Question

Use your knowledge of the coast/the beach to illustrate how the lithosphere, biosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere are all interconnected specifically in that region.

Answer 1

The interconnection between the four spheres of the Earth

As we are aware that the area that lies just close to the Earth’s surface consists of four major layers-

• Lithosphere
• Hydrosphere
• Biosphere
• Atmosphere

The four layers are made up of different elements but are widely interconnected to each other. Together these four layers are what form the entire Earth system. Life also exists in each part of these layers. So, everything that is organic or in-organic is a part of these layers.

Lithosphere

This is the solid part of the Earth’s surface. It is made up of rocks, minerals, ores and includes crust and mantle part of the earth. We find that life form does exist in these two parts of the Earth’s surface. Everything from coastal sand till sea reef is a part of the lithosphere. From the surface of the earth, the real thickness of this layer could bet in between 40 to over 280 km in depth.

Hydrosphere

This is the water part of the earth. Near the coastal plains, this layer includes sea, oceans. Apart from this, it includes all water bodies that exist on the earth's surface. These also include the aquifers as well. Life also exists in the hydrosphere as it supports marine life. All types of sea creatures, fishes, weed and others exist in the hydrosphere. Within the polar regions as well the hydrosphere exists – but in frozen form.

Biosphere

This is the part of the earth's surface that is made up of al major life forms. All living organisms which include life in any form make up the biosphere. This includes plants, animals and birds. Everything from multi-cellular to single cellular organisms is a part of the biosphere.

The biosphere is the part of the earth that actually extends to 200 meters below the surface of the earth. Each life form that is a part of the biosphere depends on the earth's other three layers for its existence.

So in general, the biosphere is dependent on the other three layers of the Earth for the existence of life. So nearby the coastal area, we find birds and animals that depend on air, water and soil.

Atmosphere

This is the gaseous part of the Earth. So it is what surrounds the planet from all sides. Everything that is near to the earth is held together by the earth's gravity field. The biosphere depends on the atmosphere for its existence. Near the coastal plains, sea birds depend on the atmosphere as well as hydrosphere for their existence.

Plants and trees near to the coastal plains depend on all three layers of the earth’s surface.

Now all the four layers of the earth are often present within the same coastal region or plain. They are all connected to each other. So a part of the soil that is present nearby to the coastal plain supports coconut trees as well as is a habitat for many sea creatures. This soil contains all types of minerals that are also present within the lithosphere.

Apart from this, when the sand is wet it is also containing water – which is a part of the hydrosphere. The soil moisture is a good example of the hydrosphere. Apart from this, the birds, animals, and insects that are a part of the lithosphere and biosphere also depend on the atmosphere and hydrosphere. Within the soil in the coastal plains, we also find that air packets are present inside the soil. So the atmosphere is also a part of the lithosphere. Everything together nearby to the coastal plain is what makes up life that exists near this region. They are all interconnected to each other.