Introduction to Earth System

When you think of the Earth, what comes to mind? Water, trees, animals, winds, rocks and so on, right?
Yes, all that is part of the planet we call Earth.

In the diagram below, we can see some examples of the things that make up the earth.

ATMOSPHERE: Air (made up of many gases)

HYDROSPHERE: Sea, lagoon, ice-sheets and ice-caps, rainwater, etc

BIOSPHERE: Fish, trees and other life forms

GEOSPHERE: Rocks, mountains, sediments on the sea floor, etc

Earth is made up of all these things and are grouped into four main areas called spheres. These spheres
are not static, that means they are constantly changing. For example, the atmosphere does not produce
the same weather everyday. We experience the wind, rain or sunshine differently every day. Living things
such as animals are also born, whiles older ones die. Deep down the earth, there is molten magma
(melted rock) that can be spewed put in the form of lava during volcanic eruptions. Sometimes, there are
seismic movements in the earth's crust which causes changes on the surface of the earth. So, you can
see that there is always something going on in all the parts of the earth. It is a dynamic earth.
What is a system?

A system is a term used for any complex whole, with smaller connected parts working together. Usually,
a change or malfunction of one part can affect other parts of the system, and also affect the system
itself.

Spheres of the earthThe Earth is a system too. It has four

major parts all connected and working in harmony to make
the planet function properly. These four parts are called
Spheres. They are the Atmosphere, Geosphere, Biosphere,
and Hydrosphere. Some studies also have the cryosphere (ice
and snow) and anthroposphere (man-made objects and
processes), but for this lesson, we shall focus on the four
parts. Each sphere has its own function and it is constantly
changing in a process called Cycles.

What is a Cycle?

A cycle is something that never stops. It has no beginning and has no end. An example is the water cycle,
where the water goes through a basic journey: rains fall and end up in rivers, rivers end in the sea, sea
water evaporates and forms rain clouds, and the rains fall again. Other important cycles include the
carbon cycle, rock cycle, and nitrogen cycle.

What is Earth Systems Thinking

Earth system thinking is the science that utilizes habits, tools, and concepts to understand how complex
things work. It breaks apart all the components of a larger whole and carefully studies how each bit
works and how it interacts with other bits of the whole.
Systems thinking makes it possible for us to make sense out of complex things and helps us to interact
with that system in a healthier way.

Spheres of the earthEarth system science (ESS), therefore, is

the study of all the connections and interactions of the
atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere.

ESS helps us to predict undesirable consequences and do

something to mitigate it.

As young scientists, it is important that studies and observations, no matter how small, are properly
documented because changes in the way the earth works can take place over millions of years. Changes
can also take place in just a couple of seconds. Earth system scientists bring together data and findings
from geology, oceanography, ecology, meteorology, atmosphere chemistry and others to study and draw
observations and predictions.

The advancement in technology, satellites, and modeling has provided the best conditions for ESS to take
off.

The historic behavior of the earth is therefore of immense value to earth systems thinking. Change in the
planet occurs at different rates and in different places over time. The energy from the sun and energy
from within the earth itself drives this change.

Human understanding of the earth is not complete. We are constantly finding new evidence and
formulating new theories about our planet. Your role is to read and study information from sources that
your countries Earth Science Departments, and have a better undertaking of it so that you can make your
own research and discover something to add to the knowledge bank.

The Hydrosphere
The hydrosphere includes all the water parts on the planet. It includes water on the surface, sub-surface
and water vapour in the atmosphere. The hydrosphere and the atmosphere are known as the fluid
spheres. These spheres are the liquid and gas components of the earth.

QUESTION:

Water vapor from the oceans is gas but also water. Which sphere does water vapor belong: Atmosphere
or Hydrosphere? Disuss with your class.

Think of all the water in the oceans and seas, including all the frozen water and ice (cryosphere). Also
think of all the lakes, lagoons, rivers and ponds, as well as water in in the water table beneath the
surface of the earth. They are all part of the hydrosphere and together they cover more than 70% of the
surface of the earth.

The hydrosphere is also in infinite processes every day. The water cycle is one way to understand how
the hydrosphere functions and supports other spheres.

Consider the illustration below:

The water cycle of the hydrosphere

The oceans and water bodies absorb the sun's energy and warm up. Transpiration by trees and
Evaporation of surface water occurs. The water vapor in the atmosphere condenses (condensation) to
form rain clouds and comes down as rain (precipitation). The rains fall back on land and into water
bodies (run-off) again and they all run back into the ocean for the cycle to continue.

