Parts of the Earth system and what they do?
There are 5 parts of the Earth system and they all are different things, even though thehy are connected.
Lets start with the geoshpere. The geosphere is the solid part of Earth consisting of the crust and outere mantle; the mostly solid, rocky part of Earth. The crust, mantle, and core are all apart of the geosphere.
Crust
The crust extends from 5 to 70 km in depth. The narrow parts are oceanic crust made up of dense (mafic) iron magnesium silicate rocks and underlie the ocean basins, similar to basalt. The thicker crust is continental crust, which is less dense and made of (felsic) sodium potassium aluminium silicate rocks, like granite. The crust-mantle boundary occurs as two physically different events. First, there is a discontinuity in the seismic velocity, which is known as the Mohorovičić discontinuity or Moho. The cause of the Moho is thought to be a change in rock composition from rocks containing plagioclase feldspar (above) to rocks that contain no feldspars (below). Second, there is a chemical discontinuity between ultramafic cumulates and tectonized harzburgites, which has been observed from deep parts of the oceanic crust that have been obducted into the continental crust and preserved as ophiolite sequences. A lot of the rocks now making up Earth's crust formed less than 100 million years ago; however the oldest known mineral grains are 4.4 billion years old, indicating that Earth has had a solid crust for at least that long.
The crust extends from 5 to 70 km in depth. The narrow parts are oceanic crust made up of dense (mafic) iron magnesium silicate rocks and underlie the ocean basins, similar to basalt. The thicker crust is continental crust, which is less dense and made of (felsic) sodium potassium aluminium silicate rocks, like granite. The crust-mantle boundary occurs as two physically different events. First, there is a discontinuity in the seismic velocity, which is known as the Mohorovičić discontinuity or Moho. The cause of the Moho is thought to be a change in rock composition from rocks containing plagioclase feldspar (above) to rocks that contain no feldspars (below). Second, there is a chemical discontinuity between ultramafic cumulates and tectonized harzburgites, which has been observed from deep parts of the oceanic crust that have been obducted into the continental crust and preserved as ophiolite sequences. A lot of the rocks now making up Earth's crust formed less than 100 million years ago; however the oldest known mineral grains are 4.4 billion years old, indicating that Earth has had a solid crust for at least that long.
Mantle:
Earth's mantle extends to a depth of 2890 km, making it the thickest layer of Earth. The pressure, at the bottom of the mantle, is ~140 GPa (1.4 Matm). The mantle is composed of silicate rocks that are rich in iron and magnesium relative to the overlying crust. Although solid, the high temperatures within the mantle cause the silicate material to be sufficiently ductile that it can flow on very long timescales. Convection of the mantle is expressed at the surface through the motions of tectonic plates. The melting point and viscosity of a substance depends on the pressure it is under. As there is intense and increasing pressure as one travels deeper into the mantle, the lower part of the mantle flows less easily than does the upper mantle (chemical changes within the mantle may also be important). The viscosity of the mantle ranges between 1021 and 1024 Pa·s, depending on depth. In comparison, the viscosity of water is approximately 10-3 Pa·s and that of pitch 107 is Pa·s.
Earth's mantle extends to a depth of 2890 km, making it the thickest layer of Earth. The pressure, at the bottom of the mantle, is ~140 GPa (1.4 Matm). The mantle is composed of silicate rocks that are rich in iron and magnesium relative to the overlying crust. Although solid, the high temperatures within the mantle cause the silicate material to be sufficiently ductile that it can flow on very long timescales. Convection of the mantle is expressed at the surface through the motions of tectonic plates. The melting point and viscosity of a substance depends on the pressure it is under. As there is intense and increasing pressure as one travels deeper into the mantle, the lower part of the mantle flows less easily than does the upper mantle (chemical changes within the mantle may also be important). The viscosity of the mantle ranges between 1021 and 1024 Pa·s, depending on depth. In comparison, the viscosity of water is approximately 10-3 Pa·s and that of pitch 107 is Pa·s.
