1. The Earth can be understood as a complex system consisting of interacting subsystems - the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. 2. These subsystems constantly exchange energy and matter through biogeochemical cycles like the carbon, water, and rock cycles. The sun is the main external source powering these cycles. 3. Together, the subsystems have coevolved over billions of years through processes operating across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, from microns to thousands of kilometers and milliseconds to millions of years.

2. Earth as a
SYSTEM

3. SYSTEM - A set of interconnected components
that are interacting to form a unified whole.

4. EXAMPLE of a system- ECOSYSTEM.
(Organisms are interrelated and interacting)

5. The Earth system is essentially a CLOSED
SYSTEM.
A closed system is a system in which
there is only an exchange of heat or
energy and no exchange of matter.
The Earth receives energy from the sun
and
returns some of this energy to space.

6. Components or
subsystems of the Earth
system

7. THE EARTH SUBSYSTEMS
Biosphere Hydrosphere
Geosphere Atmosphere

8. Major Themes
SCALE ENERGY CYCLE

9. Scale
Processes in the Earth system act on length
scales of microns to thousands of kilometers,
and on time scales of milliseconds to
millions of years.
Major Themes

10. Energy
The Earth system is powered by one external
source: the Sun
and two internal ones:
- radioactive decay
- gravitational energy (heat still being lost from
planetary formation).
Major Themes

11. Cycles
Material in the Earth system is continually
recycled in numerous overlapping cycles.
Major Themes

12. The
Carbon
Cycle

13. The
Rock
Cycle

14. The Hydrologic (Water)
Cycle

15. Includes all life
forms on Earth
Biosphere
It covers all ecosystems—from the soil to
the rainforest, from mangroves to coral
reefs,
and from the plankton-rich ocean surface
to the deep sea.

16. Photosynthesis
The Carbon Cycle

17. Dynamic mass of
water that is
continuously on
the move
Hydrosphere

18. Precipitation, Evaporation, Runoff, Infiltration, etc...
The Hydrologic (Water) Cycle
1. About 70% of the Earth is covered with
liquid water (hydrosphere) and much of it
is in the form of ocean water.
2. Only 3% of Earth's water is fresh: two-
thirds are in the form of ice, and the
remaining
one-third is present in streams, lakes,
and groundwater.

19. Condensation, Precipitation, Evaporation,
Transpiration, Infiltration, Surface Runoff.

20. The atmosphere is
the thin gaseous
layer that envelopes
the lithosphere.
Atmosphere
The present atmosphere is composed of
78% nitrogen (N), 21% oxygen (O2),
0.9% argon, and trace amount of other
gases.

21. Why is nitrogen the most abundant
element in the atmosphere?
• Volatile in most of its forms
• Unreactive with materials
that make up the solid earth
• Stable in the presence of
solar radiation

22. One of the most important processes
by which the heat on the Earth's
surface is redistributed is through
atmospheric circulation.
Basic Principle:
Warm air rises, cold
air sinks.

23. Why is the ocean blue?
• Ocean is blue because it’s reflecting
the blue sky.
FALSE
• It absorbs sunlight (long and short
wavelength light)
• Ocean may take other hues, if light
bounces off objects floating near the
surface of the water e.g algae and
sediments

24. WHY IS THE SKY BLUE?
• Molecules in the air scatter blue light from the sun more than they
scatter red light.
• It travels as shorter, smaller waves

25. WHY IS THE SKY RED DURING SUNSET?
Blue light has been scattered out and away from the line of sight.

26. Carbon-Oxygen Cycle

27. Layers of the Atmosphere

28. Do you know what Aurora lights are?
• Aurora borealis (Northern lights)
• Aurora australis (Southern lights)
• Form when charged particles emitted from the
sun during a solar flare penetrate the earth’s
magnetic field and collide with atoms and
molecules in the atmosphere.
• The result produces countless little burst of
light (photons)
• Collision with Oxygen (red and green auroras)
• Collision with Nitrogen (Pink and purple
auroras)

29. The Solid Earth
extends from the
surface to the center
Geosphere

30. Connect to Earth
Create a concept map which explains
how the geosphere, hydrosphere,
atmosphere, and biosphere are
interconnected.
Use arrows and simple illustrations.

31. Geosphere
Atmosphere
Biosphere
Hydrosphere
4.6 Billion Years
of Interaction

32. The lithosphere
includes the crust
and the upper part
of the mantle.
LITHOSPHERE

33. Layers of the Earth
CRUST (continental
& oceanic)
MANTLE (upper &
lower)
CORE (outer &
inner)

34. Which layer is it?

35. CRUST
- It’s the light and very thin
outer skin of the Earth.
- The outermost layer where
energy and mineral resources
are derived.

36. Different elements that compose the
Earth’s CRUST
• Oxygen 46.60
• Silicon 27.72
• Aluminum 8.13
• Iron 5.00
• Calcium 3.63
• Sodium 2.83
• Potassium 2.59
• Magnesium 2.09
• Titanium 0.40
• Hydrogen 0.14

37. MANTLE
- Less dense layer
- Made up of silicate rocks,
mostly made of the elements
silicon, oxygen, iron and
magnesium.

38. CORE
- Denser layer
- the Earth’s magnetic field
- strengthens the idea that the
Earth’s outer core is
molten/liquid.

40. Historical Development of
the concept of EARTH
SYSTEM

42. Sources:
1. Ms. Laguda ppt. (Regional
SHS Mass Training of Grade
11 Teachers)
2.TG Earth & Life Science