Earth’s Life-Support Earth’s Life-Support SystemsSystems

Processes necessary for life!Processes necessary for life!

Important Earth SystemsImportant Earth Systems

• Nutrient Cycles (Water, Carbon)Nutrient Cycles (Water, Carbon)

• Rock CycleRock Cycle

• Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse Effect

• WeatherWeather

Important Nutrients for Living Important Nutrients for Living ThingsThings

Important Nutrients for Living Important Nutrients for Living ThingsThings

• CarbonCarbon

• OxygenOxygen

• WaterWater

• NitrogenNitrogen

• PhosphorusPhosphorus

• IronIron• CalciumCalcium• PotassiumPotassium• IodineIodine• MagnesiumMagnesium

Water CycleWater Cycle

List and define the parts of the water cycle.

Seepage

Condensation

Why is the Water Cycle important?Why is the Water Cycle important?

Why is the Water Cycle important?Why is the Water Cycle important?

1.1. It moves water around on Earth so that it is It moves water around on Earth so that it is continuously available for all living things.continuously available for all living things.

2.2. Water gets naturally cleaned and filtered as it Water gets naturally cleaned and filtered as it goes through the cycle.goes through the cycle.

Carbon CycleCarbon Cycle

1) Fast Carbon Cycle 1) Fast Carbon Cycle

Photosynthesis & RespirationPhotosynthesis & Respiration

Photosynthesis (Plants)Photosynthesis (Plants)

Respiration (Animals)Respiration (Animals)

1) Fast Carbon Cycle 1) Fast Carbon Cycle

Photosynthesis & RespirationPhotosynthesis & Respiration

Photosynthesis (Plants)Photosynthesis (Plants)

Carbon dioxide + Water Carbon dioxide + Water SunSun GlucoseGlucose + Oxygen + Oxygen

COCO22 + H + H22O O SunSun C C66HH1212OO66 + O + O22

Respiration (Animals)Respiration (Animals)

Glucose + Oxygen Carbon dioxide + Water + Glucose + Oxygen Carbon dioxide + Water + EnergyEnergy

CC66HH1212OO66 + O + O2 2 COCO22 + H + H22O + O + EnergyEnergy

2) Slow Carbon Cycle2) Slow Carbon CycleDecompositionDecomposition

Fossil FuelsFossil Fuels

UpliftingUplifting

Weathering & ErosionWeathering & Erosion

2) Slow Carbon Cycle2) Slow Carbon CycleDecomposition – decomposers eat dead Decomposition – decomposers eat dead

organic matter and the carbon goes into the organic matter and the carbon goes into the soil.soil.

Fossil Fuels – over millions of years, soil rich in Fossil Fuels – over millions of years, soil rich in organic matter (mostly carbon) can be organic matter (mostly carbon) can be compacted into coal, oil and natural gas.compacted into coal, oil and natural gas.

Uplifting – over millions of years, rock Uplifting – over millions of years, rock containing carbon can be pushed back to the containing carbon can be pushed back to the surface of the Earth.surface of the Earth.

Weathering & Erosion – rock at the surface can Weathering & Erosion – rock at the surface can be worn down by wind and water releasing be worn down by wind and water releasing some carbon back into the atmosphere.some carbon back into the atmosphere.

Rock CycleRock Cycle

Volcano

Rock Cycle ExplanationThe crust of the Earth is always moving and changing.

The crust is made of rocks, soil and minerals. It floats on

the layer of Earth called the mantle which is made of liquid

rock called magma. As the crust moves, rocks are melted

and changed in to metamorphic rocks by heat andpressure. Those metamorphic rocks melt into

magmawhich might eventually ooze on to a volcano and

cool intoan igneous rock! Later on, pieces of that igneous

rock ontop of the mountain will be chipped off by wind and

rainand will travel down a stream in to the ocean. Thosepebbles will be crushed into sedimentary rocks by

thePressure of the ocean and higher rock layers.

Eventuallythe plates will move and those sedimentary rocks

will falldeep into magma and melt again, starting the cycle

allover!

Rock Cycle TermsRock Cycle Terms

UpliftingUplifting

VolcanoVolcano

Weathering & ErosionWeathering & Erosion

Deposition of SedimentDeposition of Sediment

Rock Cycle TermsRock Cycle TermsUpliftingUplifting – Earth’s crust (plates) collide and – Earth’s crust (plates) collide and

push up mountains.push up mountains.

