Chapter 21, Problem 1GST

To determine

The five major parts of the climate systems and an example of each, with reference to the image given in the textbook.

Answer to Problem 1GST

The five climate systems are atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, geosphere, and biosphere. The examples of each climate system, with reference to the image given in the textbook are as follows:

Hydrosphere: Glacier lake,

Atmosphere: The sky and clouds,

Geosphere: The land and the mountains,

Biosphere: The vegetation,

Cryosphere: Glacial ice and snow.

Explanation of Solution

The Earth system is a complex combination of various spheres of the Earth. Even minor changes in any of the systems influence the other systems in one way or the other. The climate does not merely deal with the atmosphere.

Climate is defined as the long-term aggregate of average atmospheric conditions. It is the combination of relatively longer weather conditions. The climatic system includes the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere.

The cryosphere is a part of the Earth’s surface, where the water is in solid form. This includes the sea ice, glaciers, snow, fresh ice, and the frozen ground, which is called as permafrost.

The exchange of energy between these spheres results in the climatic system.