The Earth’s Surface
The following information looks at the Earth’s surface, which includes the Biosphere, Lithosphere,
Hydrosphere and Atmosphere and the sustainability of the Earth from human impact.
http://images.tutorvista.com/content/environment/biosphere-illustration.jpeg
Biosphere
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Is a component of the Earth’s
The Lithosphere is the solid
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The Hydrosphere consists of
Atmosphere
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Extends approximately 1000km
outer layer of the Earth. This
the earth’s water - on the
above the Earth’s surface and is
all living organisms,
solid surface includes the
surface and in the air. It is made
integral to the biosphere.
decomposed and dead matter,
Earth’s crust and uppermost
up of salt water (oceans and
from the deepest layers of soil
layer of mantle.
estuaries), fresh water (rivers
of air above the Lithosphere
It is broken up into tectonic
and lakes), ice, water vapour
and consists of the troposphere
The interactions within the
plates which move laterally and
and groundwater.
(where the weather occurs), the
biosphere aides in the global
very slowly. The continents sit
Water covers 71% of the
stratosphere, which protects the
biochemical exchanges of
on top of these tectonic plates.
Earth’s surface of which 97% is
earth’s surface from the Sun’s
The layers in the Lithosphere
made up of salt water.
ultraviolet radiation (includes
The Hydrosphere is constantly
the ozone layer) mesosphere,
matter and energy and is
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Hydrosphere
biological system consisting of
to the depths of the ocean.
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Lithosphere,
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It is the Earth’s protective layer
considered the global
consists of sedimentary,
ecosystem.
igneous and metamorphic rocks
moving: ebb and flow of oceans
Ionosphere and the exosphere.
The Biosphere is divided into
and is responsible for changes
and rivers, evaporation and
These layers are based on
three subareas or biomes which
on the Earth’s surface e.g.
precipitation.
temperature.
are separated by latitude, the
earthquakes, volcanoes.
Lithosphere, Hydrosphere and
Atmosphere.
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The Hydrosphere extends
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Is made up of nitrogen (78%),
There are two types of
approximately 15 kilometres
Oxygen (21%) and various
Lithosphere: oceanic and
into the atmosphere and 5
other gases (1%)
continental.
kilometres into the Earth’s crust.
Human Impact
Biosphere
Lithosphere,
Hydrosphere
Atmosphere
Impact from humans on the Earths
Human impact on the Lithosphere
The earth’s water surface is greatly
Human impact on the atmosphere
Biosphere include dangerous and
includes:
affected by humans in two main
includes:
irreversible changes such as:
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areas: pollution and overuse.
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Production of greenhouse
Pollution is created from human
gases, an excess of carbon
vegetation deterioration.
and animal waste products.
dioxide and methane gases.
Overgrazing, excessive
This includes industrial,
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Damage to the ozone layer.
There has been damage to the
cultivation of farming land,
chemical and nutrient pollution.
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Air pollution caused by fossil
Earth’s ozone layer which is the
“erosion, sediment deposition,
stratospheric protecting against
Global warming and the build-
natural landscapes and
up of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere.
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Land and soil degradation and
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Overuse of water, where water
fuel combustion causing
extractive industries,
supply cannot keep up with the
changes in the atmospheric
the sun's harmful radiation.
urbanization, disposal of
water demand due to
composition.
Pollution of the Earth’s soil,
industrial wastes, decline of
population growth, industry
water and air.
plant communities, and the
Erosion of the Earth’s surface
effects of noxious plants and
and results of deforestation.
animals,” (Molebalebeng, 2012,
p.1).
The following YouTube provides easy to follow explanation of what is the Earth’s
the Biosphere, Lithosphere, Hydrosphere and Atmosphere with great diagrams
and images. Retrieved from: http://youtu.be/5FooHD0atuc
A short video called “The Four Spheres of Earth” can be viewed via:
http://bcove.me/hjq6dhdi
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Deforestation
Tectonic Plates
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Make up the Earth’s outer layer called the Lithosphere:
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Vary in size and thickness.
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Are solid, and move/float on the inner layers of the Earth’s crust.
