The Earth’s spheres are interconnected
We are all connected. The idea of interconnectedness is at the heart of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). This idea of interconnectedness has been developing among other societies for some time and even moreso since the modern environmental movement in the 1970’s.
To better understand how everything is connected is to understand systems.
A system is a set of things working together as parts of a larger network. For example, you body is made of systems. Think of your circulatory system (blood); if your heart shut down even though your arteries and veins, etc. were still all fine no blood would flow. This would in turn impact other systems. For example if your circulatory system wasn’t working it would quickly shut down your respiratory system.
So the Earth is made from a number of interconnected systems.
We are all connected. The idea of interconnectedness is at the heart of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). This idea of interconnectedness has been developing among other societies for some time and even moreso since the modern environmental movement in the 1970’s.
To better understand how everything is connected is to understand systems.
A system is a set of things working together as parts of a larger network. For example, you body is made of systems. Think of your circulatory system (blood); if your heart shut down even though your arteries and veins, etc. were still all fine no blood would flow. This would in turn impact other systems. For example if your circulatory system wasn’t working it would quickly shut down your respiratory system.
So the Earth is made from a number of interconnected systems.
Ecosystems
Our environment consists of BOTH Biotic and Abiotic components - Biotic parts: Living, ex. A tree - Abiotic parts: Non-living, ex. Rocks, soil, water, etc. The two MOST important factors that support life are temperature and precipitation (any atmospheric water vapour that falls under gravity, i.e. rain, sleet, snow, hail, etc.). Both Temperature and precipitation as ABIOTIC factors!! We refer to this as weather and/or climate. Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a place and time i.e heat, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc. Climate is the average pattern of weather conditions that occur in a region over a period of years. |
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so ... CLIMATE is very important to the survial of living (biotic) factors on Earth !!
The Earths Spheres
Natural processes move matter in cycles from the biotic and abiotic parts of the environment. At any time, matter occupies one of Earth’s four spheres
1) Atmosphere: Gases 2) Geosphere (lithosphere): Solid, rocky part of Earth 3) Hydrosphere: All of the water (liquid, solid, gaseous) on and within the geosphere 4) Biosphere: All the areas in the geosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere that are inhabited by and support life!!! (remember the term Bio?) |
Earth’s spheres interact in different ways BUT they DO intereact!! Analyze the following image for interaction of biotic and abiotic factors. Can you see all 4 spheres? Can you see how they are interacting?
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Don't forget about sustainability!!
Sustainability ensures balanced systems now and for the future.
We recieve benfitis from out ecosystem. For example we breath, we eat, we live in it!! These are called Ecosystem services.
Ecosystems provide services that all living things depend onEcosystem services: The benefits that organisms receive from the environment and its resources
Examples of ecosystem services include:
• atmospheric gas supply • climate regulation • cultural benefit • food production • habitat • water supply
We recieve benfitis from out ecosystem. For example we breath, we eat, we live in it!! These are called Ecosystem services.
Ecosystems provide services that all living things depend onEcosystem services: The benefits that organisms receive from the environment and its resources
Examples of ecosystem services include:
• atmospheric gas supply • climate regulation • cultural benefit • food production • habitat • water supply
Bias - Don't always believe what you are told!!
Scientifically literate citizens are aware of bias in sources of information.
Bias: A judgment that is based on a person’s knowledge, understanding, and beliefs Being scientifically literate involves being able to recognize and evaluate bias in information. Qu – can you identify bias and explain its influence? Try using the advert to the right. Do you think it reflect teh truth or what they want you to beleive the truth is? |