The Biosphere
EQ:HOW DO THE ATMOSPHERE,
LITHOSPHERE AND HYDROSPHERE WORK
TOGETHER TO SUPPORT LIFE ON EARTH?
What makes our Earth different from other
planets?
 One difference is our
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abundance of life.
We have life on Earth due
to several reasons:
The “perfect” star (yellow,
The Sun)
Revolution around the
star
Rotation on our axis
23.5 degree tilt
The right distance from
the star
WATER
The Three Parts of the Biosphere
The biosphere is the
part of the Earth that
supports life.
“BIO” = Life
“Sphere” = Circle
The Three Parts of the Biosphere
 The atmosphere, or the air
 The lithosphere, or the land
 The hydrosphere, or the water
The Atmosphere
 The atmosphere is a thin
layer of gases that
surrounds the Earth.
 It seals the planet and
protects us from the
vacuum of space.
 It protects us from
electromagnetic radiation
given off by the Sun and
small objects flying
through space such as
meteoroids.
 Of course, it also holds the
oxygen (O2) we all breathe
to survive.
The Atmosphere
 In the same way that there
are layers inside of the
Earth, there are also layers
in the atmosphere.
 All of the layers interact
with each other as the
gases circulate around the
planet.
 The lowest layers interact
with the surface of the
Earth while the highest
layers interact with space.
The Atmosphere
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The atmosphere is more than just
layers of gases surrounding the planet.
It is also a moving source of life for
every creature of the planet. While the
majority of the atmosphere is
composed of nitrogen (N2) molecules,
there are also oxygen (O2) and carbon
dioxide (CO2) which plants and
animals need to survive.
You will also find ozone (O3) higher in
the atmosphere which helps filter
harmful ultraviolet radiation from the
Sun.
The atmosphere also protects us from
the vacuum and cold of space.
Without our atmosphere, the Earth
would be as barren and dead as the
Moon or Mercury.
The Atmosphere
 There is no single climate
of the planet.
 Specialized climates are
found in areas all over the
planet and might include
deserts, rainforests, or
polar regions.
 The common trait of all of
these climates is the
atmosphere.
 The atmosphere circulates
gases and particles between
all of these regions.
The Atmosphere
 The hot air from the equator
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eventually moves north or south to
other climate regions.
That warmer air combines with
cooler air, mixing begins, and
storms form.
The constant mixing of the
atmosphere maintains a stable
system that helps organisms
survive.
Oxygen will never run out in one
area of the planet and
temperatures will not skyrocket in
another.
The atmosphere balances the
possible extremes of the Earth and
creates an overall stability.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=CsWp25SAPq4
The Lithosphere
 The lithosphere is the
solid, outer part of the
Earth.
 The lithosphere includes
the brittle upper portion
of the mantle and the
crust, the outermost
layers of Earth’s
structure
The Lithosphere
 The lithosphere is very
important because it is a
large reservoir of
resources, which are so
useful to man.
 The majority of the
material objects which
man requires are
supplied by lithosphere.
The Lithosphere
 The lithosphere serves as
a source of minerals.
 The minerals supply the
basic materials required
for making a variety of
commodities, which man
uses daily.
The Lithosphere
 The lithosphere is also
the major source of fuels
such as coal, petroleum
and a natural gas.
 Without these fuels,
human life as we know it
today, would have been
impossible.
The Lithosphere
 The lithosphere in
combination with the
hydrosphere and the
atmosphere plays a vital
role in the growth of
plants and animals.
 It provides nutrients to
the plants.
 The plants are the source
of food for man and all
other animals.
The Hydrosphere
 About seventy percent of the
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surface of the Earth is covered
by water.
If you were an alien visiting
the planet, you would see a
giant blue sphere from space
(especially on the Pacific
Ocean side).
Not only is water everywhere,
but all life depends on water.
The tiniest bacteria and the
largest dinosaurs have all
needed water.
The hydrosphere is the world
of water that surrounds all of
us.
The Hydrosphere
 Water is in the air, on the
land, between the rocks,
and in every living thing.
 Water, in its purest form,
is the compound H2O.
There are two hydrogen
(H) atoms bonded to one
oxygen (O) atom.
The Hydrosphere
 Liquid water makes the Earth
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a special place.
Our planet has a very nice
temperature range that allows
water to remain in a liquid
state.
If we were a colder place like
Pluto, all of the water would
be permanently frozen and
solid.
On the other hand, if we were
on a very hot planet, all of the
water would be in a gas state.
Water vapor and solid water
are relatively useless to the
organisms of Earth.
Assessment Prompt
 Think of a HW assignment that follows up this class.
 What would this task look like?
 What would the assignment be?
 Why would it be assigned?
The Atmosphere =Air
 The atmosphere is a
mixture of gases that
surrounds the Earth.
 It contains the oxygen
we need to breathe.
 It also protects life on
Earth from the Sun’s
damaging rays.
 It constantly changes as
we live on the Earth.
The Lithosphere = Land
 The lithosphere is
the solid, outer
layer of the Earth.
 This is where we
live.
 This is where our
food lives and
grows.
The Hydrosphere =Water
 The hydrosphere covers
70% of our Earth’s
surface.
 It is fairly stable. No
water has been added or
subtracted since the age
of the dinosaur. It is
recycled by the water
cycle.
 It is essential for life to
exist on Earth
 http://video.about.com/geography/
The-Four-Earth-Spheres.htm
Biome
 A large area characterized by its climate, plants and
animals.
 Tundra
 Coniferous Forest
 Deciduous Forest
 Savanna
 Prairie
 Rainforest
 Desert
 Aquatic