Everything is connected
Four spheres, one living Earth.
Cut a forest
A large forest is cut down.
Will only the trees be affected?
What this lesson covers
The idea
Earth is a living system in which the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere and biosphere support and affect one another; their balance keeps the planet habitable, so a small change in one part can affect the others.
Cut a forest
A large forest is cut down.
Will only the trees be affected?
- No, rainfall, soil, air quality and animals can all be affected
- Yes, nothing else changes
- Only the animals change
Link the spheres
Press Next step.
A living system
Earth is a vast living system where land, air, water and living things support and affect one another. Life survives not because of just one thing, but because everything works together in balance. This balance keeps our planet habitable.
The atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere and biosphere support and affect one another. Their balance keeps the planet habitable. A small change in one part can affect the others.
Notes
Earth's four spheres affect one another; balance keeps it habitable.
Check yourself
The four parts of the Earth system are the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere and …
A small change in one part of the Earth system can …
Cutting down a forest can impact …
What keeps our planet habitable?
- stratosphere. The fourth part is the biosphere.
- biosphere — correct. Yes!
- ionosphere. The fourth part is the biosphere.
- affect nothing else. The parts are connected.
- only affect itself. The parts support and affect one another.
- affect the others — correct. Yes!
- rainfall, soil, air quality and animals — correct. Yes!
- only the trees. It can affect many parts.
- nothing. It can impact many parts.
- Only one part, the sea. Life survives because everything works together in balance.
- The balance among its parts — correct. Yes!
- Nothing, it is luck. The balance keeps the planet habitable.