The Interrelated Environment of Earth and its Earth Systems, Describe the overlapping environmental “spheres” of Earth, and how the concept of Earth systems helps us understand the interrelationships and complexities of Earths physical processes.

The Interrelated Environment of Earth and its Earth Systems

Earth is composed of four distinct spheres or domains that are interconnected and interact with one another: the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. The lithosphere includes Earth’s solid surface and is composed of rocks, soil, sediments and landforms (Abed,2017). The hydrosphere is composed of water and includes all the oceans, lakes and rivers. The atmosphere consists of the air and climate, and the biosphere is composed of all living organisms. The concept of Earth systems is used to understand the relationships and complexities of these four spheres and how they interact with one another. The Earth systems approach seeks to understand the interactions between the different components of the Earth’s systems as a whole (Abed,2017). It explores how the four spheres of the Earth interact to create a complex environment and how this environment is continually changing. For instance, changes in the atmosphere can have an impact on the hydrosphere by altering air temperatures, leading to changes in the water cycle and global sea levels. Changes in the lithosphere can also affect the atmosphere, such as when volcanic eruptions release gas and dust into the air. Additionally, the biosphere is influenced by a variety of factors, including climate, water and land… Cont…