L1T2 Flashcards
Also called the geosphere, includes all Earth’s rock, soil and sand in all its forms from mountains to its rocky stream beds, mudflats, ocean trenches, sandy beaches and lava flows. It even includes the very ground that is made up of tectonic plates forming our islands and continents.
Lithosphere
The includes all living things on Earth, from plants and animals to fungi and microscopic plankton. Life on Earth lives close to the surface, where it can access oxygen and/or carbon dioxide, sunlight, water, minerals and organic matter.
Biosphere
The surrounds the Earth in gaseous layers held in place by gravity.
Atmosphere
Nitrogen on atmosphere
78%
Oxygen on atmosphere
21%
The includes Earth’s water. Most (97%) is salt water in the oceans. Freshwater is found in underground in aquifers, on the surface in lakes, rivers and frozen in glaciers. Earth’s water is always moving through a water cycle.
Hydrosphere
What are the 4 Spheres
- Atmosphere
- Hydrosphere
- Lithosphere/ Geosphere
- Biosphere
A complicated network of interrelated components that work together to regulate or control the Earth’s climate. Each component interacts with the others, contributing to the overall balance and variability of the climate system.
Climate System
Plays an important role in regulating temperature, weather patterns, and the greenhouse effect. Responsible for distributing heat and moisture across the globe through wind and precipitation.
Atmosphere
What are the layers of atmosphere?
- Troposphere
- Stratosphere
- Mesosphere
- Thermosphere
- Exosphere
The lowest layer and extends from the Earth’s surface up to an average altitude of about 8 to 15 km (5 to 9 miles). This layer contains the air we breathe and is where weather events, such as clouds, precipitation, and storms, occur. The temperature generally decreases with altitude.
Troposphere
Above the troposphere, it extends from approximately 15 - 50 km (9 - 31 miles) above the Earth’s surface. One notable feature in here is the ozone layer, which absorbs and scatters ultraviolet solar radiation. Temperature generally increases with altitude.
Stratosphere
It extends from about 50 - 85 km (31 - 53 miles) above the Earth’s surface. In this layer, temperatures once again decreas with altitude. This is where meteors burn up upon entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
Mesosphere
It is located above the mesosphere and extends from approximately 85 - 600 km (53 - 373 mi) or more. Temperatures can reach extremely high values due to the absorption of solar radiation. However, the density of molecules is very low in this layer.
Thermosphere
The outermost layer of the Earth’s atmosphere and extends from the upper boundary of the thermosphere to the edge of space. It shields the earth from asteroids and cosmic rays.
Exosphere
Found in the troposphere
- Passenger Plane
- Hot Air Balloon
Found in the Stratosphere
- Radiosonde
Found in the mesosphere
- Meteors
- Meteorological rockets
Found in the thermosphere
Aurora borealis
Found in the exosphere
- Spaceship
- Satellite
Where is moon located?
Geocorona
A part of the exosphere and consists mainly of hydrogen atoms. It extends far beyond the exosphere, up to around 630,000 kilometers (391,000 miles), which means the Moon, at about 384,400 kilometers, is technically within this hydrogen cloud.
Geocorona
How does atmosphere affects climate by greenhouse effect and warming?
Human activities such as burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas), deforestation, and agriculture increase the concentration of these greenhouse gases. As a result, more heat is trapped in the atmosphere, causing the Earth’s average temperature to rise, leading to global warming.
How does the atmosphere affect the climate by ozone depletion?
Ozone depletion, caused by chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), affects atmospheric temperature and can influence climate.
