ELIFE LESSON 2/EARTH SUBSYSTEMS

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Geosphere

A portion of the Earth that includes the interior structure, rocks and minerals, and physical processes on land.

Crust

The outermost layer of the Earth.

Crust

Up to 100km thick (thinnest layer).

Continental Crust

Crust beneath the continents. Rich in potassium, sodium, aluminum, and silicon.

Oceanic Crust

Crust beneath the oceans. Rich in iron, silicon, and magnesium. Mostly made of Basalt rocks.

Mantle

Layer between the crust and the core. Largest layer containing about 67% of the Earth’s mass.

Mohorovicic Discontinuity

The boundary between the crust and the mantle. Also called Moho.

Mantle

Extends to a depth of about 2900 km

Upper Mantle

A Mantle type that consists of the Lithosphere and Asthenosphere.

Transition Zone

Dense layer with hydroxide ions.

Lower Mantle

Mantle type that is hot and dense layer.

Outer Core

This layer is made of hot liquid molten materials containing iron and nickel.

Outer Core

Has a thickness of 2,250 km, and a temperature ranging from 2,200 - 5000 degree celsius.

Inner Core

Innermost layer of the Earth. Also made of iron and nickel, but in solid form.

Inner Core

Begins at a depth of 5,150km above the Earth’s surface.

Hydrosphere

Encompasses all the waters found in Earth.

Surface Water

It is the water found on Earth’s surface.

Ground Water

It is the water found beneath the Earth’s surface.

Atmosphere

It is a set of layers of gases surrounding a planet that is held in place by the gravity.

Troposphere

A layer of the atmosphere that starts at the Earth’s surface and extends to 8 to 14.5km high.

Stratosphere

A layer of the atmosphere that starts just above the troposphere and extends 50km high.

Mesosphere

A layer of the atmosphere that starts just above the stratosphere and extends 85km high.

Thermosphere

A layer of the atmosphere that starts just above the mesosphere and extends 600km high.

Biosphere

Makes up all the living components on Earth.

Theory of Primordial Soup

This theory suggests that the energy from the sun fueled chemical reactions in the atmosphere forming organic molecules like amino acids. Eventually these proteins, lipid, and other organic molecules formed the first cells.

Alexander Oparin

He developed the Theory of Primordial Soup.

Deep Sea Vent Theory

This theory suggests that life began not on the surface of Earth but deep down on the sea in areas known as Marine Hydrothermal Vent.

Panspermia

This theory suggests that life on Earth actually began somewhere in the universe. Life formed could have been carried by meteorites, asteroids, or comets as they made cosmic impact on Earth.

Revolution

365.25 days.

Rotation

24 hours.

23.5 degrees

Earth’s tilt of axis relative to orbital plane.

Solar Day

A kind of rotation that’s 24 hours. One Earth rotation relative to the stars.

Sidereal Day

A kind of rotation that’s 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds. One Earth rotation relative to the Sun.

Closed System

Does not allow the transfer of matter but allows the transfer of energy.

• Mass Transfer = No

• Heat Transfer = Yes

Open System

Matter and energy into or out of the system.

• Mass Transfer = Yes

• Heat Transfer = Yes

Isolated System

No energy or matter exchange.

• Mass Transfer = No

• Heat Transfer = No

Earth

Is the only known planet to have consistent, stable bodies of liquid water on its surface (NOAA, 2020).

Goldilocks Zone/Habitable Zone

Distance from a star at which liquid water could exist on orbiting planets’ surfaces (NASA, 2024).

Rayleigh Scattering

Why the sky is blue.

20 degrees celsius

The average temperature of Earth’s surface.