Earth's Spheres

Flashcards covering key concepts related to Earth's spheres, their interactions, and related phenomena.

Earth system

A system that includes all matter, energy, and processes within Earth's boundary.

Geosphere

The solid, rocky part of Earth, including the crust, mantle, and core.

Hydrosphere

The part of Earth that contains all liquid water, such as oceans, lakes, and rain.

Cryosphere

The portion of the Earth's surface that is frozen water, including ice, glaciers, and permafrost.

Atmosphere

The layer of gases that surrounds Earth, including most of the air we breathe.

Biosphere

The global sum of all ecosystems, made up of living organisms and their environments.

Exchange Matter

The process by which matter moves between Earth’s spheres, such as water vapor moving from the hydrosphere to the atmosphere.

Exchange Energy

The transfer of energy from one sphere to another, like sun energy being absorbed by plants.

Earth’s energy budget

A way to track the transfers of energy into and out of the Earth system, maintaining a balance for stable temperatures.

Greenhouse gases

Gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.

Melting polar ice

The process where melting ice exposes dark water that absorbs more sunlight, leading to increased temperatures.