SPHERES OF
EARTH
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-4CHSOYTLW
LEARNING GOALS
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Students will be able to describe Earth’s four major spheres.
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Students will be able to provide examples of how matter and
energy moves between Earth’s four major spheres.
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Standards (NGSS)
•
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HS-ESS2-2. Analyze geoscience data to make the claim that one change
to Earth’s surface can create feedbacks that cause changes to other
Earth’s systems.
HS-ESS2-7. Construct an argument based on evidence about the
simultaneous coevolution of Earth’s systems and life on Earth.
VIEW OF
EARTH
What do you see?
FOUR SPHERES OF EARTH
• Atmosphere
• Hydrosphere
• Geosphere
• Biosphere
WORD ORIGINS AND ROOTS
-SPHERE
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Names are derived from
ancient Greek.
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In Greek, “ball” = spharia.
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From spharia, we get
“sphere”
OTHER GREEK ROOTS
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Atmos = “vapor”
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Hydro = “water”
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Geo = “earth”
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Bio = “life”
ATMOSPHERE
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A life-sustaining, thin, gaseous envelope that
surrounds Earth.
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Extends far beyond Earth (100 km), with 90%
occurring close to surface (16 km).
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Divided into distinct layers.
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Energy exchange between space, atmosphere, and
surface of Earth produce climate and weather.
HYDROSPHERE
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Includes all of Earth’s water
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Oceans account for 97% of water on Earth
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Remaining 3% is fresh water
• Ground water, rivers, glaciers, lakes, etc.
GEOSPHERE
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Rock and soil on Earth’s surface and ocean floor, also
includes Earth’s interior, including molten core.
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Divided into 3 main parts.
• Crust, Mantle, Core
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Hard-boiled egg analogy
• Crust
Shell
• Mantle
White
• Core
Yolk
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Sometimes referred to as Lithosphere.
BIOSPHERE
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Includes all forms of life on Earth.
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Extends from deepest part of ocean extending
out into the atmosphere.
INTERACTIONS OF FOUR SPHERES
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Earth is a closed system (snow globe)
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Four spheres are open systems (fish bowl)
• Matter and energy are exchanged and flow
between each sphere
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The movement of matter and/or energy between the
four spheres are referred to as “cycles”.
• Water cycle, carbon cycle, energy cycle, nitrogen
cycle, phosphorus cycle, rock cycle.
THINK – PAIR - SHARE
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How does the hydrosphere, atmosphere, and
geosphere affect the biosphere?
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How do members of the biosphere affect the
geosphere?
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How do members of the biosphere affect the
hydrosphere and atmosphere?
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Does the biosphere influence the other spheres more
than the other spheres influence the biosphere?