yr9 earth and space

Define the Biosphere

The biosphere is the part of earth that contains living organisms and the areas they live in.

Define the lithosphere

The lithosphere is the solid outer layers of the earth including the crust and the upper most mantle

Define the hydrosphere

The hydrosphere includes all the water on earth in liquid in solid, liquid, and gaseous form

What are the components of the Lithosphere?

Rocks
Minerals
Soil
Mountains
Continents
Ocean Floor
Earth's crust and uppermost mantle

What are the components of the Hydrosphere?

Oceans and seas
Riveres and lakes
Groundwater
Ice caps and glaciers
Clouds and water vapour
Rain and snow

What are the components of the Atmosphere?

Composed of gases:
Nitrogen - 71%
Oxygen - 21%
Argon and other gases - 1%
Carbon Dioxide - 0.04%

What are the key features of the biosphere?

Includes all living things and the regions where they live Extend from deep oceans to the lower atmospshere Organisms depend on water, nutrients, and shelter

What are the key features of the lithosphere?

Provides nutrients and support for living organisms.
Forms earth's land surfaces.
Constantly changes through weathering erosion and plate tectonics

What are the key features of the Hydrosphere?

Covers about 71% of the Earth's surface
Water moves continuously through the water cycle
essential for all living organisms

What are the key features of the atmosphere?

Provides oxygen for respiration
Contains carbon dioxide used in photosynthesis
Protects Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation
Helps regulate temperature and weather

What are examples of the biosphere?

Coral reefs, forest, grassland, soil microgansims, humans, and other animals

What are some examples of the lithosphere

Includes rocks, soil, mountains, and minerals.

What are examples of the hydrosphere

Includes oceans, rivers, lakes, glaciers, and groundwater.

What are examples of the atmosphere

Includes gases surrounding Earth, such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor.

What are the components of the biosphere?

Plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, humans, and ecosystems.

Define atmosphere

The atmosphere is the gaseous layer that surround earth, protecting us from uv radiation, providing oxygen, and controlling weather and temperature.

How are the four spheres connected

Biosphere ↔ Atmosphere - Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen

Biosphere ↔ Hydrosphere - Fish live in water and require water to survive

Biosphere ↔ Lithosphere - Plants obtain nutrients from soil

Hydrosphere ↔ Atmosphere - Water evaporates into the atmosphere and return in rain

Hydrosphere ↔ Lithosphere - Rivers erode rocks and transport sediments

Atmosphere ↔ Lithosphere - Wind causes weathering and erosion of rocks

Define the Carbon Cycle?

The carbon cycle is the natural process by which carbon is continuously transferred between the atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere

Describe photosynthesis?

Plants absorbed carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
They use sunlight to convert CO2 and water into glucose
Oxygen is released as a by-product

What is the effect of photosynthesis?

Removes Co2 from the atmosphere and store carbon in plants

What is the effect of respiration?

Returns Co2 to the atmosphere

Describe respiration

Plants, animals and microorganism break down glucose to release energy. This process releases carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.

Describe Decomposition

When animals and plants die, decomposers (bacteria and fungi) break them down. Carbon stored in their bodies is released as Co2 or transferred to soil as nutrients.

What are the effects of decomposition?

Recycles carbon back into the environment

Affects of burning fossil fuels on the carbon cycle?

• Fossil fuels store carbon from ancient organisms When burned for electricity transport

• When burned for electricity, transport, and industry, they release large amounts of Co2

Impacts

• Rapid transfer of carbon from the lithosphere to the atmosphere

• Adds “extra” carbon not normally part of short-term natural cycling

Affects of deforestation on the carbon cycle?

• Forest are cleared for farming, mining and urban development\

• Fewer trees means less carbon dioxide is removed from the air through photosynthesis

• Burning or decay of cleared trees releases stored carbon

Impacts

• Reduced carbon uptake from the atmopshere

• Release of carbon from the biosphere back into the atmosphere

Affects of agriculture on the carbon cycle?

• Livestock produce methane during digestion

• Soil disturbance can release stored carbon

• Fertilisers and land use changes can also affect soil carbon stores

Affects of industrial processes on the carbon cycle?

• Cement production and manufacturing release Co2

• Energy used in industries often relies on fossil fuels

Affects of land usage change on the carbon cycle?

• Urbanisation replace vegetation with buildings and roads

• This reduces plant-based carbon storage and limits photosynthesis

In terms of the carbon cycle, human activites cause:

• Increased atmospheric Co2 levels

• Reduced carbon stored in plants and soils

• Faster movement of carbon into the atmosphere

• Disruption of natural balance between Earth’s sphere’s

Define deforestation

Deforestation is the permanent removal or destruction of forest and woodland, permanently covering the land for non-forest uses.

What are the causes of deforestation (the primary divers of global forest loss)

• Agriculture

• Livestock

• Logging

• Urbanisation

• Infrasturcture

• Mining

What are the impacts of deforestation

• Biodiversity Loss - Destroy habitats, pushing countless plants and animals species towards extinction

• Climate change- trees act as massive carbon sinks. When they are burned or cut down, they release stored carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

• Disrupted weather cycles - Forest play a massive role in recycling through transpiration. Deforestation can cause delayed wet seasons and localised droughts

How does deforestation affect the carbon cycle and what are the results?

How deforestation impact the carbon cycle:

• Fewer trees means less photosynthesis, so less Co2 is removed from the atmosphere

• When trees are cut down or burned, stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere\

This results in:

• Increased atmospheric Co2

• Reduced carbon storage in plants

• Disruption of natural carbon balance