A complete water cycle takes time. Other spheres are impacted in many ways during the water cycle.

Hydrosphere, Geosphere, atmosphere, cryosphere, Biosphere,

The Geosphere

This sphere includes all the stuff that make up the crust and the core of the earth. It includes everything
natural and lifeless that make up the surface of the earth.

Examples are all the rocks and sand particles from dry land to those found at the bottom of the oceans.
They also include the mountains, minerals, lava and molten magma from beneath the earth’s crust.

The geosphere undergoes infinite processes constantly and that, in turn, modifies other spheres. One
example of the continuous process is the rock cycle.

Consider the rock cycle illustration below:

The rock cycle in a volcano

In the rock cycle, melted rock from below the earth’s crust is spewed out through vents on the surface
onto the surface of the earth. This is also called lava. Solidified lava, together with other rock material
from earth movements are weathered and eroded. The eroded particles end up somewhere and build
up. After many years of buildup, pressure from the overlying weight causes the particles to modify itself
again. They are further buried deeper in the crust and then melted again by intense heat until they are
spewed out to the surface again.

In this cycle, you will notice that it can take thousands of years for the cycle to complete, but every single
day has a role to play. You will also notice that the cycle does not complete on its own. It is influenced by
other factors such as water, temperature, and wind, which also belong to other spheres.

The Biosphere

Consider the illustration below:

The biosphere is all living component of the earth (humans, plants, animals, bacteria, fungi, protists and
all microscopic organisms on land, in the air and in the oceans). It also includes all organic matter that
has not yet decomposed. This living part is hugely dependent on the other three spheres.

The hydrosphere provides moisture or water to plants and animals, the geosphere provides the solid
surface on which animals and plants grow and also provides heat from beneath the earth.

The atmosphere provides the gasses (nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide) needed by living things. The
atmosphere also provides the screen from the sun’s UV radiation and helps us receive just enough of the
sun's heat.

It is believed that the biosphere is exclusive to earth alone. Scientists believe there are traces of water,
rock, and gases on other planets, but no life has been found yet. Humans are exploring other planets to
see if this idea is correct.

The interaction of the biosphere with other spheres can be explained better by a theory known as
Ecosystems.

The Atmosphere

The atmosphere is the gaseous component above the surface of the earth. This sphere is also a fluid
sphere (the other fluid sphere is hydrosphere). The atmosphere is made up of gases and tiny water
particles. The gases surrounding the earth are kept in place by the force of gravity.

The atmosphere is a mixture of gases: Nitrogen (78%) and Oxygen (21%), make up the most. There is
also Argon, Carbon Dioxide and Aerosols (particles such as dust, pollen, ash, smoke). These gases are
super important to life on earth because plants and animals depend on them to live.

The atmosphere is sustained by energy from the sun. When the sun shines, heat is radiated to the
earth’s surface and reflected back into the atmosphere. The heat also warms the surface of the earth
and causes evaporation, thereby sending moisture into the atmosphere. Thunderstorms, hurricanes,
lightning and tornadoes are all processes of the atmosphere.

Layers of the atmosphere

Consider the illustration below:

The atmosphere comes in layers. The troposphere is the layer closest to the surface. It extends about
10km above sea level. Humans and plants live in this layer. Airplanes and birds also fly in this layer. As the
layers go higher, the air becomes thinner. The other layers include the stratosphere (50km above sea
level), mesosphere (85km above sea level), thermosphere (above 500km above sea level) and
exosphere.

Beyond the exosphere is space.

How do the Earth's spheres interact?

All the spheres in the system interconnect and overlap. No sphere works on its own.
Consider this diagram below.

Think of the many ways that the hydrosphere and the atmosphere connect. Evaporation from the
hydrosphere provides the medium for cloud and rain formation in the atmosphere. The atmosphere
brings back rainwater to the hydrosphere.

In what way does the geosphere and hydrosphere connect? Water provides the moisture and medium
for weathering and erosion of rocks on in the geosphere. The geosphere, in turn, 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, in turn, reflects the sun's energy back into the atmosphere.

The biosphere receives gases, heat, and sunlight (energy) from the atmosphere. It receives water from
the hydrosphere and a living medium from the geosphere.

Think of many ways in which each sphere interacts with the other and discuss it with your class.