Earth Subsystems

1. to
Earth and Life
Science
-Teacher Lory

3. Learning Competency:
● The learners shall be able to explain that the Earth
consists of four subsystems, across whose
boundaries matter and energy flow (S11/12ES-Ia-e-
4) and show the contributions of personalities/people
on the understanding of Earth Systems (S11/12ES-
Ia-e-6)
Learning Objectives:
 Define the concept of a system;
 Recognize the Earth as a system composed of
subsystems; and
 Discuss the historical development of the concept of
Earth System.

23. The origin of the systems to the study of the
Earth
A. One of the first scientist to push for a more integrated or holistic
approach in the understanding of the universe (and by extension the
Earth) was Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander von Humboldt. He
considered the universe as one interacting entity.
B. The term “biosphere” was popularized by Vladimir Vernadsky (1863-
1945), a Russian Ukranian scientist who hypothesized that life is a
geological force that shapes the Earth.
C. In the 1970’s, the Gaia Hypothesis was jointly developed by James
Lovelock, an English scientist/naturalist, and Lynn Margullis, an American
microbiologist. According to the Gaia Hypothesis, the biosphere is a self-
regulating system that is capable of controlling its physical and chemical
environment.
D. In 1983, NASA advisory council established the Earth Systems Science
Committee. The committee, chaired by Moustafa Chahine, published a
ground breaking report Earth System Science: A Program For Global
Change in 1988. For the first time, scientist were able to demonstrate
how the many systems interact.

24. APPLICATION
James Lovelock used the “Daisy World
Model” to illustrate how the biosphere
is capable of regulating its
environment. Kindly research and
write a report (50 to 100 words, with
illustration) on the “Daisy World
Model” of James Lovelock.

25. ASSESSMENT
Go to your Aralinks account and
answer the given questions in a
forum.

26. Open and closed book tests
Read page 28 Practical Science in your book . It emphasizes the preparedness for natural disasters such as earthquake is everyone’s
responsibility. After reading it you will prepare your family’s emergency plan.