MODULE 1, LESSON 1: THE EARTH AND ITS SUBSYSTEMS

INTRODUCTION

Our home planet, Earth, is a world unlike any other. The third planet from the Sun, Earth is the only place
in the known universe confirmed to host life. Earth is considered as a home of simple single-celled
organisms up to the most complex life forms including human beings. The different characteristics of Earth
and interactions among its subsystems are responsible for the sustenance of life. As human beings living
in this planet, it is very important that we protect it and continuously take care of the natural resources it
provides us in order to mitigate the impacts of geological and hydrometeorological phenomena in our area.

At the end of this session, you should be able to:

a. describe the different characteristics of the Earth necessary for the growth and survival of life;
b. explain the interactions among the Earth’s four subsystems, across whose boundaries matter and
energy flow; and
c. demonstrate appreciation towards the Earth, specifically of each of our own localities through
creating a video blog.

DISCUSSION

Earth’s Atmosphere

 The atmosphere consists of 78.1% nitrogen, 20.9%

oxygen, 0.9% argon, and trace amounts of carbon
dioxide and other components.

 The presence of oxygen and carbon dioxide permits life

on Earth. Carbon dioxide is used by photosynthetic
organisms, such as plants and algae, to convert the
energy from the sun to usable energy through the
process of photosynthesis. The oxygen makes it livable
for living organisms including humans for respiration and
for our cells to function.

 Earth’s atmosphere also protects us from the sun’s

radiation. Thirty percent of the radiation is reflected away by the atmosphere, clouds, and the earth's
surface. Another 25% is absorbed by the atmosphere and clouds, and the remaining 45% is absorbed
by the earth’s surface. Ozone is composed of three oxygen atoms. Located in the stratosphere, this
layer absorbs the ultraviolet wavelengths, and the absorption of this radiation heats up the air.

Earth’s Soil and Vegetation

 The soil is a mixture of minerals, water, air, organic matter, and organisms. It is a living medium—a
medium for growth of all kinds of vegetation. The soil promotes growth for plants by providing nutrients,
water, and as a substrate for anchorage of roots. In return, vegetation produces trees and forests
cover, ensures the water and nutrient cycle, and prevents soil and wind erosion. This mutual
relationship of the soil and vegetation makes our planet livable.

 According to the FAO, healthy soils are crucial for ensuring the continued growth of natural and
managed vegetation, providing feed, fiber, fuel, medicinal products and other ecosystem services such
as climate regulation and oxygen production.

 Soils and vegetation have a reciprocal relationship. Fertile soil encourages plant growth by providing
plants with nutrients, acting as a water holding tank, and serving as the substrate to which plants
 anchor their roots. In return, vegetation, tree cover and forests prevent soil degradation and
desertification by stabilizing the soil, maintaining water and nutrient cycling, and reducing water and
wind erosion.

Earth’s Hydrosphere

 The hydrosphere contains all the water on our

planet including ice and vapor. Nearly three-
quarters of the earth’s surface is the sea and
the ocean. The ocean houses many species of
marine life and diverse mineral resources.
Other forms of water include river, streams,
and lakes. Other than being a water reservoir,
these forms of water are all sources of fish and
shellfish that we consume. They also serve as
thermostat and heat reservoir, especially the
ocean. They also serve as ways for
transportation.

The Earth’s Four Subsystems

 Earth system is essentially a closed system. It receives energy from the sun and returns some of this
energy to space.

 The Earth is comprised of four major subsystems. These subsystems are also called the “spheres of
the Earth.” They are atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.

Atmosphere

 The word atmosphere comes from the Greek word atmos which means gas, and sphaira which means
globe or ball. The atmosphere makes up of all the gases on Earth. It extends outward about 10 000 km
from the surface of the Earth. It is composed of 78.1% nitrogen, 20.9% oxygen, 0.9% argon, 350 ppm
carbon dioxide, and other components.

 The atmosphere has different layers – troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and
exosphere.

 The troposphere extends to about 14.5

km above the Earth's surface. It is the
lowest layer where the weather forms.

 The stratosphere is found 14.5 to 50 km

above the Earth's surface. The ozone
layer that protects the Earth from the
Sun's harmful UV radiation is found in this
layer.

 The mesosphere extends from 50 to 85

km above the Earth's surface. It protects
the Earth from the impact of space debris.

 The thermosphere is found 85 to 600 km

above the Earth's surface. It has charged
 particles that are affected by the Earth's magnetic field. The particles create the Auroras or Northern
and Southern lights.

 The exosphere is the farthest layer. It extends to about 10 000 km above the Earth's surface.

Geosphere

 Geo is a Greek word which means ground. Geosphere includes all the soil, rocks, and minerals present
in the crust to the core of the Earth. It is divided into three layers namely crust, mantle, and core.

