A terrarium (plural: terraria or terrariums) is usually a sealable glass container containing soil and

plants, and can be opened for maintenance to access the plants inside. However, terraria can also
be open to the atmosphere rather than being sealed. Terraria are often kept as decorative or
ornamental items. Closed terraria create a unique environment for plant growth, as the transparent
walls allow for both heat and light to enter the terrarium. The sealed container combined with the
heat entering the terrarium allows for the creation of a small scale water cycle. This happens
because moisture from both the soil and plants evaporates in the elevated temperatures inside the
terrarium. This water vapour then condenses on the walls of the container, and eventually falls back
to the plants and soil below. This contributes to creating an ideal environment for growing plants due
to the constant supply of water, thereby preventing the plants from becoming over dry. In addition to
this, the light that passes through the transparent material of the terrarium allows for the plants within
to photosynthesize, a very important aspect of plant growth.

Why is Earth called a Terrenium?

A greenhouse is an ideal environment for plants to grow. Its clear walls let
sunlight in, and then trap the heated air inside. Life exists on Earth because
our planet is like a giant greenhouse. Earth's atmosphere absorbs and holds
heat from the Sun through a process called the greenhouse effect.

To see a model of how this works, make your own miniature greenhouse or
"terrarium" out of a clear container. Of course, Earth doesn't work exactly like
a terrarium. A terrarium's solid walls contain warm air inside it. But the
atmosphere is not a solid barrier. The gases in the atmosphere absorb some
of the heat radiated from Earth's surface, and then re-emit some into space
and some back towards Earth's surface.
Earth system definitions
The term “Earth system" refers to Earth´s interacting physical, chemical, and biological processes.
The system consists of the land, oceans, atmosphere and poles. It includes the planet's natural cycles
— the carbon, water, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur and other cycles — and deep Earth processes.

Life too is an integral part of the Earth system. Life affects the carbon, nitrogen, water, oxygen and
many other cycles and processes.

The Earth system now includes human society, Our social and economic systems are now embedded
within the Earth system. In many cases, the human systems are now the main drivers of change in
the Earth system.

Global change
Global change refers to planetary-scale changes in the Earth system.

More completely, the term “global change" encompasses: planetary scale changes to atmospheric
circulation, ocean circulation, climate, the carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle, the water cycle and other
cycles, sea-ice changes, sea-level changes, food webs, biological diversity, pollution, health, fish
stocks, and more.

Civilization is now a large driver of global change so the term includes population, the economy,
resource use, energy, development, transport, communication, land use and land cover, urbanization,
globalization.

Global change and climate

Climate refers to the long-term average of the aggregation of all components of weather —
precipitation, temperature and cloudiness, for example. The climate system includes processes
involving ocean, land and sea ice in addition to the atmosphere.
The Earth system encompasses the climate system. Many changes in Earth system functioning directly
involve changes in climate. However, the Earth system includes other components and processes,
biophysical and human, that are important for its functioning.
Some Earth system changes, natural or driven by humans, can have significant consequences without
involving changes in climate. Global change should not be confused with climate change; it is
significantly more. indeed, climate change is part of this much larger challenge.

Four major parts of Earth work together as a complex system: rocks, water, air, and life. On a
global scale, each part can be thought of as a sphere, roughly the same size and shape as the
planet. The four parts are called the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.
ES0103 Sphere Interactions

The surface of the geosphere, where the rocky part of our planet is in contact with
water, air, and/or life is generally where the spheres intersect and affect each other. The
processes that move matter and energy from one sphere to another are called sphere
interactions.

Several examples of sphere interactions can be inferred from this photograph:

 Humans (biosphere) built a dam out of rock materials (geosphere).

 Water in the lake (hydrosphere) seeps into the cliff walls behind the dam, becoming
groundwater (geosphere), or evaporating into the air (atmosphere).
 Humans (biosphere) harness energy from the water (hydrosphere) by having it spin turbines
(geosphere) to produce electricity.
  Describe each of Earth's four spheres. List several examples of features in each sphere.
 3. Do you think clouds should be classified as part of the atmosphere, or part of the
hydrosphere? Explain why.

The main components of the earth system

The earth system is itself an integrated system, but it can be subdivided into four main components, sub-

systems or spheres: the geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere. These components are also

systems in their own right and they are tightly interconnected. The four main components of the earth

system may be described briefly in the following way.

