Atmosphere, Hydrosphere and

Lithosphere
 Earth System (4 physical systems)
• Atmosphere
– Layer of gases that surround Earth. Allows you to
breathe and protects earth.

• Lithosphere
– Surface of the planet that forms the continents
and the ocean floor.
 Earth System (4 physical systems)
• Hydrosphere
– All the water on Earth (ocean, ice, and water
vapor in the atmosphere)

• Biosphere
– Part of Earth where life exists.
 Lithosphere
GEOLOGY

METEOROLOGY Biosphere

Atmosphere Hydrosphere
ASTRONOMY OCEANOGRAPHY
 Ocean, Continents, and Atmosphere
Formation
• All formed because of one major source:
 Atmosphere

The surrounding air of the Earth

 Layers of the atmosphere
• There are 5 layers in the
atmosphere
• They are the
troposphere,
stratosphere,
mesosphere,
thermosphere, and
exosphere
Troposphere
• This is the layer that is
closest to the surface of
the earth
• It’s elevation ranges
from 0 to 10 km
 Stratosphere
• This layer sits on top of
the troposphere
• It’s elevation ranges
from 10 km to around
25 km
• This layer contains the
ozone layer, which
protects us from
harmful sunlight
Mesosphere
• This layer is above the
stratosphere
• It’s elevation ranges
from 25 to 100 km
• It’s the coldest layer
• most meteorites burn
up completely
 Thermosphere
• This is the thickest and
hottest layer of the
atmosphere
• It’s height ranges from 100
to 400 km
• This is where northern
lights occur (aurora
borealis)
Composition of Air

• There are many

different types of gasses
in the atmosphere
• They include nitrogen,
oxygen, argon, carbon
dioxide and other noble
gasses
• The gas that is most
abundant is nitrogen
 THE EARTH’S HYDROSPHERE
• The Earth’s liquid water constitutes the
hydrosphere.
• The vast majority of Earth’s water is in the oceans
(salt water), with smaller, but geologically
important, quantities of fresh water in lakes,
rivers, and ground water.
• the total mass of Earth’s water is about 300 times
the mass of the atmosphere.
• Without water, which facilitates the formation of
carbonate rock, the atmospheric content of CO2
would be far higher than it is.
Distribution of Water on Earth
The Hydrologic Cycle
Echo Sounders for Measuring Ocean Depths and Floor Profiles
Ocean Facts

•The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the four

main oceans
•The Atlantic Ocean is the busiest. Many ships
cross the Atlantic, carrying cargo between the
Americas, Africa, and Europe
•The Arctic Ocean is the smallest and coldest
•The average temperature of all oceans is about
39 degrees F (3.8 degrees C)
•Oceans are always moving
•Tides change twice a day, all over the world, as the oceans
rise and fall along the shoreline. Scientists think this is
caused by the pull of the sun and moon on our earth
•Coral Reefs are vast, rocky areas located in shallow, tropical
waters. They are like the tropical rain forest of the ocean!
The greatest variety of plant and animal life in the ocean live
there. Coral reefs are formed from the bodies of small sea
creatures called polyps
•The world's oceans contain nearly 20 million tons of gold
The World’s Ocean Floors
Production of Tsunami Waves by Earthquakes
“Black Smoker” Under-Sea Volcanic Activity
• Under-sea volcanic activity gives
rise to high-temperature plumes
of water, containing particles of
igneous rock that give rise to the
appearance of black smoke.
• The boiling point of water under
the high pressures on the ocean
floor can be considerably higher
than at the surface; hence the
temperatures of the volcanic
plumes can be much higher as
well.
• It has been discovered that some
species of animal life thrive on the
environment of these “black
smokers”, including their very high
temperatures.
THE EARTH’S
LITHOSPHERE
 • Inner Core –
1200 km made
of solid Fe, Ni.
• Outer Core –
2250 km made
of liquid Fe, Ni.
• Mantle – 2900
km made of
dense rocks.
• Crust – 5 – 40
Lithosphere (Crust and MOHO) km made of
– 100km thick.
solid lighter
MOHO = Mohorovicic rocks.
Discontinuity
Lithosphere and the solid earth: the solid earth lies beneath the
atmosphere and the oceans and composes 29% of the earth's
surface. It is divided into several distinct units or layers:

– lithosphere or crust: two (2) types of crust: oceanic and

continental with basic differences
Oceanic crust is thinner, denser, and usually darker in color
Continental crust is lighter in weight, less dense, light in
color, and tends to float over oceanic crust
– mantle: beneath the crust; houses molten rock material called
magma
– outer core: composed of liquid iron and nickel; very dense
material
– inner core: composed of solid iron and nickel; extremely dense
material
 The Crust
• This is where we live!

• The Earth’s crust is made of:

Continental Crust Oceanic Crust

- thick (10-70km) - thin (~7 km)
- buoyant (less dense - dense (sinks under
than oceanic crust) continental crust)
The seven continents:

1. Asia
2. Africa
3. North America
4. South America
5. Antarctica
6. Europe
7. Australia