 The crust is the outermost layer of the geosphere. It

is made mostly of silicate materials. There are two
different types of crust, the oceanic and continental
crusts. The thin oceanic crust that lies beneath the
oceanic floors is about 5 to 10 km thick. On the other
hand, the thicker continental crust that makes up the
continents is about 15 to 70 km thick.

 The mantle, which lies just below the crust, is made

mostly of silicate rocks rich in magnesium and iron. It
is about 2900 km thick. It has increasing
temperatures at increasing depths. For instance, the
layer with the lowest temperature is the one right
beneath the crust. This layer, which is soft enough to flow, causes the plates of the crust to move. On
the other hand, the layer with the highest temperature is found in contact with the heat-producing core.

 The core, which has a radius of 3400 km, is the innermost layer of the Earth. It is made up of iron and
nickel. It is the source of internal heat because it contains radioactive materials that release energy as
they decay into more stable substances.

Hydrosphere

 Hydro is a Greek word which means water. Hydrosphere is composed of all the water on Earth in any
form: water vapor, liquid water, and ice. It is comprised of 97.5% saltwater and 2.5% freshwater. It
includes all bodies of water such as oceans, lakes, rivers, and marshes. Clouds and rain are also part
of the hydrosphere.

 The water on Earth is constantly moving. It moves through the oceans in currents. Warm waters in the
tropics move toward the poles while cold water from the polar regions move toward the tropics. Water
also flows into streams and rivers and
through the rocks underground. It can
also move from the Earth’s surface to
the air by evaporation and then fall
back to Earth as precipitation. It even
moves into and out of the bodies of
organisms.

 One of the most common phenomena

happening in the Earth which illustrates
the interaction of hydrosphere with the
other subsystems is water cycle.
Biosphere

 Bio is a Greek word that means

life. The biosphere is comprised
of all living things. It includes all
microbes, plants, and animals. It
extends to the upper areas of the
atmosphere where insects and
birds can be found. It also
reaches the deep parts of the
oceans where marine organisms
can still survive.

 Organisms interact with the other

spheres to survive. Many
organisms need oxygen and
carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to carry out life processes. Water, which comprises the
hydrosphere, is also important to organisms. Finally, the rocks, soil, and minerals constitute the
geosphere also support life.

 A biome is a community of plants and animals living together in a certain kind of climate. Scientists have
classified regions of the world into different biomes which include tundra, shrub land, rainforest,
grassland, desert, temperate deciduous forest and coniferous forest.

LEARNING TASKS

A. Essay Writing

Write a short essay (maximum of 150 words) answering the question in this scenario:

Imagine that you are part of NASA’s special mission and you are tasked to discuss the things needed to
replicate the Earth’s system in another planet. What are the things necessary to enable life in that planet?

B. Quiz

Answer the following 5-item quiz. Your score after taking the quiz will be recorded. Good luck!

1. Which of the following is TRUE about the role of soil in the growth and life on Earth?
A. The soil does not affect growth and life on Earth.
B. There is no relationship between the soil and vegetation.
C. The soil provides nutrients, water, and substrate for vegetation.
D. The soil allows growth of different types of plants but not microorganisms.

2. How does the atmosphere support other subsystems?

A. It serves as a reservoir for water vapor.
B. It absorbs all the minerals and nutrients from the geosphere.
C. It supplies organisms the needed oxygen and carbon dioxide.
D. It shapes the Earth’s landforms by its constant movement as the wind.

3. Which of the following is TRUE about the Earth’s subsystems?

A. Each subsystem did not change since the formation of the Earth.
 B. Earth’s subsystems are similar to the subsystems of other planets.
C. Earth’s subsystems interact with each other making life possible on Earth.
D. Each subsystem works independently and does not depend on other subsystems.

4. Which of the following happens when human activities increase the concentration of carbon dioxide
and aerosols in the atmosphere?
A. The atmospheric temperature and the climate remain the same.
B. The atmospheric temperature increases and the climate changes.
C. The atmospheric temperature remains the same and the climate changes.
D. The atmospheric temperature decreases and the climate remains the same.

5. Which of the following demonstrates the correct sequence of the layers of the Earth from the layer
with the highest temperature to the layer with the lowest temperature?

A. core, mantle, crust

B. core, crust, mantle
C. crust, mantle, core
D. mantle, core, crust

REFERENCE

Dela Cruz, A.C., Remotigue, C.T., Dizon Jr., E.A., Dizon, Z.S., Listanco, E.L., Tabugo, S.R.M., Diaz,
M.G.Q., Estacion, J.S., Crisologo, D.T., Guce, J.R.M. (2016). Teaching Guide for Senior High School.
Earth and Life Science—Core Subject. Commission on Higher Education.

Prepared by:

Leslee Anne G. Cortez

Teacher, DIHS