The Earth system spheres are entities that have their own unique, physical, chemical, biological characteristics, each of them having specific composition and role in the functioning of the Earth.
There are multiple spheres on the Earth:
- Lithosphere: it is the hard rocky part of the surface of the Earth as well as the parts inside the Earth that are close to the surface.
- Biosphere: it is made out of all the living organisms on the planet.
- Atmosphere: it is the gassy cover around the planet.
- Hydrosphere: it is made out of all the liquid water on the planet.
- Cryosphere: it is made out of all the frozen water on the planet.
An example of interaction between the spheres can be the carbon cycle. It is part of the atmosphere. The plants, part of the biosphere, use it for the process of photosynthesis, thus extract it from the atmosphere. The carbon is used in the plants, and after that part of it is released, some in the atmosphere, some in the lithosphere. Thus we have an interaction between three spheres.