Rain falls on a hillside, washes soil into a river, and the muddy water flows to a lake where fish live. Which spheres are involved?
AOnly the hydrosphere
BThe atmosphere and hydrosphere only
CThe atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere
DThe geosphere and biosphere only
Rain forms in the atmosphere, falls as part of the hydrosphere, moves soil from the geosphere, and affects fish in the biosphere. Most events on Earth involve several spheres at once.
Question 2 True / False
Groundwater and glacier ice are part of the hydrosphere.
TTrue
FFalse
Answer: True
The hydrosphere includes all water on Earth in every form and location. Some scientists also name frozen water separately as the cryosphere, but it is still part of Earth's water.
Question 3 Short Answer
Describe one way a large volcanic eruption can affect each of the four spheres.
Think about your answer, then reveal below.
Model answer: Geosphere: lava and ash build new rock and bury land. Atmosphere: ash and gases such as sulfur dioxide enter the air, and sulfur particles can cool the climate for a year or two. Hydrosphere: ash can clog rivers, and gases can make rain more acidic. Biosphere: plants and animals near the volcano can be killed, and over time new life colonizes the fresh rock.
The eruption starts in the geosphere but spreads its effects into every other sphere, which then affect each other. This is the main idea of Earth system science.
Question 4 Multiple Choice
Which example shows the biosphere changing the atmosphere?
AWind shaping sand dunes
BPlants taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen during photosynthesis
CA river carving a canyon
DAn earthquake shaking the ground
Photosynthesis by plants, algae, and some bacteria removes carbon dioxide from the air and adds oxygen. Over Earth's history this process changed the makeup of the whole atmosphere.