Core
The average density of Earth is 5515 kg/m3, making it the densest planet in the Solar system. Since the average density of surface material is only around 3000 kg/m3, we must conclude that denser materials exist within Earth's core. Further evidence for the high density core comes from the study of seismology. Seismic measurements show that the core is divided into two parts, a solid inner core with a radius of ~1220 km and a liquid outer core extending beyond it to a radius of ~3400 km. The solid inner core was discovered in 1936 by Inge Lehmann and is generally believed to be composed primarily of iron and some nickel. In early stages of Earth's formation about 4.5 billion (4.5×109) years ago, melting would have caused denser substances to sink toward the center in a process called planetary differentiation (see also the iron catastrophe), while less-dense materials would have migrated to the crust. The core is thus believed to largely be composed of iron (80%), along with nickel and one or more light elements, whereas other dense elements, such as lead and uranium, either are too rare to be significant or tend to bind to lighter elements and thus remain in the crust (see felsic materials). Some have argued that the inner core may be in the form of a single iron crystal. The liquid outer core surrounds the inner core and is believed to be composed of iron mixed with nickel and trace amounts of lighter elements. Recent speculation suggests that the innermost part of the core is enriched in gold, platinum and other iron-loving (siderophile) elements. The matter that Earth is composed of is connected in fundamental ways to the matter of certain chondrite meteorites, and to the matter of the outer portion of the Sun . There is good reason to believe that Earth is, in the main, like a chondrite meteorite. Beginning as early as 1940, scientists, including Francis Birch, built geophysics upon the premise that Earth is like ordinary chondrites, the most common type of meteorite observed impacting Earth, while totally ignoring another, albeit less abundant type, called enstatite chondrites. The principal difference between the two meteorite types is that enstatite chondrites formed under circumstances of extremely limited available oxygen, leading to certain normally oxyphile elements existing either partially or wholly in the alloy portion that corresponds to the core of Earth. Dynamo theory suggests that convection in the outer core, combined with the Coriolis effect, gives rise to the Earth's magnetic field. The solid inner core is too hot to hold a permanent magnetic field (see Curie temperature) but probably acts to stabilise the magnetic field generated by the liquid outer core. Recent evidence has suggested that the inner core of Earth may rotate slightly faster than the rest of the planet. In August 2005 a team of geophysicists announced in the journal Science that, according to their estimates, Earth's inner core rotates approximately 0.3 to 0.5 degrees per year relative to the rotation of the surface. The current scientific explanation for the Earth's temperature gradient is a combination of the heat left over from the planet's initial formation, the decay of radioactive elements, and the freezing of the inner core.
The average density of Earth is 5515 kg/m3, making it the densest planet in the Solar system. Since the average density of surface material is only around 3000 kg/m3, we must conclude that denser materials exist within Earth's core. Further evidence for the high density core comes from the study of seismology. Seismic measurements show that the core is divided into two parts, a solid inner core with a radius of ~1220 km and a liquid outer core extending beyond it to a radius of ~3400 km. The solid inner core was discovered in 1936 by Inge Lehmann and is generally believed to be composed primarily of iron and some nickel. In early stages of Earth's formation about 4.5 billion (4.5×109) years ago, melting would have caused denser substances to sink toward the center in a process called planetary differentiation (see also the iron catastrophe), while less-dense materials would have migrated to the crust. The core is thus believed to largely be composed of iron (80%), along with nickel and one or more light elements, whereas other dense elements, such as lead and uranium, either are too rare to be significant or tend to bind to lighter elements and thus remain in the crust (see felsic materials). Some have argued that the inner core may be in the form of a single iron crystal. The liquid outer core surrounds the inner core and is believed to be composed of iron mixed with nickel and trace amounts of lighter elements. Recent speculation suggests that the innermost part of the core is enriched in gold, platinum and other iron-loving (siderophile) elements. The matter that Earth is composed of is connected in fundamental ways to the matter of certain chondrite meteorites, and to the matter of the outer portion of the Sun . There is good reason to believe that Earth is, in the main, like a chondrite meteorite. Beginning as early as 1940, scientists, including Francis Birch, built geophysics upon the premise that Earth is like ordinary chondrites, the most common type of meteorite observed impacting Earth, while totally ignoring another, albeit less abundant type, called enstatite chondrites. The principal difference between the two meteorite types is that enstatite chondrites formed under circumstances of extremely limited available oxygen, leading to certain normally oxyphile elements existing either partially or wholly in the alloy portion that corresponds to the core of Earth. Dynamo theory suggests that convection in the outer core, combined with the Coriolis effect, gives rise to the Earth's magnetic field. The solid inner core is too hot to hold a permanent magnetic field (see Curie temperature) but probably acts to stabilise the magnetic field generated by the liquid outer core. Recent evidence has suggested that the inner core of Earth may rotate slightly faster than the rest of the planet. In August 2005 a team of geophysicists announced in the journal Science that, according to their estimates, Earth's inner core rotates approximately 0.3 to 0.5 degrees per year relative to the rotation of the surface. The current scientific explanation for the Earth's temperature gradient is a combination of the heat left over from the planet's initial formation, the decay of radioactive elements, and the freezing of the inner core.
The hydrosphere is the part of Earth's surface that is water. Liquid water.
The water in the hydrosphere is spread out through the ocean, glaciers and ice caps, groundwater, surface water and water in the atmosphere in the form of water vapor and clouds. The water is present in all three phases: solid, liquid and gas. Life on Earth depends on the water of the hydrosphere and the cyrosphere, for ice caps and glaciers are apart of the cyrosphere, an example of how shperes interact.
Earth is called "the water planet" for a pretty good reason. More than 71% of Earth's surface is covered with water. The total amount of water on Earth is approximately 333 million cubic miles (1,386 million cubic kilometers). Only a small fraction of the total amount of water on Earth is available for drinking, washing and irrigating crops because most of it is either salty or frozen.
