Earth Sci

• Earth Subsystems


  • Atmosphere
  • Geosphere
  • Hydrosphere
  • Biosphere
• Atmosphere


  • Blanket
  • Different Gases
  • Layers of Atmosphere
• Different Gases in Atmosphere

  • Nitrogen
  • Oxygen
  • Argon
• Atmosphere is primarily composed of nitrogen (79%) and oxygen (21%)
• Layers of Atmosphere


  • Exosphere
  • Thermosphere
  • Mesosphere
  • Stratosphere
  • Troposphere
• Exosphere


  • Satellite and Spaceship
• Thermosphere


  • Aurora
• Mesosphere


  • Meteorological Rocket and Meteor
• Stratosphere


  • Radiosonde
• Troposphere


  • Passenger plane and Hot Air Balloon
• Geosphere


  Rocks – naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals, organic material or natural glass
• Regolith


  A blanket of unconsolidated, loose, heterogeneous superficial deposits covering solid rock
• Hydrosphere


  Water
• Cryosphere


  Ice caps and glaciers
• Hydrosphere plays an important role in absorption and redistribution of solar radiation
• Biosphere


  It is composed of all living things and the areas where they are found
• Biosphere includes all animals, microbes, and plants
• Sphere Interaction is the processes that move matter and energy from one sphere to another
• Evaporation from the hydrosphere


  Provides the medium for cloud and rain formation in the atmosphere
• The atmosphere


  Brings back rainwater to the hydrosphere
• Water


  Provides the moisture and medium for weathering and erosion of rocks in the geosphere
• The geosphere


  Provides the platform for ice melts and water bodies to flow back into the oceans
• The atmosphere


  Provides the geosphere with heat and energy needed for rock breakdown and erosion
• The geosphere


  Reflects the sun’s energy back into the atmosphere
• The biosphere


  Receives gases, heat, and sunlight (energy) from the atmosphere
• The biosphere


  Receives water from the hydrosphere
• The biosphere


  Receives a living medium from the geosphere
• Biogeochemical Cycle


  Involves biological, geochemical, and chemical factors
• Biogeochemical Cycle allows the circulation of important nutrients that form and support life like carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and water
• Biogeochemical Cycle maintains the balance of substances in the different subsystems of the Earth
• Any interference and disturbances in the flow of matter and energy may cause damage to any of the subsystems and its components
• Minerals


  Naturally occurring inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and a crystalline structure
• The earth is composed of mineral elements, either alone or in a myriad of combinations called compounds
• A mineral


  Composed of a single element or compound
• Physical Properties of Minerals

  • Crystal Habit
  • Luster
  • Cleavage
  • Fracture
  • Hardness
  • Color
  • Streak
• Crystal Habit


  Overall shape or growth pattern
• Crystal Habit Types


  • Equant
  • Elongate
  • Platy
• Luster


  Overall sheen
• Cleavage


  Breaks along a flat surface into sheets
• Fracture


  Breaks with jagged edges