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Earth scientists study how each of the spheres interacts and works with other spheres. The water that is part of the hydrosphere can weather rocks that are part of the lithosphere. What other examples can you think of that would show how the spheres interact? Write your ideas in your journal.

When you think about the topics you study in Earth Science, you list things like rocks, water, and soil. Earth Science also includes the study of clouds and air. Earth scientists study fossils, as well as other planets.

Scientists like to classify and organize information. One of the newest ways Earth scientists think about the study of the Earth is to organize it into “spheres.”

The biosphere is the living portions of the Earth. The plants, animals, and humans make up this sphere.

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The four spheres are the lithosphere, the hydrosphere, the atmosphere, and the biosphere. Each sphere has unique characteristics and each sphere interacts with the others.

The lithosphere is the solid part of the Earth. Rocks, minerals, and soils are the primary components of this sphere. The crust of the Earth is made up of

combinations of different rock and minerals.

The hydrosphere is the liquid part of the Earth. Water on the Earth can be grouped as fresh water, frozen water, and salt water. Most of the water on the Earth is salt water.

The atmosphere is made up of elements like oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, as well as water vapor. The atmosphere surrounds the Earth and provides important gases that the Earth needs.