivers can erode land, create valleys, and deposit sediment.
What is the difference between a mountain and a hill?
A mountain is taller and steeper than a hill.
How do plants contribute to the biosphere?
They produce oxygen and serve as food for other organisms.
How do human activities impact Earth's systems?
Human activities such as pollution and deforestation can disrupt natural processes within Earth's systems.
Explain the greenhouse effect in simple terms.
It is the process by which certain gases trap heat in the atmosphere, keeping Earth warm.
Describe how pollution can affect the hydrosphere.
Pollution can contaminate water sources, harming aquatic life and making water unsafe for humans.
Explain the rock cycle in simple terms.
The rock cycle describes how rocks change from one type to another over time through processes like melting, cooling, and erosion.
What are some threats to the biosphere?
Habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change.