earth's spheres atmosphere

what is atmosphere?

gases around earth; air and weather

what is geosphere?

the solid earth: rocks, soil, landforms, crust, mantle, core

what is cryosphere?

FROZEN water: glaciers, ice caps, sea ice, snow, permafrost

what is hydrosphere?

all LIQUID water: oceans, rivers, lakes, rain

what is biosphere?

all living things: plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, people

how do the atmosphere and hydrosphere work together?

ocean water evaporates into the air; rain brings water back to Earth.

how do the atmosphere and geosphere work together?

rain and wind break down rocks and soil.

how do the atmosphere and biosphere work together?

plants take in CO₂ (carbon dioxide) and release O₂ (oxygen); animals breathe O₂ (oxygen) from the air.

how do the atmosphere and cryosphere work together?

warm air melts snow and ice; snow and ice can cool the air.

how do the hydrosphere and geosphere work together?

moving water wears down land and carries dirt and rocks.

how do the hydrosphere and biosphere work together?

plants take in water; animals drink water to live.

how do the hydrosphere and cryosphere work together?

ice melts into water; water freezes into ice.

how do the geosphere and biosphere work together?

plant roots grow in soil and take in nutrients.

how do the geosphere and cryosphere work together?

moving glaciers scrape and change the land.

how do the biosphere and cryosphere work together?

animals and plants use ice and snow as a home; melting ice changes their homes.

what is the troposphere?

weather + clouds: most water vapor, we live here; where airplanes fly. with no weather or water cycle, there would be no life!

what is the stratosphere?

the ozone layer, stable air: some airplanes fly in the lower stratosphere, the temperature increases upward

what is the mesophere?

where most meteors burn up; the coldest layer; the temperature decreases

what is the thermosphere?

very thin air; temperature increases upward, some satellites

what is the exosphere?

outermost, EXTREMELY thin layer; blends into space; many satellites orbit are here

why are all layers important?

because it protects the earth from harmful UV rays, supports life by providing gases organisms need and helps liquid water exist, and moves heat/moisture; as the greenhouse effect helps keep earth warm

what is the ozone layer?

it is mostly in the stratosphere, absorbing harmful UV radiation from the Sun and protects living things

what is the green house effect?

greenhouse gases traps heat to keep humans warm. natural effect warms earth adding warming