Components of Environment
The four major components of the environment are lithosphere (rocks), hydrosphere (water), atmosphere (air), and biosphere (life):
Lithosphere
The term ‘Lithosphere’ is derived by combining the Greek word “lithos,” which signifies rock, with the word “sphere.” The lithosphere is the solid outer portion of Earth which includes Earth’s crust as well as the underlying cool, dense, rigid uppermost portion of the upper mantle. At the center of the Earth is a structure called the Core, which has a diameter of around 7000 km and a radius of 3500 km. Surrounding the core is the 2900 km thick mantle. The lithosphere extends from the surface of Earth to a depth of approximately 100 km. The tectonic plates of Earth make up the majority of the lithosphere.
Hydrosphere
It includes all types of water bodies on Earth, such as freshwater (rivers, lakes, ponds, streams), marine (oceans, seas), and groundwater resources, among others. There are three states of water: gas (water vapour), liquid (water), and solid (ice). It occupies 71% of the planet’s surface. The oceans contain 97.5% of all the water on Earth, which is salt water. Freshwater makes up only 2.5% of all water on Earth. Of total, 68.9% is in frozen forms, such as glaciers, while 30.8% is accessible as groundwater. A readily available quantity of 0.3% can be found in lakes, reservoirs, and rivers.
Atmosphere
The earth is enveloped by thick gaseous layers that make up the atmosphere. It stretches up to 300 km. Life is supported by the atmosphere which contains a lot of oxygen. It is composed of gases such as nitrogen (78.08%), oxygen (20.95%), argon (0.93%), carbon dioxide (0.039%), and trace amounts of hydrogen, helium, and noble gases. The troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere are the layers that rise above the surface of the earth.
- The lowest layer is called the troposphere. It rises from ground level to a height of roughly 11 kms above sea level.
- The stratosphere is the next layer above. It stretches from the top of the troposphere to about 52 km above the ground. The ozone layer is present in stratosphere. Ozone molecules in this layer absorb ultraviolet light from the sun and convert the UV energy into heat.
- The mesosphere is located above the stratosphere. It rises to a height of approximately 85 kms above Earth. The mesosphere is where most meteors burn up.
- The thermosphere is the layer of extremely rare air above the mesosphere. The thermosphere absorbs UV and high energy X-rays from the Sun, which can cause it to heat up to thousands or even hundreds of degrees. The top thermosphere can have temperatures as high as 2,000°C.
Biosphere
It includes every area of Earth where life is present. It includes both living things and non-living objects in the environment. There could be ecosystems in the soil, air, water, or on land that sustain life. Geologist Edward Suess first used the word “biosphere” to refer to any area of Earth where life is present. It stretches from the polar ice caps to the equator, with a living form appropriate for the local environment existing in each zone. An ecosystem is a part of the biosphere that influences the state of the planet as a whole.
Our Environment – Components, Importance & Types
Our environment is the total of circumstances in which an organism must endure to survive or continue its life cycle. The environment is everything that is around us, which includes both living and nonliving things like soil, water, animals, and plants, which adapt themselves to their surroundings. It affects the growth and development of living things. It covers both biotic and abiotic components of the environment. The major components of the environment are the atmosphere (air), lithosphere (rocks and soil), hydrosphere (water), and biosphere (living component of the environment).
In this article, we will study what is our environment, what are the components of the environment and what is the importance of the environment in detail.
Table of Content
- What is the Environment?
- Components of Environment
- Biotic and Abiotic Components of Environment
- Biotic Component of Environment
- Abiotic Component of Environment
- Types of Ecosystems
- Importance of Our Environment
- Our Environment Day