 The geosphere - this is the part of the planet composed of rock and minerals; it
includes the solid crust, the molten mantle and the liquid and solid parts of the earth's
core. In many places, the geosphere develops a layer of soil in which nutrients become
available to living organisms, and which thus provides an important ecological habitat
and the basis of many forms of life. The surface of the geosphere is subject to processes
of erosion, weathering and transport, as well as to tectonic forces and volcanic activity,
which result in the formation of landforms such as mountains, hills and plateaux.
 The atmosphere - this is the gaseous layer surrounding the earth and held to its surface
by gravity. The atmosphere receives energy from solar radiation which warms the earth's
surface and is re-emitted and conducted to the atmosphere. The atmosphere also
absorbs water from the earth's surface via the process of evaporation; it then acts to
redistribute heat and moisture across the earth's surface. In addition, the atmosphere
contains substances that are essential for life, including carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and
hydrogen.
 The hydrosphere - this consists of those parts of the earth system composed of water
in its liquid, gaseous (vapour) and solid (ice) phases. The hydrosphere includes: the
earth's oceans and seas; its ice sheets, sea ice and glaciers; its lakes, rivers and
streams; its atmospheric moisture and ice crystals; and its areas of permafrost. The
hydrosphere includes both saltwater and freshwater systems, and it also includes the
moisture found in the soil (soil water) and within rocks (groundwater). Water is essential
for the existence and maintenance of life on earth. In some classifications, the
hydrosphere is sub-divided into the fluid water systems and the cryosphere (the ice
systems).
 The biosphere - this contains all living organisms and it is intimately related to the other
three spheres: most living organisms require gases from the atmosphere, water from the
hydrosphere and nutrients and minerals from the geosphere. Living organisms also
require a medium for life, and are adapted to inhabit one or more of the other three
spheres. However, much of the biosphere is contained within a shallow surface layer
 encompassing the lower part of the atmosphere, the surface of the geosphere and
approximately the upper 100 metres of the ocean. Humans are part of the biosphere,
although they are increasingly responsible for the creation of systems that may be largely
artificial (such as cities).

****In geology and physical geography, a plateau ( /pləˈtoʊ/, /plæˈtoʊ/ or /ˈplætoʊ/;

plural plateaus or plateaux[1][2]), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland,
usually consisting of relatively flat terrain, that is raised significantly above the surrounding area,
often with one or more sides with steep slopes. Plateaus can be formed by a number of processes,
including upwelling of volcanic magma, extrusion of lava, and erosion by water and glaciers.
Plateaus are classified according to their surrounding environment as intermontane, piedmont, or
continental.

Closed system: exchange of energy but negligible

exchange of mass with surroundings

The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle or the hydrological cycle, describes the continuous
movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth. The mass of water on Earth remains
fairly constant over time but the partitioning of the water into the major reservoirs of ice, fresh water,
saline water and atmospheric water is variable depending on a wide range of climatic variables. The
water moves from one reservoir to another, such as from river to ocean, or from the ocean to the
atmosphere, by the physical processes of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, surface
runoff, and subsurface flow. In doing so, the water goes through different forms: liquid, solid (ice) and
vapor.
Processes

Many different processes lead to movements and phase changes in water

Precipitation

Condensed water vapor that falls to the Earth's surface. Most precipitation occurs as rain, but
also includes snow, hail, fog drip, graupel, and sleet.[1] Approximately 505,000 km3
(121,000 cu mi) of water falls as precipitation each year, 398,000 km3 (95,000 cu mi) of it over
the oceans.[2][better source needed] The rain on land contains 107,000 km3 (26,000 cu mi) of water per
year and a snowing only 1,000 km3 (240 cu mi).[3] 78% of global precipitation occurs over the
ocean.[4]

Canopy interception
The precipitation that is intercepted by plant foliage eventually evaporates back to the
atmosphere rather than falling to the ground.
Snowmelt
The runoff produced by melting snow
Runoff
The variety of ways by which water moves across the land. This includes both surface
runoff and channel runoff. As it flows, the water may seep into the ground, evaporate into
the air, become stored in lakes or reservoirs, or be extracted for agricultural or other
human uses
Infiltration
The flow of water from the ground surface into the ground. Once infiltrated, the water
becomes soil moisture or groundwater.[5] A recent global study using water stable
isotopes, however, shows that not all soil moisture is equally available for groundwater
recharge or for plant transpiration
Subsurface flow
The flow of water underground, in the vadose zone and aquifers. Subsurface water may
return to the surface (e.g. as a spring or by being pumped) or eventually seep into the
 oceans. Water returns to the land surface at lower elevation than where it infiltrated,
under the force of gravity or gravity induced pressures. Groundwater tends to move
slowly and is replenished slowly, so it can remain in aquifers for thousands of years
Evaporation
The transformation of water from liquid to gas phases as it moves from the ground or
bodies of water into the overlying atmosphere.[7] The source of energy for evaporation is
primarily solar radiation. Evaporation often implicitly includes transpiration from plants,
though together they are specifically referred to as evapotranspiration. Total annual
evapotranspiration amounts to approximately 505,000 km3 (121,000 cu mi) of water,
434,000 km3 (104,000 cu mi) of which evaporates from the oceans.[2] 86% of global
evaporation occurs over the ocea
Sublimation
The state change directly from solid water (snow or ice) to water vapor by passing the
liquid state
Deposition
This refers to changing of water vapor directly to ice.
Advection
The movement of water through the atmosphere.[9] Without advection, water that
evaporated over the oceans could not precipitate over land
Condensation
The transformation of water vapor to liquid water droplets in the air, creating clouds and
fog
Transpiration
The release of water vapor from plants and soil into the air.

Sulfur dioxide (also sulphur dioxide in British English) is the chemical compound with the formula SO
2. It is a toxic gas responsible for the smell of burnt matches. It is released naturally by volcanic activity

and is produced as a by-product of copper extraction and the burning of fossil fuels contaminated with
sulfur compounds.