The global ocean, along with seas and bays, has 97% of all the water on Earth, around 321 million cubic miles. Ocean water is salty and is not suitable for drinking or other everyday uses. Only 3% of the water on Earth is fresh (not salty). Over two-thirds of the freshwater is in the form of ice, in glaciers, polar ice caps or permafrost. Another 30% of the freshwater is groundwater. This leaves less than 1% of the freshwater, or 0.007% of the total water on Earth, on the surface in lakes and rivers that are easily accessible,
Earth is called "the water planet" for a pretty good reason. More than 71% of Earth's surface is covered with water. The total amount of water on Earth is approximately 333 million cubic miles (1,386 million cubic kilometers). Only a small fraction of the total amount of water on Earth is available for drinking, washing and irrigating crops because most of it is either salty or frozen.
The global ocean, along with seas and bays, has 97% of all the water on Earth, around 321 million cubic miles. Ocean water is salty and is not suitable for drinking or other everyday uses. Only 3% of the water on Earth is fresh (not salty). Over two-thirds of the freshwater is in the form of ice, in glaciers, polar ice caps or permafrost. Another 30% of the freshwater is groundwater. This leaves less than 1% of the freshwater, or 0.007% of the total water on Earth, on the surface in lakes and rivers that are easily accessible,
The cryosphere is the frozen water on Earth. Ice and snow on land are one part of the cryosphere. This includes the biggest sections of the cryosphere, the continental ice sheets found in Greenland and Antarctica, as well as ice caps, glaciers, and areas of snow and permafrost. When continental ice flows out from land and to the sea surface, we get shelf ice. Other parts of the cryosphere include sea ice and frozen ground.
The other section of the cryosphere is ice that is in water. This invloves frozen parts of the ocean, such as waters surrounding Antarctica and the Arctic. It also involves frozen rivers and lakes, which mainly are found in polar areas.
The key parts of the cryosphere play an important part in the Earth’s climate. Snow and ice reflect heat from the sun, helping to keep Earth's temperature consistent. Because polar areas are some of the most sensitive to climate shifts, the cryosphere can be one of the first places where scientists are able to identify global changes in climate.
The other section of the cryosphere is ice that is in water. This invloves frozen parts of the ocean, such as waters surrounding Antarctica and the Arctic. It also involves frozen rivers and lakes, which mainly are found in polar areas.
The key parts of the cryosphere play an important part in the Earth’s climate. Snow and ice reflect heat from the sun, helping to keep Earth's temperature consistent. Because polar areas are some of the most sensitive to climate shifts, the cryosphere can be one of the first places where scientists are able to identify global changes in climate.
What is the atmosphere and what is its purpose?
Two goals are on this page so after the atmosphere is back to the other spheres.
A mixture of nearly all invisible gases that surrond Earth is the atmosphere. The atmosphere reaches 500 to 600 km off the surface of Earth. 8 to 5o km is where most gases lie, though.
Gravity holds the atmosphere near Earth. It is split into different layers based on different temperatures.
Gravity holds the atmosphere near Earth. It is split into different layers based on different temperatures.
- The Troposphere:
- The Stratosphere:
- The Mesosphere:
- The Thermosphere
- The Ionosphere:
- The Exosphere:
Even with the layers, there is no definite place where the atmosphere ends.
The atmosphere Earth has is more than just the air we breathe. It's also a buffer that keeps us from being peppered by meteorites, a screen against deadly radiation, and the reason radio waves can be bounced for long distances around the planet.
The atmosphere only is still around because of Earth's gravity. It contains nearly 78% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, 0.93% argon, 0.038% carbon dioxide, trace amounts of other gases, and a variable amount (average around 1%) of water vapor. Air is the mixture of these gases. The atmosphere protects life on Earth by absorbing ultraviolet solar radiation and reducing temperature extremes between day and night.
The atmosphere only is still around because of Earth's gravity. It contains nearly 78% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, 0.93% argon, 0.038% carbon dioxide, trace amounts of other gases, and a variable amount (average around 1%) of water vapor. Air is the mixture of these gases. The atmosphere protects life on Earth by absorbing ultraviolet solar radiation and reducing temperature extremes between day and night.
The biosphere is the worldwide ecological system mixing all alive organisms and their relationships. We know today that the biosphere has evolved for 3.5 billion years.
From the deepest oceans to the tallest mountian tops, the biosphere covers most of the world. Microorganisms also live deep beneath the surface of the Earth.
The biosphere is split into seperate biomes. Each of these have species that are similar in their gift to survive with a certian climate. Biomes are separated by latitude. For instance, Arctic and Antacrtic biomes are vastly different from tropical biomes.
Climate change influences the distribution of these biomes and to some extent displaces them.
The biosphere is an important reservoir in the carbon cycle and has a very significant impact on climate through release and removal of CO2 from the atmosphere.
From the deepest oceans to the tallest mountian tops, the biosphere covers most of the world. Microorganisms also live deep beneath the surface of the Earth.
The biosphere is split into seperate biomes. Each of these have species that are similar in their gift to survive with a certian climate. Biomes are separated by latitude. For instance, Arctic and Antacrtic biomes are vastly different from tropical biomes.
Climate change influences the distribution of these biomes and to some extent displaces them.
The biosphere is an important reservoir in the carbon cycle and has a very significant impact on climate through release and removal of CO2 from the atmosphere.