Describe the overlapping environmental “spheres” of Earth, and how the concept of Earth systems The Earth’s Interconnected Spheres and Earth Systems

The Earth’s Interconnected Spheres and Earth Systems

Earth is composed of four distinct overlapping spheres, the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. The geosphere, also known as the lithosphere, is the solid outer layer of Earth made of rocks and minerals (Thompson, 2019). The hydrosphere is composed of all the water on Earth and includes oceans, rivers, lakes, and glaciers. The atmosphere is composed of the gases that surround Earth, including nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. Finally, the biosphere is composed of all the living organisms on Earth, including plants, animals, and fungi. These four spheres are interconnected and interact with one another, forming Earth systems. Earth systems are composed of multiple environmental components that interact with each other, such as the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere (Thompson, 2019). For example, the water cycle, a vital component of the hydrosphere, is driven by the atmosphere’s heat and moisture. The water cycle redistributes water between the hydrosphere and the atmosphere, as well as between land and sea. In addition, the biosphere affects the atmosphere by releasing oxygen and carbon dioxide, which influence the climate. These examples demonstrate how the four spheres are interconnected, forming a complex system… Cont…