Components of Environment: Definition, Types, Composition and Importance
Components of environment:
The surroundings in which we live are called the environment. Every organism live in specific environment. There are four components of environment.
- Lithosphere
- Hydrosphere
- Atmosphere
- Biosphere
Lithosphere:
Lithosphere is the layer of rocky Earth's crust. It is rigid layer and extends to the depth of 100km.
Composition:
It consist of heavy metals and non-metals and almost 99.5% is made up of 11 elements by the contribution of following percentage:
Oxygen(O) 46.60%, aluminium(Al) 8.13%, silicon(Si) 27.72%, iron(Fe) 5%, calcium(Ca) 3.63%, sodium(Na) 2.83%, potassium(K) 2.59%, magnesium(Mg) 2.09% and titanium(Ti), hydrogen(H) and phosphorus(P) are less than 1%. C, Ni, Cl, Ba, Cr, F, S, Sr, Mn and V are present in trace amount approximately 0.1 to 0.02%.
Lithosphere also composed of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentry rocks.
Igneous rock:
When magma or lava are cool down it form a solid rock which is called igneous rock. There are further two types of igneous rock.
Extrusive igneous rock also known as volcanic. When lava cool quickly and volcano erupts onto the surface form volcanic.
Intrusive igneous rock also known as plutonic. When lava cool slowly and volcano erupts down to the surface formed plutonic.
Metamorphic rocks:
Generally metamorphic means "change to form". Under high temperature and pressure minerals change their shape and structure(physically and chemically) and a new rock formed called metamorphic rock. These are also formed when tectonic plates are meet.
Sedimentry rocks:
When organic particles accumulate and become hardened, formed sedimentry rocks. These are formed from pre-existing rocks.
Importance:
Lithosphere is an important component of environment because it provide support through providing mineral, soil and other natural resources. It is also a source of fossil fuel. It also regulate bio geo chemical cycles.
Hydrosphere:
All water bodies in the form of solid(ice caps and glaciers), liquid(oceans and rivers) and gas(vapors). It covers approximately 71% of Earth's surface.
Component of hydrosphere:
All water bodies such as oceans, rivers, lakes, ice caps, glaciers and seas are important component of hydrosphere.
Water cycle:
Water is generally found in liquid state. Its freezing point(minimum temperature where liquid changes into solid) is 0C and boiling point(maximum temperature where liquid changes to gas) 100C. Water cycle is proceed in four steps.
- Firstly, water is evaporate from oceans, rivers and lakes in atmosphere(evaporation).
- Secondly, it cooldown and form cloud(condensation).
- Thirdly, it water falls in the form of rain(precipitation).
- Last, water flow towards oceans and lakes(run off).
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Importance:
The water cycle has a great importance for life. It plays an important role in regulating temperature and support aquatic and terrestrial life.
Atmosphere:
The layer of different gases around Earth is called atmosphere.
Composition:
It consist of various gases by the contribution of the following percentage:
Nitrogen(N₂) 78%, oxygen(O₂) 21%, argon(Ar) 0.9%, carbon dioxide(CO₂) 0.03% and hydrogen(H₂), ozone(O₃), methane(CH₄), carbon mono oxide(CO), helium(He), neon(Ne), krypton(Kr) and xenon(Xe) are present in trace amount. It also contains water vapors.
Layers of atmosphere:
There are five layers of atmosphere, which are troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere.
Troposphere:
It is the lowest layer which is above 0-12km from surface. This layer has suitable climate; essential for life. Change in temperature occur here, with change in altitude(distance of an object from Earth's surface). It is the layer where life can easily exist.
Stratosphere:
It is second layer, it is above about 50km from surface and 38km from troposphere. Stratosphere has its distinct layer. The most important layer is ozone layer which prevent from UV rays. The temperature is low and air is heavy in lower layer. As we go above temperature increase and air is light.
Mesosphere:
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Thermosphere:
It is fourth layer and above 600km from surface and 515km from mesosphere. It is hottest layer. The temperature can reach up to 2500°C. There is no cloud and water vapors. Gaseous density is very low. It absorb solar radiations directly comes from sun. An object will freeze there because no gaseous molecule are present for heat transfer.
Exosphere:
It is outermost layer and 10,000km from Earth's surface. This layer merge with space.
Importance of atmosphere:
The atmosphere is very important for life, because it contain CO₂ and O₂ which are called life gas. Organisms use these gases in respiration, breathing and photosynthesis. Atmosphere absorb solar radiation and protect us from harmful electromagnetic waves.
Biosphere:
The part of earth where populations of different species live and interact is called "Biosphere" or "zone of life".
Component of biosphere:
There are two main component of biosphere which are biotic and abiotic.
Biotic factors:
Living organisms of ecosystem are called biotic factor. These are producers, consumers and decomposers.
Abiotic factor:
The non living factor of ecosystem is known as a-biotic factor. The major factors are air,
water, temperature and soil. Organisms are really depend on these factor.
Importance:
Biosphere is very important in providing support to biodiversity. It provides food, shelter and habitat for organisms.
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