Department of Education | Senior High School Topic: Earth and its Four Subsystems Learning Competency: Earth and Life Science: Explain that the Earth consists of four subsystems, across whose boundaries matter and energy flows. Earth Science (for STEM): Explain that the Earth consists of four subsystems, across whose boundaries matter and energy flows. Please LIKE / FOLLOW and SHARE my other social media accounts.  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Simple-ABbieC-131584525051378/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Youtube: http://tiny.cc/SimpleABbieC ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Slideshare: https://www.slideshare.net/AbbieMahinay ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Blogger: https://simpleabbiec.blogspot.com/?m=1

1. EARTH SYSTEMS
Explain that the Earth consists of four subsystems, across
whose boundaries matter and energy flow.

2. Here’s Scientist A.
What could he be studying?
Studying Earth systems is quite complicated. Let’s use the Parable from
Robert O’NEILL and Colleagues (1986) to better understand it.
Just imagine four scientists, who have set themselves the task of
examining certain research objects very intensively using very
sophisticated and ingenious instruments.
2

3. Parable from Robert O’NEILL and Colleagues (1986)
3
This is Scientist B on a
ladder.
What do you think is the
focus of his research?

4. 4
Scientist C is using a magnifying
glass for his observations.
What could he be observing?
Parable from Robert O’NEILL and Colleagues (1986)

5. 5
Parable from Robert O’NEILL and Colleagues (1986)
Scientist D is also
using a magnifying
glass. What do you
think her research is
all about?

6. From the completely different conclusions,
• Scientist A would probably think he has to deal
with a fire fighter’s hose
• Scientist B who had concentrated on the right ear
of the animal would possibly interpret it as a
carpet
• Scientist C would write a report about the
structure of broad walls
• Scientist D would interpret the elephant’s leg as a
typical example for a column.
Do you think the same?
6
Parable from Robert O’NEILL and Colleagues (1986)

7. From the
accumulated
individual
findings, none of
the participating
researchers can
recognize that
they are dealing
with an elephant.
They would
naturally
come to totally
different and
contradictory
conclusions.
7
Parable from Robert O’NEILL and Colleagues (1986)
Actually, the
scientist are
working on
different parts of
an elephant’s
body. However,
they are so lost in
different details of
their respective
research object,
so that just this
single part alone
captures their
entire interest.

8. 8
The system concept
“The WHOLE is more than the sum of its PARTS”
The parable by R. O’Neill and his colleagues illustrates an important historical
document in the history of system research. It originates from the debate of ecological
research. In this context, it serves as the reason for the interdisciplinary position as
well as the system analytic strategy of research. It was argued that a reductionalist
research approach, by which every participating scientific discipline only works on a
section of the entire system doubtlessly offers valuable insights into the sub-area.
However, this does not lead to an insight into the complex structure of relations of the
entire system. Today, in this context, the sentence is frequently used:
“The whole is worth more than the individual parts”
This will help us realize that Earth and its subsystems must not be studied
individually but rather as a whole because all of them are interconnected to each
other.

9. EARTH as a SYSTEM 9
SYSTEM
→ A set of interconnected
components that are
interacting to form a
unified whole.

10. 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.
10

11. SOLAR ENERGY
Since Earth system is
essentially a closed
system. It receives
energy from the sun
(solar energy)….
…and returns some
of this energy to
space.
11

12. SOLAR ENERGY In contrast, the
subsystems of
Earth:
Geosphere
Biosphere
Geosphere
Hydrosphere
Atmosphere
Atmosphere
Biosphere
Hydrosphere
are OPEN SYSTEMS
where both matter and
energy can flow across
the boundaries.
12

13. 13

14. ― Neil DeGrasse Tyson
(He is an American astrophysicist, cosmologist,
planetary scientist, author, and science
communicator.)
14

15. Earth Systems 15
You’ve probably learned the
four spheres of Earth since
elementary. Let’s refresh your
memories, take a deeper
understanding on these spheres
and see how they are all
interconnected.

16. 16GEOsphere
It makes up the solid portion of the
Earth including its non-living land
features.
It extends from Earth’s surface to the
center.
It is predominantly classified as the
LITHOSPHERE: the upper mantle and
crust.

17. LITHOSPHERE
CRUST (continental & oceanic)
MANTLE (upper & lower)
CORE
(liquid metallic outer & solid metallic inner)
17GEOsphere

18. 18GEOsphere

19. CRUST
Different elements that
compose the Earth’s CRUST
19GEOsphere
It’s the light and very thin
outer skin of the Earth.
The outermost layer where
energy and mineral resources
are derived.

