Origin and Structure of the Earth, Earth and Life Science

Earth: The Living Planet

 Lesson6 chapters
 Questions

Objective
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to describe the different characteristics of the earth
necessary for the growth and survival of life.

Earth is considered as a home of simple single-celled organisms up to the most complex life forms
including humans. It is undeniable that the planet we live in is a rare planet as it is the only planet in
our solar system that permits life. The different characteristics of Earth are responsible for the
proliferation of life.

Earth’s Atmosphere
The atmosphere consists of 78.1% nitrogen, 20.9% oxygen, 0.9% argon, 350 ppm carbon dioxide,
and other components. The table below shows the major components in the atmosphere and their
relative concentrations
(Source: http://www.ucar.edu/communications/gcip/m7sssystem/m7pdfc3.pdf).

The presence of oxygen and carbon dioxide permits life on Earth. Carbon dioxide is used by
photosynthetic organisms, such as plants and algae, to convert the energy from the sun to usable
energy through the process of photosynthesis. The oxygen makes it livable for living organisms
including humans for respiration and for our cells to function.

Earth’s atmosphere also protects us from the sun’s radiation. Thirty percent of the radiation is
reflected away by the atmosphere, clouds, and the earth's surface. Another 25% is absorbed by the
atmosphere and clouds, and the remaining 45% is absorbed by the earth’s surface. Ozone or O3 is
composed of three oxygen atoms. In the stratosphere, O3 is abundant in the form of the ozone layer.
This layer absorbs the ultraviolet wavelengths, and the absorption of this radiation heats up the air.

Learn about it!

Soil and Vegetation
The soil is a mixture of minerals, water, air, organic matter, and organisms. It is a living medium—a
medium for growth of all kinds of vegetation. The soil promotes growth for plants by providing
nutrients, water, and as a substrate for anchorage of roots. In return, vegetation produces trees and
forests cover, ensures the water and nutrient cycle, and prevents soil and wind erosion. This mutual
relationship of the soil and vegetation makes our planet livable.

Earth’s Hydrosphere
The hydrosphere contains all the water on our planet including ice and vapor. Nearly three-quarters
of the earth’s surface is the sea and the ocean. The ocean houses many species of marine life and
diverse mineral resources. Other forms of water include river, streams, and lakes. Other than being
a water reservoir, these forms of water are all sources of fish and shellfish that we consume. They
also serve as thermostat and heat reservoir, especially the ocean. They also serve as ways for
transportation.

Explore!
Imagine that you have a garden. Get one plant that could fit in a pot but do not put soil when you
transfer it. Put the plant inside a box and leave it for one week. What do you think will happen to the
plant? How would you relate this scenario with the different characteristics of the Earth?

Try it!
Research about the characteristics of other planets in the Solar System which make them unfit for
growth and life.

What do you think?

Are the characteristics of the earth interrelated with one another? If yes, how do they affect each
other?

Key Points
 The atmosphere consists of 78.1% nitrogen, 20.9% oxygen, 0.9% argon, 350 ppm carbon
dioxide, and other components.
 The presence of oxygen and carbon dioxide makes Earth habitable.
 Earth’s atmosphere also protects us from the sun’s radiation.
 The soil is a living medium—a medium for growth of all kinds of vegetation.
 The hydrosphere serves as a water reservoir, a source of fish and shellfish that we consume,
a thermostat and heat reservoir, and a way for transportation.
Objective
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to explain that the Earth consists of four subsystems,
across whose boundaries matter and energy flow.

The four subsystems of the Earth are the atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.

What are the characteristics of these four subsystems?

earn about it!

The Earth is comprised of four major subsystems. These subsystems are also called the “spheres of
the Earth.” They are atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.

Atmosphere
The word atmosphere comes from the Greek roots atmos which means gas, and sphaira which
means globe or ball. The atmosphere makes up of all the gases on Earth. It extends outward about
10 000 km from the surface of the Earth. It is composed of 78.1% nitrogen, 20.9% oxygen, 0.9%
argon, 350 ppm carbon dioxide, and other components.

The atmosphere has different layers – troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and
exosphere.

