Components of the Biosphere

The biosphere is part of the planet earth where life exists & where all ecosystems are distributed.

Major components of the Biosphere,

  • Lithosphere.
  • Atmosphere.
  • Hydrosphere.
The biosphere extends up to a height of 10km of the atmosphere and a depth of 100m below the surface of the ocean and a few meters below the soil.

Atmosphere

The air around the earth extends up to 22.5km above the surface of the earth.

It contains gaseous elements, non-gaseous particles, and water vapor.

The atmosphere can be differentiated into four layers. (varies temperature)

These layers are,

  1. Troposphere.
  2. Stratosphere.
  3. Mesosphere.
  4. Thermosphere.
Troposphere.

The lowest layer.
It extends about 10km from the surface of the earth.

Stratosphere.

It extends 50km.
It contains a thin layer called ozone, which forms a protective layer for harmful UV radiation.

Mesosphere.

It extends up to 85km.

Thermosphere.

Very rare air above the mesosphere.
It is found anywhere between 500 and 1000km above the surface.

Of these 4 layers, the troposphere is the important layer for life.

Hydrosphere

The water around the earth. It covers 71% of the earth's surface.

Importance of water. They are,
  • Chemical constituent of the protoplasm of all living cells where water acts as an internal medium.
  • That provides an external medium for the organisms that live in water.
Important properties of water,
  • Excellent solvent
  • Excellent conductors
  • Thermal properties
  • Density & freezing properties
  • Cohesive property

Lithosphere

The solid earth is subdivided into three zones.
  1. Crust
  2. Mantle
  3. Core
There are 3 major components in the lithosphere,
  • Rocks
  • Sediment
  • Soil