Biosphere Venn Diagram depicting the relationship between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere in relation to the biosphere.

(Flathead Watershed, 2016)

Biosphere triangle diagram depicting the relationship between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere in relation to the biosphere.

(Environmental Pollution, n.d.)

The biosphere is often depicted in the center of the spheres, as in the two diagrams above. Sometimes the biosphere is depicted as being alone and defined as the sphere of life. In this section I'm selecting to utilize the notion that the biosphere is interconnected to the other spheres rather than standing alone. (We didn't study the lithosphere--the Earth sphere--with volcanoes, faults, earthquakes, etc.).

Regardless of how the biosphere is portrayed in visualizations (diagrams), the spheres closely interact with one another. Matter is transported both within and between the spheres in various cycles (e.g. nitrogen cycle, carbon cycle, sulfur cycle, life cycle, hydrologic cycle, etc.).

In this section we're going to start with energy and energy transfer, life on Earth, and then touch into ecology, biomes, and ecosystems. When you get to biomes it may be useful to think of them in terms of this diagram below.

Biome Type Pyramid Diagram depicting moisture (atmosphere) and temperature relationships.

(Annenberg, 2017)

Readings

Freedman, B. (2018). Environmental science: A Canadian perspective. Halifax, Canada: Dalhousie University Libraries. See: FREEDMAN_Environmental-Science.pdf

Freedman, 2018 is also available online.

Chapter 4

pp. 64 - 66 - Units of Energy & Energy Transformation
pp. 69-76 - Energy in Ecosystems

Chapter 7

pp. 119 - 122 - The Value of Biodiversity
pp. 123 - 129 - The Organization of Life

Chapter 8

pp. 133 - 151

Chapter 9

Self-selected section (see the Ancillary activity instructions)

References

Annenberg Learner. (2017). The habitable planet: Unit 4 visuals. Annenberg Foundation. https://www.learner.org/series/the-habitable-planet-a-systems-approach-to-environmental-science/ecosystems/

Environmental Pollution. (n.d.). Four main spheres of the Earth. http://www.environmentalpollution.in/earth/4-main-spheres-of-the-earth-with-diagram/3048

Flathead Watershed. (2016). Flathead Watershed Sourcebook. http://www.flatheadwatershed.org/index.shtml