 The troposphere extends to about 14.5 km above the Earth's surface. It is the lowest layer
where the weather forms.
 The stratosphere is found 14.5 to 50 km above the Earth's surface. The ozone layer that
protects the Earth from the Sun's harmful UV radiation is found in this layer.
 The mesosphere extends from 50 to 85 km above the Earth's surface. It protects the Earth
from the impact of space debris.
 The thermosphere is found 85 to 600 km above the Earth's surface. It has charged particles
that are affected by the Earth's magnetic field. The particles create the Auroras or Northern
and Southern lights.
 The exosphere is the farthest layer. It extends to about 10 000 km above the Earth's
surface.

Geosphere
Geo is a Greek root which means ground. Geosphere includes all the soil, rocks, and minerals
present in the crust to the core of the Earth. It is divided into three layers namely crust, mantle, and
core.

The crust is the outermost layer of the geosphere. It is made mostly of silicate materials. There are
two different types of crust, the oceanic and continental crusts. The thin oceanic crust that lies
beneath the oceanic floors is about 5 to 10 km thick. On the other hand, the thicker continental
crust that makes up the continents is about 15 to 70 km thick.
The mantle, which lies just below the crust, is made mostly of silicate rocks rich in magnesium and
iron. It is about 2900 km thick. It has increasing temperatures at increasing depths. For instance, the
layer with the lowest temperature is the one right beneath the crust. This layer, which is soft enough
to flow, causes the plates of the crust to move. On the other hand, the layer with the highest
temperature is found in contact with the heat-producing core.

The core, which has a radius of 3400 km, is the innermost layer of the Earth. It is made up of iron
and nickel. It is the source of internal heat because it contains radioactive materials that release
energy as they decay into more stable substances.

Hydrosphere
Hydro is a Greek root which means water. Hydrosphere is composed of all the water on Earth in
any form: water vapor, liquid water, and ice. It is comprised of 97.5% saltwater and 2.5% freshwater.
It includes all bodies of water such as oceans, lakes, rivers, and marshes. Clouds and rain are also
part of the hydrosphere.

The water on Earth is constantly moving. It moves through the oceans in currents. Warm waters in
the tropics move toward the poles while cold water from the polar regions move toward the tropics.
Water also flows into streams and rivers and through the rocks underground. It can also move from
the Earth’s surface to the air by evaporation and then fall back to Earth as precipitation. It even
moves into and out of the bodies of organisms.

Biosphere
Bio is a Greek root that means life. The biosphere is comprised of all living things. It includes all
microbes, plants, and animals. It extends to the upper areas of the atmosphere where insects and
birds can be found. It also reaches the deep parts of the oceans where marine organisms can still
survive.

Organisms interact with the other spheres to survive. Many organisms need oxygen and carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere to carry out life processes. Water, which comprises the hydrosphere, is
also important to organisms. Finally, the rocks, soil, and minerals constitute the geosphere also
support life.

Learn about it!

How the Earth’s Subsystems Interact

Matter and energy move and cycle between the four different subsystems. These cycles make life
on Earth possible. An example of these cycles is the water cycle. Water moves between the different
spheres. It absorbs, releases, and transports energy around the world in its different forms.

What will happen if matter or energy does not change from one form to another?

For example, what if water vapor does not fall back to the Earth as rain? Then the bodies of water
will be drained, and no life on Earth will exist.
Tips
Some of the components in the subsystems overlap. The most common example is the soil which
can be considered as a part of hydrosphere, geosphere, and even biosphere. Since the soil is a
complex material made up of air, soil particles, water, and organisms, it underscores that a clear
division among subsystems cannot be drawn.

Explore
Imagine that you are part of NASA’s special mission and you are tasked to discuss the things
needed to replicate the Earth’s system in another planet. What are the things necessary to enable
life in that planet?

What do you think?

What is the importance of studying the interactions among the four subsystems?

Key Points
 The four subsystems of Earth are the atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.
 Atmosphere makes up of all the gases in our planet.
 Geosphere includes all the soil, rocks, and minerals present in the crust to the core of the
Earth.
 Hydrosphere is composed of all the water on Earth in any form: water vapor, liquid water,
and ice.
 Biosphere is comprised of all living things and the areas where they are found. It includes all
microbes, plants, and animals.
 Matter and energy move and cycle between the four different subsystems to make life on
Earth possible.