The rocks beneath your feet, the air you breathe, the oceans, and all living things — they're not separate, but parts of one connected system.
Earth can be thought of as four connected subsystems: the lithosphere (solid rock and land), hydrosphere (all of Earth's water), atmosphere (the layer of gases surrounding Earth), and biosphere (all living things).
Which subsystem includes all of Earth's living things?
The biosphere
Which subsystem includes oceans, rivers, and lakes?
The hydrosphere
Earth's subsystems constantly interact — for example, plants (biosphere) take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, water cycles between the hydrosphere and atmosphere through evaporation and rainfall, and rock (lithosphere) is shaped by both water and living things over time.
Name two Earth subsystems that interact during the water cycle.
The hydrosphere (where water starts, like oceans) and the atmosphere (where evaporated water forms clouds before falling as rain)
1. Name Earth's four major subsystems.
2. Which subsystem is made up of solid rock and land?
3. Which subsystem is the layer of gases surrounding Earth?
4. Give one example of two subsystems interacting.
5. Why is it useful to think of Earth as a connected system rather than separate, unrelated parts?