VolcanoVolcano – Earth’s inner liquid mantle leaks – Earth’s inner liquid mantle leaks up through the crust and hardens into new up through the crust and hardens into new rock.rock.

Weathering & ErosionWeathering & Erosion – Rain, snow, wind, – Rain, snow, wind, glaciers wear down rock.glaciers wear down rock.

Deposition of SedimentDeposition of Sediment – worn down rock – worn down rock sediment deposits form the parent sediment deposits form the parent material for new soil.material for new soil.

Greenhouse Effect ExplanationThe greenhouse effect occurs when certain gases in the atmosphere trap infrared radiation (heat). This effect makes the planet warmer, in the same way a greenhouse keeps its inside temperature warmer.The greenhouse effect is caused by greenhouse gases; the most important in Earth's atmosphere are: water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane. When there is more greenhouse gas in the air, the air holds more heat. This is why more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is causing global warming.The greenhouse effect is important for life on Earth. Without it, the Earth's average temperature would be around -18 or -19 degrees Celsius. Because of the greenhouse effect, the Earth's actual average temperature is 14 degrees Celsius.

Greenhouse GasesGreenhouse Gases

A Food Web A Food Web in Lake Eriein Lake Erie

Processes necessary for Processes necessary for ……

•Clean airClean air

•Pure drinking waterPure drinking water

•Productive soilProductive soil

•Healthy wildlife Healthy wildlife populationspopulations

•Correct temperaturesCorrect temperatures

LIFE!

Rock CycleRock Cycle

Volcano

Rock Cycle ExplanationRock Cycle ExplanationThe crust of the Earth is always moving and The crust of the Earth is always moving and changing.changing.

The crust is made of rocks, soil and minerals. It The crust is made of rocks, soil and minerals. It floats onfloats on

the layer of Earth called the mantle which is made the layer of Earth called the mantle which is made of liquidof liquid

rock called magma. As the crust moves, rocks are rock called magma. As the crust moves, rocks are meltedmelted

and changed in to metamorphic rocks by heat andand changed in to metamorphic rocks by heat and

pressure. Those metamorphic rocks melt into pressure. Those metamorphic rocks melt into magmamagma

which might eventually ooze on to a volcano and which might eventually ooze on to a volcano and cool intocool into

an igneous rock! Later on, pieces of that igneous an igneous rock! Later on, pieces of that igneous rock onrock on

top of the mountain will be chipped off by wind and top of the mountain will be chipped off by wind and rainrain

and will travel down a stream in to the ocean. Thoseand will travel down a stream in to the ocean. Those

pebbles will be crushed into sedimentary rocks by pebbles will be crushed into sedimentary rocks by thethe

Pressure of the ocean and higher rock layers. Pressure of the ocean and higher rock layers. EventuallyEventually

the plates will move and those sedimentary rocks the plates will move and those sedimentary rocks will fallwill fall

deep into magma and melt again, starting the cycle deep into magma and melt again, starting the cycle allall

over!over!

Rock Cycle TermsRock Cycle Terms

UpliftingUplifting

VolcanoVolcano

Weathering & ErosionWeathering & Erosion

Deposition of SedimentDeposition of Sediment

Rock Cycle TermsRock Cycle TermsUpliftingUplifting – Earth’s crust (plates) collide and – Earth’s crust (plates) collide and

push up mountains.push up mountains.

VolcanoVolcano – Earth’s inner liquid mantle leaks – Earth’s inner liquid mantle leaks up through the crust and hardens into new up through the crust and hardens into new rock.rock.

Weathering & ErosionWeathering & Erosion – Rain, snow, wind, – Rain, snow, wind, glaciers wear down rock.glaciers wear down rock.

Deposition of SedimentDeposition of Sediment – worn down rock – worn down rock sediment deposits form the parent sediment deposits form the parent material for new soil.material for new soil.

Greenhouse GasesGreenhouse Gases

Greenhouse Effect ExplanationGreenhouse Effect ExplanationThe greenhouse effect occurs when certain gases in the atmosphere trap infrared radiation (heat). This effect makes the planet warmer, in the same way a greenhouse keeps its inside temperature warmer.The greenhouse effect is caused by greenhouse gases; the most important in Earth's atmosphere are: water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane. When there is more greenhouse gas in the air, the air holds more heat. This is why more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is causing global warming.The greenhouse effect is important for life on Earth. Without it, the Earth's average temperature would be around -18 or -19 degrees Celsius. Because of the greenhouse effect, the Earth's actual average temperature is 14 degrees Celsius.