20. 20
OCEANIC CRUST
▪ primarily basalt
▪ 6-10 km thickness
▪ denser (heavier) than
continental crust
CONTINENTAL
CRUST
▪ primarily granite
▪ 30-70 km thickness
▪ Less dense than
oceanic crust
CRUST

21. MANTLE
21GEOsphere
→ Made up of mostly solid
rocks and minerals
→ Represents 85% of the
total weight and mass of
Earth

22. 22
Upper Mantle
▪ Mostly solid and its
malleable regions
contribute to tectonic
activities
▪ Coolest & most rigid layer
Lower Mantle
▪ Hotter & denser compare
to upper mantle
▪ Made up of dense rocks in
semi-liquid state

23. 23GEOsphere
CORE
• Entirely made up of metal
alloy such as iron and nickel
• the Earth’s magnetic field
strengthens the idea that
the Earth’s outer core is
molten/liquid.

24. 24
Outer Core
▪ 2nd largest layer
▪ composed of super heated
liquid molten lava of
liquid iron and nickel
Inner Core
▪ It has a strong pressure
around it making the
metal iron solid
▪ It rotates easterly

25. 25

26. 26ATMOsphere
▪ This thin gaseous layer that envelopes our
planet makes life sustainable since it contain
gases that all living things need.
▪ Some functions of the atmosphere includes:
▪ Enables plants to create their own food
▪ Traps heat to keep us warm
▪ Protect us from harmful radiation
▪ Drive ocean currents that spread heat which
regulates our climate

27. 27ATMOsphere
One of the most important processes
by which the heat on the Earth's
surface is redistributed is through
atmospheric circulation.

28. 28ATMOsphere
The present atmosphere is
composed of:
❑ 78% nitrogen (N)
❑ 21% oxygen (O2)
❑ 0.9% argon
❑ and trace amount of
other gases

29.  Densest part. Almost all weather types are
in this region.
 Location of ozone layer which absorbs and
scatters the solar ultraviolet radiation.
 Region where meteors usually burn up and
become “shooting stars”
 It is where radio communications possible.
 It is the area of aurora and satellites.
 Upper limit of the atmosphere separating
Earth and space.
29
Layers of the Atmosphere

30. 30

31. 31BIOsphere
▪ it includes all life forms on Earth
▪ 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.
Vladimir Vernadsky first popularized the concept of the noosphere
and deepened the idea of the biosphere to the meaning largely
recognized by today's scientific community. The word ‘”biosphere”
was invented by Austrian geologist Eduard Suess, whom Vernadsky
met in 1911.

32. 32
Daisy World Model ▪ It illustrates how the
biosphere is capable
of regulating its
environment.
▪ by James Lovelock

33. 33
Biogeochemical Cycles
▪ It is the cycling of nutrients (water, carbon, oxygen,
phosphorus, sulfur) from abiotic components of the
ecosystem (water, air, soil) through the biotic components
(plants, animals, bacteria)
▪ It make multiple biological processes possible:
photosynthesis, protein synthesis, respiration, etc.

34. Cryosphere is the frozen part of Earth which is
in the form of glaciers, ice caps and icebergs.
34HYDROsphere
▪ It composed of all waters on the
surface (oceans, rivers, and lakes)
and also the water underground (in
wells and aquifers) and may also
include moisture in air (visible as
clouds and fogs).

35. 35HYDROsphere
Water /
Hydrological Cycle
It describes the continuous
movement of water on, above
and below the surface in the
Earth – atmosphere system.
The most important processes
are evaporation,
transpiration, condensation,
precipitation, and runoff.

36. 36

37. 37
1
Atmospheric chemistry and temperature affect
organisms
2
Atmospheric chemistry and temperature affect
weathering of rocks
3 Atmospheric temperature affects evaporation
4
Photosynthesis affects atmospheric carbon dioxide
concentration
5 Plants aid weathering (physical and chemical) of rocks
6 Plants control water transfer from soil to atmosphere
7
Weathering and erosion controls nutrient supply to
life in the oceans
8
Volcanic eruptions add carbon dioxide and aerosols to
atmosphere
9
Locations of continents controls circulation pattern of
oceans
10 Rainfall and runoff erode the land surface
11 Soil water limits plant growth
12
Ocean circulation controls how much CO2 is removed
from atmosphere

38. REFERENCES
• Bayo-ang, R., Coronacion, M., Jorda, A., & Restubog, A. (2016). Earth
and Life Science for Senior High School. (M. Moncada, Ed.) Quezon
City, Philippines: Educational Resources Corporation.
• Slideshare: https://www.slideshare.net/AbbieMahinay/ib-earth-and-
earth-systems
• Various internet sources
• Photos from : Creative Commons, Pixabay.com, Flickr.com…
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