Benchmark SC.6.E.7.4

SC.6.E.7.4 Differentiate and show interactions among the geosphere, hydrosphere,

cryosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. (Also assesses SC.6.E.7.2, SC.6.E.7.3, SC.6.E.7.6,

and SC.6.E.7.9.)

Earth’s Climate System

• Weather: day to day atmospheric conditions• Climate is the average weather which also

involves the interaction of the following: – hydrosphere: all water (liquid) and frozen

(cryosphere)– geosphere: the solid Earth continental and

oceanic crust– biosphere: the living zone to include humans– atmosphere: gasses surrounding Earth

Hydrosphere water cycle

Geosphere• The geosphere is considered that portion of

the Earth system that includes the Earth's interior, rocks and minerals, landforms and the processes that shape the Earth's surface.

Atmosphere A protective layer of

gasses that shelters all life on Earth

• the lowest layer, where all weather occurs.

• keeps temperatures within a small range

Jet streams drive not only planes but climate as well.

Biosphere

• Biosphere is the living part of the Earth – humans, animals ,plants

• They are the components of ecosystems.

How are these layers related?

HYDROSPHERE• Causes erosion to the GEOSPHERE due to rain, snow/glaciers

melting

• The BIOSPHERE (humans) pollute the HYDROSPHERE with runoff and illegal dumping of waste.

• The ATMOSPHERE (wind- jet stream) moves the water vapor evaporated from the HYDROSPHERE (oceans) across the Earth’s land creating weather patterns.

• The water cycle creates weather patterns to include rain or lack of rain.

How are they related?

BiosphereBreaks down the GEOSPHERE, through weathering

and plant roots and deforestation (cutting down trees) leads to erosion.

Provides nutrients to the GEOSPHERE plants (farming)BIOSPHERE leaves behind “carbon footprints”

through increased use of fossil fuels, carbon emissions and poor choices, which creates hotter temperatures. Disrupting weather patterns.

How are they related?

AtmosphereThe layers create a moderate and livable environment for

the BIOSPHERE, otherwise it would be too cold.

ATMOSPHERE produces jet streams which drive weather patterns through pressure differences across the globe.

GEOSPHERE (mountains) interact with the HYDROSPHERE (oceans) create our various ecosystems. (dry, cold, desert etc.)

How are they related?

GeosphereThe ATMOSPHERE creates weather conditions

on the GEOSPHERE such as hurricanes, tornados.

The GEOSPHERE destroys certain BIOSPHERE habitats (earthquakes, volcanoes)

These natural disaster create a impact on all Earth’s spheres.

Ocean Currents

• Ocean current is a large volume of water flowing in a certain direction– Oceans currents are driven by the sun’s energy– These currents have different temperatures which

produce different climate and weather• Warmer currents – produce wet climates• Colder current – produce drier climates

• Our ocean’s are becoming warmer as a whole which is causing more severe hurricanes and tropical storms.

Wind Currents

• Coriolis Effect: the rotation of the Earth causes the wind and currents to appear to move to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.– Causes distinct wind patterns

such as the jet streams, prevailing winds and local winds.

Wind Currents• Wind arise from the unequal

heating of the Earth’s surface. • The sun does not reach all

surface’s equally.– Some are cold and some warm– Just like the jet stream the cold

areas have high pressure the warm areas have low pressure.

– Low pressure rises and high pressure falls.

– Creates a convection current

Land and sea breezes are local winds which create afternoon showers, cooler nights and help circulate the heat stored daily.

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