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The Earth is an integrated system composed of four essential components: the geosphere (rock), atmosphere (air), hydrosphere (water), and biosphere (living things). Each component interacts with the others, shaping the environment we live in. The geosphere includes the solid, rocky layers from the core to the crust, while the atmosphere consists of gases that surround the Earth. The hydrosphere encompasses all water, predominantly in oceans. The biosphere is the zone of life, extending from above the surface to the ocean depths. Understanding these interactions is crucial for studying Earth’s dynamics.
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The Dynamic Earth Unit 3
3-1 The Earth as a System • The Earth is an integrated system that consists of rock, air, water, and living thingsthat all interact with each other. • Scientists divided this system into four parts: • -The Geosphere (rock) • -The Atmosphere (air) -The Hydrosphere (water) • -The Biosphere (living things)
The Geosphere • -Mostly solid, rocky part of the Earth. • -Extends from the core to the crust. • -The atmosphere is a mixture of gases that makes up the air • we breathe. • -Gases are found in the first 30 km above the Earth’s surface.
The Hydrosphere • -Made up of all the water on or near the Earth’s surface. • -Oceans cover nearly three-quarters of the globe. • -Water is also found in the atmosphere, on land, and in the soil.
The Biosphere • -Part of the Earth where life exists. • -Thin layer that extends from about 9 kmabove the Earth’s surface down to the bottom of the ocean. -Made up of parts of the geosphere,the atmosphere, and the hydrosphere
Discovering Earth’s Interior • -Seismic wavesare used to learn about Earth’s interior. • -Seismic waves travel through Earth’s interior during an earthquake. • -The speed and directionof seismic waves reveal the different layers of the Earth.
The Composition of the Earth • -The Earth is divided into three layers: • The crust • The mantle • The core • -These layers are made up of • progressively denser material • toward the center of the Earth.
The Crust • -Thin, solid outermost layer of the Earth. • -Makes up less than 1 percent of the planet’s mass. • -Is 5 km to 8 km thick beneath the oceans and 20-70 km thick beneath the continents.
The Mantle • Layer of molten rock between the Earth’s crust and core. • -Makes up 64 percent of the mass of the Earth.
The Core -Central part of the Earth below the mantle, -Composed of dense elements- nickel and iron. -Estimated temperature: btw 4,000°C to 5,000°C- it is solid because it is under enormous pressure
Earth’s Structure Earth can be divided into five layers based on physical properties: -Lithosphere: solid, outer layer of the crust and rigid upper part of the mantle. -Is divided into huge pieces called tectonic plates.
Earth’s Structure (cont’d) -Asthenosphere: solid, plastic layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere. -Is made of slowly flowing mantle rock, which allows tectonic plates to move on top of it. -Mesosphere: lower part of the mantle