Describe the key features of environmental spheres
Answers
Answer:
HydrosphereThe hydrosphere of the Earth is an umbrella term for every waterbody like oceans, lakes, rivers, moisture, and underground aquifers. It can be any state of water– solid, liquid, and gaseous. Experts suggest that the entire hydrosphere ranges around 1.3 billion cubic kilometers.Oceans comprise above 97% of the water on Earth, and the remaining portion is freshwater. Again from this freshwater portion, two-thirds remain frozen in the mountains and poles. You must note that although water covers a considerable part of the planet, it holds only 0.023% of Earth’s mass.Our Earth’s environment is not static, and hence water modifies its form according to the different stages of the hydrological cycle. First, water is collected through rains; then it goes underground, again rises up in the way of springs, and flows into rivers, lakes, seas, etc. Also, from these streams, water gets evaporated, and the cycle continues.AtmosphereEarth’s atmosphere comprises all the gasses on Earth that are held by its gravitational pull. Air contains 97% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and the left portion includes carbon dioxide, argon, and other gasses.The atmosphere can be further classified into four different zones, namely – troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere.Troposphere: The troposphere consists of three-quarters of atmospheric mass, having a distance of around 8 to 14.5 kilometers.Stratosphere: Above the troposphere, lies the stratosphere, which is at a distance of 50 kilometers above the surface of Earth.Mesosphere: The mesosphere rises to 85 kilometers above the planet.Thermosphere: This one is at a distance of 600 kilometers from the surface of Earth.