Atmosphere
These gases mainly make up the atmosphere.
Nitrogen and oxygen.
This sphere refers to all of the liquid water on Earth.
The Hydrosphere.
The solid portion of the earth is called ________.
The geosphere/lithosphere.
The biosphere can be defined as...
All living things and their habitats on Earth.
Describe the components of the Cryosphere.
All frozen [solid] water on Earth.
The layer of gases surrounding the Earth.
The atmosphere.
This percentage makes up the amount of liquid water on Earth.
71%
The three components of the litho/geosphere are referred to as the _____, ________, and ________.
Crust, mantle, core
Name two components of the biosphere.
Plants, animals, bacteria, fungi
Name one component of the cryosphere.
Ice caps, ice floes, icebergs, permafrost, glaciers.
Name the four layers of the atmosphere.
Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere.
Two examples of freshwater included within the hydrosphere.
Rivers, Lakes, Streams, Groundwater, Brooks, Marshes, Sloughs, Puddles, Ponds...
Three examples of features on Earth that are a part of the Geo/Lithosphere include _____, ________, and _______.
Mountains, valleys, plateaus, seamounts, canyons... name any landform.
Describe the role that the biosphere plays in Earth's natural cycles.
It facilitates processes like photosynthesis and respiration.
Describe the cryosphere's impact on sea levels.
Melting ice contributes to rising sea levels.
Water around ice floes has an increased salinity.
Cryospheric ecosystems provide a habitat for a host of animals and is a nutrient rich area despite its cool temperatures.
The atmosphere protects life on Earth by...
It filters harmful solar radiation and retains heat. Allows for oxygen to be stored.
The hydrosphere shapes landscapes through the processes of ____ and ____. Explain how.
Weathering, erosion, deposition.
Water cuts through the lithosphere and shapes canyons, plateaus, and deposits sediment in deltas.
Name a resource that is provided by the litho/geosphere.
Minerals, oil [fossil fuels], land/solid ground for habitat
Describe how the biosphere interacts with the atmosphere.
Through processes like photosynthesis and transpiration.
Describe the albedo effect.
Snow and ice reflect sunlight, cooling the Earth.
Explain how the atmosphere regulates temperature.
It traps heat through the greenhouse effect.
The hydrosphere supports life through the following modalities _______.
It provides water necessary for all living organisms.
It provides a habitat for aquatic organisms.
It supports the water cycle and plant growth.
Explain the importance of the geosphere in Earth's systems.
It provides the foundation for land, resources for living organisms, and interacts with other spheres.
Explain the importance of biodiversity in the biosphere.
It supports ecosystem stability and resilience.
Describe the impact of climate change on the cryosphere.
Increased melting of ice, leading to higher sea levels and changes in ecosystems globally.