Earth Spheres and Interactions

Earth Spheres and Interactions

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Earth's Spheres

​Earth's Sphere Key Concepts

• When studying the Earth, scientists consider it a system of parts all interacting and working together. They divide this system into four (or five) spheres: atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere (and sometimes cryosphere).

• ​The root of the words describe what is included in each category:

  • ​atmos = air = all of the gases surrounding the Earth

  • ​bio = life = all living (or once living) things

  • ​geo = land and rock = Earth's crust and landforms

  • ​hydro = water = all of Earth's oceans, lakes, rivers, etc.

  • ​cryo = ice = all of the frozen water

Multiple Choice

All living things are part of the __.

• Hydrosphere

• Biosphere

• Geosphere

• Cryosphere

• Atmosphere

Multiple Choice

The Earth's crust, mantle, and core are part of the__.

• Hydrosphere

• Cryosphere

• Biosphere

• Geosphere

Multiple Select

Check the spheres/systems of Earth

• Geosphere

• Hydrosphere

• Space

• Hemisphere

• Atmosphere

Multiple Choice

What is the main sphere represented in this picture?

• Hydorsphere

• Atmosphere

• Geosphere

• Biosphere

Multiple Choice

What main sphere is this shown in this picture?

• Hydrosphere

• Atmosphere

• Biosphere

• Geosphere

Multiple Choice

The prefix "bio" comes from a Greek word that means what?

• Life

• Water

• Earth

• Ground

Multiple Select

What objects are in the Geosphere?

• Rocks

• Water

• Chocolate

• Sand

• Birds

Multiple Choice

What sphere are humans in?

• Atmosphere

• Biosphere

• Geosphere

• Hydrosphere

How does Earth's Surface change?

Earth's surface changes in two main ways.

1. Gradually

2. Catastrophically

Multiple Choice

Gradual changes take___.

• Moments

• Days

• Months

• Hundreds and Thousands of years

Gradual Changes

• Erosion (Wind, Rain, Gravity, and Ice)

• Plate Movement (Plate Tectonics)

• Mountain Formation (Plate Tectonics)

• Island Formation (Volcanoes)

Catastrophic Changes

• Earthquakes

• Volcanic Erruptions

• Hurricane

• Tornadoes

• Floods

• Asteroid Impact

Multiple Choice

Catastrophic changes take___.

• Moments

• Days

• Months

• Hundreds and Thousands of years

Costal Erosion

• Waves and currents erode away the rocks of the shore

• Landforms: Sea Caves, Sea Arches, Sea Stacks, Fjords, Sea Cliff, Beaches

Multiple Choice

Is costal erosion catastrophic or gradual?

• Catastrophic

• Gradual

Mountain Formation

• When a continental tectonic plate collides with another plate it is compressed and mountains form.

• This takes Millions of years.

• Examples: Andes, Rocky, Himalayan Mountains

Multiple Choice

Is Mountain formation catastrophic or gradual?

• Catastrophic

• Gradual

Flooding

• When a river or lake flood the surrounding area.

• Can cause major erosion of landforms

Multiple Choice

Is Flooding catastrophic or gradual?

• Catastrophic

• Gradual

River Erosion

• Moving water Erodes away the rocks it passes.

• Landforms: Ox Bow Lakes, Valleys, Delta

Multiple Choice

Is river erosion catastrophic or gradual?

• Catastrophic

• Gradual

Volcanic Island formation and Erosion

• Volcanoes under the ocean erupt and create new crust.

• Slowly this crust builds up until it makes an island.

• Over Thousands of years the islands slowly erode back into the ocean.

Multiple Choice

Is Island formation and erosion catastrophic or gradual?

• Catastrophic

• Gradual

Meteor Impact

• When a celestial object falls and crashes into Earth's Surface.

• Creates an impact crater, sends a dust cloud into the sky that can block the sunlight causing plants and animals to die.

Multiple Choice

Is a meteor impact catastrophic or gradual?

• Catastrophic

• Gradual

Glacial Erosion

• As the Ice Flows forward it scrapes away and smooths the land.

• As the Ice Melts it forms Rivers and Lakes

• Rivers flow faster as the ice melts

• Glaciers melt and form lakes in a low spot