Exploring
Earth’s
Systems
What Are Earth's Systems?
Earth is made up of four main systems: the geosphere,
biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. Each system
plays a crucial role in how our planet works. Let’s explore
these systems and see how they interact with each other.
By learning about these systems and how they interact, you
can better understand the complex and fascinating world
we live in. Enjoy exploring and discovering the amazing
connections in Earth’s systems!
The Geosphere
The geosphere is the part of Earth
that includes all the rocks,
minerals, landforms, and the
ground beneath our feet. It
includes mountains, valleys, and
all types of soil. Think of the
geosphere as the solid, non-living
part of Earth.
The Biosphere
The biosphere includes all living
things on Earth, such as plants,
animals, and even tiny
microorganisms. It's where life
happens, and it depends on the
geosphere for things like soil to
grow in and places to live.
Geosphere and Biosphere Interact
Plants and Soil: Animal Habitats: Erosion and Landforms:
Plants grow in the soil, Animals use the land for Animals and plants can
which is part of the their homes. For change the land. For
geosphere. They take example, rabbits dig example, tree roots can
nutrients from the soil to burrows in the ground, break rocks apart, and
grow. Without soil, many and birds build nests in animals like beavers build
plants wouldn’t have a trees that grow in the dams that can create new
The Hydrosphere
The hydrosphere includes all
the water on Earth. This
means oceans, lakes, rivers,
streams, glaciers, and even
the water underground. Water
in the hydrosphere can be in
different forms: liquid (like in
rivers), solid (like ice in
glaciers), or gas (like water
vapor in the air).
The Atmosphere
The atmosphere is the layer of
gases surrounding Earth. It’s
what we breathe and what
protects us from the sun’s
harmful rays. The atmosphere
contains different gases,
including oxygen, nitrogen,
and water vapor.
Atmosphere and Hydrosphere Interact
Evaporation and Weather: Cloud Formation: Weather Patterns:
When water evaporates, Clouds form when water The movement of water
it adds water vapor to vapor condenses in the between the hydrosphere
the atmosphere. This atmosphere. The type of and atmosphere helps
water vapor can later cloud can affect the kind create different weather
form clouds and of weather we conditions around the
precipitation, affecting experience, like sunny, world.
weather patterns. rainy, or snowy days.
The Water Cycle
The water cycle shows how water moves between the
hydrosphere and
the atmosphere. • Evaporation: When the sun heats up water in
rivers, lakes, or oceans, the water turns into
water vapor (a gas) and rises into the
atmosphere.
• Condensation: As the water vapor rises, it cools
down and changes back into tiny water droplets,
forming clouds.
• Precipitation: When these droplets come
together and get heavy enough, they fall back to
Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
• Collection: The water collects in oceans, rivers,
lakes, or soaks into the ground, and the cycle
Animation Challenge 3:
Continuous Water Cycle
Develop an animation of the
entire water cycle and how
there is continuous
movement of water in the
Earth’s systems.
Water on the Earth
Water covers about 71% of Earth's
surface, but not all of this water is the
same. Most of Earth's water (about 97%)
is saltwater in the oceans. Saltwater is not
suitable for drinking or farming without
special treatment. Only about 3% of
Earth's water is freshwater. Freshwater is
found in rivers, lakes, glaciers,
underground, and in the atmosphere. It is
essential for life because it is the water we
can drink and use for growing food.
Distribution of Freshwater
Glacier and Ice Caps: Surface Water: Groundwater:
About 68.7% of all A small amount of About 30.1% of freshwater
freshwater is frozen in freshwater (about 1.2%) is is found underground. This
glaciers and ice caps, found in rivers, lakes, and water is stored in spaces
mostly in Antarctica wetlands. This is the most between rocks and soil and
and Greenland. easily accessible water for can be accessed through
humans and wildlife. wells.
Ocean’s Influence on Ecosystems and
Climate (Hydrosphere and Atmosphere)
The ocean (hydrosphere) affects
weather and climate (atmosphere).
Water evaporates from the ocean’s
surface, turning into water vapor. This
vapor forms clouds and eventually
falls as precipitation (rain or snow).
The ocean also influences temperature
and weather patterns, such as
hurricanes and monsoons.
