SC.6.E.7.4 Differentiate and show
interactions among the geosphere,
hydrosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere, and
biosphere.
1
Bell Ringer – Question 1
B ELL R INGER - Q UESTION 2
Today’s Objective

Explain interactions among the
geosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere,
atmosphere, and biosphere.

Describe how the composition and
structure of the atmosphere protects life
and insulates the planet.
S PHERES
•
•
•
•
OF THE
E ARTH
Five major parts of Earth work together as a
complex system: rocks, water, air, ice, and
life.
On a global scale, each part can be thought
of as a sphere, roughly the same size and
shape as the planet.
The Earth and its systems are separated into
categories that all function and interact
together.
The geosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere,
atmosphere, and biosphere are all categories
of Earth’s functional systems.
V IDEO S PHERES OF THE
E ARTH
http://www.sciencebook.dkonline.com/27.html
MADE OF NITROGEN, OXYGEN, AND GREENHOUSE GASES LIKE
WATER VAPOR, CARBON DIOXIDE, METHANE, AND OZONE THAT
KEEPS THE EARTH WARM
IT TRAPS THE HEAT AND SHIELDS THE WORLD FROM HARMFUL
SOLAR RADIATION, COSMIC RAYS AND VACUUM OF SPACE
IT IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR TRANSFERRING WATER FROM THE
OCEANS TO THE LAND
EVERYDAY, THE ATMOSPHERE TRANSFERS HEAT FROM THE
EQUATOR TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH POLES
THIS IS DONE THROUGH TRADE WINDS THAT WE FEEL IN THE
FORM OF GENTLE BREEZES
CONTAINS A THIN LAYER OF GAS THAT PROTECTS THE EARTH
FROM THE COLD WORLD OF SPACE
V IDEO ON LAYERS OF THE
ATMOSPHERE

http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/
weather-and-climate/earths-atmosphere.htm
* FAST FLOWING, STRONG WINDS FOUND IN THE
UPPER TROPOSPHERE
* BETWEEN A BOUNDARY OF COLD AND WARM AIR
* FOLLOWS THE WARM AIR AND FLOW FROM WEST
TO EAST (BASED ON THE EARTH’S ROTATION)
* CONTRIBUTES TO THE WORLDWIDE WEATHER AND
HELPS BETTER PREDICT IT BASED ON THE JET
STREAMS’ LOCATION

FLORIDA
– RAINS,
&
THE CONDITION
INSTORMS
THE ATMOSPHERE
HURRICANES
FROM
JUNEAND
TO SEPT
AT A PARTICULAR
PLACE
TIME

FLORIDA
– DRY
FROM
OCT TO
SHOULD NOT
BESEASON
CONFUSED
WITH
MAY
CLIMATE

THE PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR OF THE
ATMOSPHERE OVER A LONG PERIOD OF
TIME

DOES NOT CHANGE FROM DAY TO DAY

The hydrosphere is the liquid water
component of the Earth. The hydrosphere
covers about 70% of the surface of the Earth
and is the home for many plants and animals.
The hydrosphere, like the atmosphere, is
always in motion.

Features include:
-oceans, seas, lakes, ponds, rivers and streams.
 MAKES UP ALL THE
WATER ON EARTH
 WATER IS CONSTANTLY
ON THE MOVE
 IT CHANGES FROM ONE
STATE TO ANOTHER
 EXPLAINS HOW WATER FROM THE EARTH
MOVES THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENT
HEAT IS RELEASED TO
THE ATMOSPHERE

IMPACTS LOCAL WEATHER

CURRENTS ALLOW THE HEAT AND MOISTURE TO BE EXCHANGED
BETWEEN THE HYDROSPHERE AND THE ATMOSPHERE


ALL THE EARTH’S
FROZEN WATER
ICE, SNOW, GLACIERS,
AND ICE SHEETS

WHEN WARM PERIOD
OCCURS, MELTED ICE
FLOWS INTO THE
HYDROSPHERE

ALTERS SEA LEVELS

RESHAPES COASTLINES
FEATURES INCLUDE:
‐COASTAL BIOMES
‐FORESTS ‐DESERTS
‐GRASSLANDS
‐URBAN/AGRICULTURAL
ECOSYSTEMS

ALL LIFE FORMS (PLANTS
AND ANIMALS) ON EARTH

EXTENDS UP (BIRDS) TO THE
ATMOSPHERE AND ALL
THE WAY DOWN TO THE
BOTTOM OF THE SEA
(STARFISH)
 FEATURES ARE:
VALLEY NETWORKS, RIVER
CHANNELS/CANYONS,
DELTAS,
SAND DUNES, WIND
STREAKS
FOLDS, FAULTS, MOUNTAINS
VOLCANOES

CONTAINS ROCKS, MINERALS,
AND LANDFORMS ON THE
SURFACE OF THE EARTH

DENSEST PORTION OF THE EARTH

PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN
PROCESS AFFECTING THE
ATMOSPHERE, HYDROSPHERE,
AND BIOSPHERE SUCH AS THE
WATER CYCLE AND THE CARBON
CYCLE.
L ET ’ S PRACTICE TOGETHER !
C AN
YOU IDENTIFY EACH SPHERE PICTURED ABOVE ?
S PHERES
OF THE
E ARTH
S PHERES
OF THE
E ARTH
S PHERES
OF THE
E ARTH
S PHERES
OF THE
E ARTH
S PHERES
OF THE
E ARTH
Y OU DO :T HINK -PAIR -W RITE -S HARE
Choose one of the pictures below and describe at least 3
sphere interactions you can infer from the scene.
E XIT S LIP
1. Which two spheres interact
when a glacier erodes rock?
A. the geosphere and the
atmosphere
2. Identify the example that
shows how the biosphere
and atmosphere can
interact.
A.
people breathing in oxygen
B. the biosphere and the
geosphere
B.
C. the biosphere and the
cryosphere
plants obtaining nutrients
from the soil
C.
ocean waves breaking
down rocks
D. the cryosphere and the
geosphere
D.
animals eating other
animals