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Movement of the tectonic plates depend on rock composition.
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There are three tectonic boundaries, “convergent, where plates move into one another; divergent, where plates move apart; and
transform, where plates move sideways in relation to each other”, (National Geographic, n. d.
http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/earth/the-dynamic-earth/plate-tectonics-article/)
Australia shares the Indo-Australian tectonic plate with India. In recent years earthquakes have caused the plate to begin splitting into two
pieces. The Indo-Australian tectonic plate is considered an atypical tectonic plate due to its unusual and thin shape compared to other tectonic
plates. The eastern part of the Indo-Australian plate is slowly drifting north at a slightly faster rate than the western part of the plate, causing the
plate to buckle, hence the cause of many earthquakes especially in the Indonesian region.
Rock Cycle:
The Rock Cycle is the changes in the formation and breakdown and reformation of
rocks. Rocks are made up of minerals and vary due to chemical and crystal
composition and structure. They are formed naturally, are nonliving, and are a
coherent aggregate mass of solid matter that makes up part of the Earth.
Igneous Rock: are crystal-like solids which change from a liquid state of molten rock
called magma, into a solid form once cooled and vary in composition and texture.
Metamorphic Rock is rock that is changed through a chemical, heat or pressure
process, changing the mineralogy of the rock composition. Two types of metamorphic
rocks: non-foliated metamorphic rocks and foliated metamorphic rocks
Sedimentary Rock is the result of a build-up of broken small pieces of pre-existing
rocks, caused by erosion and weathering. There are three types: Clastic, Chemical
and Organic.
Further reading and resources:
Plate Tectonics for Kids (www.makemegenius.com), retrieved from: http://youtu.be/tcPghqnnTVk
Exploring Earth, retrieved from:
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/investigations/es0602/es0602page01.cfm?chapter_no=investigation
Mr Parr, (2012), Types of Rocks Song, retrieved from: http://youtu.be/lE3jR_RhxO4
Mr Parr (2011) Rock Cycle Song, retrieved from http://youtu.be/53lMdHzvGCQ
References
ABC Science, (2012). Quake start of Indo-Australia plate split, retrieved from: http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2012/09/27/3599041.htm
Biosphere, retrieved from: http://climap.net/biosphere
Clearfield, R. (2014). Lithosphere Facts, retrieved from: http://www.life123.com/parenting/education/geology/lithosphere-facts.shtml
Ellis, E. (2013). The Encyclopedia of Earth, Biosphere, retrieved from: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/150667/
Encyclopedia.com, Lithosphere, retrieved from: http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/lithosphere.aspx
Everything Science, Threats to the Hydrosphere, (n. d.), retrieved from: http://everythingscience.co.za/grade-10/23-the-hydrosphere/23-thehydrosphere-05.cnxmlplus
Geology.com, retrieved from: http://geology.com/rocks/
Hammonds, M. (2012), Breaking Plates, Australian Science, retrieved from: http://www.australianscience.com.au/news/breaking-plates/
Introduction to the Atmosphere, retrieved from: https://www.ucar.edu/learn/1_1_1.htm#top
Kazmeyer, M. (n. d.) Human Impact on the Earth’s Atmosphere, Demand Media, retrieved from: http://science.opposingviews.com/humanimpact-earths-atmosphere-3677.html
Lithosphere, retrieved from: http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Lithosphere.html
Molebalebeng, (2012), Human Impact on LIthoshere, retrieved from: http://www.studymode.com/essays/Human-Impact-On-Lithosphere1005680.html
National Geographic, (n .d.). Plate Tectonics, Moving and Shaking, retrieved from: http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/earth/thedynamic-earth/plate-tectonics-article/
Smithsonian Institution, (2002), The Effects Of Human-Caused Atmospheric Changes On Tropical Forests, retrieved from:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/08/020807065359.htm
What is a Rock Cycle, (n. d. ) retrieved from: http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas/geo/basics/diagrams.htm
Young People’s Trust for the Environment (YPTE), (n. d.) Our Battered Biosphere, retrieved from: http://www.ypte.org.uk/environmental/ourbattered-biosphere/4