Investigating Four Spheres of Earth

Everything in Earth’s system is placed into one of the four subsystems: land, water, living things, or air. The subsystems are known as “spheres.” Specifically, they are known as the geosphere (land), hydrosphere (water), biosphere (living things) and atmosphere (air). Environmentalists use this system to classify and study the organic and inorganic materials found on the Earth. In this article, we discuss these four spheres in detail.

Table of Contents

The Geosphere

The geosphere includes all the elements that form the crust and core of the Earth. Rocks and sand particles ranging from drylands to those found at the bottom of the ocean are examples of the geosphere. Examples also involve minerals, lava, molten magma and mountains. The geosphere undergoes constant processes that modify other spheres. One of the examples is the rock cycle.

Rock Cycle
An illustration of the rock cycle
In this cycle, the melted rock from below the Earth’s crust is blown out to the surface through vents as lava. Hardened lava, together with rock materials, is weathered and eroded from earth movements. The eroded particles end up somewhere and build up. After many years of buildup, the pressure from the overlying weight causes them to bury themselves more in-depth in the crust. They are melted by the extreme heat until they are spewed out to the surface again. You may have noticed that this cycle doesn’t conclude on its own. It is affected by other factors such as the wind, temperature and water, which are a part of other spheres.

The Hydrosphere

The hydrosphere includes all the water parts of the planet. It includes water on the surface, subsurface and water vapour in the atmosphere. It undergoes infinite processes every day. The water cycle is one way to understand what is the importance of the hydrosphere, its functions and how it supports other spheres.

Water Cycle
An illustration of the water cycle
The ocean and water bodies absorb the sun’s energy and warm up. Transpiration by trees and evaporation of surface water occurs. The water vapour in the atmosphere condenses to form rain clouds and comes down as rain. The rain falls into water bodies and the cycle continues. Other spheres are also impacted during the water cycle.

The Biosphere

Biosphere
An illustration of Biosphere
The Biosphere comprises all the living components of the Earth. It also includes organic matter that has not yet decayed. The sphere hugely depends on the other three spheres as follows:

  • The hydrosphere replenishes plants and animals with water and moisture.
  • The geosphere renders a solid surface for the plants and animals to inhabit. It also provides heat from beneath the earth.
  • The atmosphere screens the sun’s UV radiation and helps us receive just enough of the sun’s heat.

A theory known as the ecosystem better explains the interaction of the biosphere with the other spheres.

The Atmosphere

Atmosphere
Different layers of the atmosphere
The gaseous component above the surface of the Earth is known as the atmosphere. It is made of gaseous components and tiny water particles. The gases in the atmosphere are kept in place by the force of gravity. The heat from the sun is radiated to the Earth and is reflected in the atmosphere. The heat from the sun warms up the surface of the earth and causes evaporation, thereby sending moisture into the atmosphere.

The atmosphere comes in layers and the illustration below shows the different layers of the atmosphere. The troposphere is the layer closest to Earth. Humans, animals and plants live in this layer. Birds and aeroplanes also fly in this layer of the atmosphere. In the layers above the troposphere, the air becomes thinner. Beyond the exosphere is space.

How do the Earth’s Spheres Interact with Each Other?

How do different spheres interact with each other?
No sphere works on its own. All the spheres in the system interact and overlap. In the section, we shall discuss the various interactions that occur among the spheres:

1. Hydrosphere and Atmosphere

The evaporation that occurs in the hydrosphere forms the medium for cloud and rain formation in the atmosphere. The atmosphere brings back this water to the hydrosphere in the form of rain.

2. Hydrosphere and Geosphere

Hydrosphere provides the necessary moisture required to weather and erode rocks in the geosphere. The geosphere, in turn, allows the ice to melt and the water bodies to flow back into the oceans.

3. Atmosphere and Geosphere

The atmosphere provides the required heat and energy for the breakdown and erosion of rock in the geosphere. The geosphere, in turn, reflects the sun’s energy to the atmosphere.

4. Biosphere and Hydrosphere, Atmosphere and Geosphere

The biosphere receives sunlight and gases from the atmosphere. It collects water from the hydrosphere and a living medium from the geosphere.

All four spheres can often be found in a single location. For example, the soil may contain minerals from the geosphere, moisture within the soil from the hydrosphere, insects and plants from the biosphere inhabiting the soil and pockets of air present between the soil pieces. From this, we can conclude that the complete system is what makes life as we know it.

Suggested Reading

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Q1

How are the spheres of Earth interrelated?

The four spheres of Earth are closely connected to each other. Birds(biosphere) fly through the air (atmosphere), and water (hydrosphere) flows through the soil (lithosphere or geosphere). The spheres of the earth are closely connected to each other. A change in one sphere results in a change in two or more spheres.
Q2

What are the names of layers in the atmosphere?

From lowest to highest, the major layers of the atmosphere are the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere.
Q3

What would happen if the Earth’s spheres do not interact with each other?

If the spheres of Earth stopped interacting with each other the weather would cease with no water cycle, as a result, plants and trees would not grow without water, animals could not breathe without oxygen, and surface ocean currents would stop moving without wind.
Q4

What is the purpose of Earth’s sphere?

The Earth’s spheres each have unique properties and features, but they are not isolated on Earth, and they work together to drive the processes of the planet.
Q5

How do volcanoes affect all four sphere while erupting?

Volcanoes effect all four spheres of the Earth. Volcanoes affect the atmosphere by releasing harmful toxic gases that pollute the air. The harmful toxic gases released to the atmosphere by volcanoes inhibit the growth of plants which in turn makes it hard for the animals to eat them. Active submarine volcanoes create physical-chemical anomalies that impact the marine ecosystem.

Watch the video to learn more about air and atmosphere

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  1.  Javeria fathima
    September 10, 2020 at 12:57 pm

    Superb!

    Reply