Geographic envelope of the planet Earth

A natural, integral and complex formation, consisting of interconnected and mutually penetrating outer terrestrial shells, geographical science is given the name "geographical envelope". Its components are spherical layers of non-retentive power, consisting of the lower layers of the atmosphere, the upper layers of the lithosphere, the hydrosphere and the biosphere in all their diversity. Simply put, the geographical envelope is the house of humanity, the shell of the Earth, in which we all exist.

Unity and interaction of the components of the shell

The components of the earth's shell exist together, constantly interacting with each other. Penetrating into the rocks of the lithosphere, water and air participate in the processes of weathering the earth's crust and change at the same time. Particles of rocks rise into the atmosphere in strong winds and during volcanic eruptions. The composition of tissues of living beings includes mineral substances and water, many salts are dissolved in the hydrosphere. In the process of death of living organisms, the geographic envelope is replenished with rock strata.

Power and boundary of the shell

The shell around the Earth does not have clearly defined boundaries. When compared with the size of the planet, the geographical envelope is represented by a thin film 55 km thick (average shell size).

Properties of the Earth's Shell

As a result of interaction of components that make up its composition, the geographical envelope has a number of properties inherent only to it. Substances in it are represented in three different states: solid, liquid and gaseous. This is of great importance for all processes occurring on Earth, and primarily for the emergence of life. Only the geographical envelope Created all conditions for the existence and development of human society. It has air and water, solar heat and light, rocks with minerals, soils, plant, animal and bacterial worlds.

Transformations of substances and energy in a geographical envelope

In a single whole, the components of the geographical envelope are connected by the circulation of substances and energy, thanks to which there is continuous interaction between them. In all its spheres there are such exchange processes: in the atmosphere - air masses, in the hydrosphere - water, in the biosphere - biological and mineral material. Even in the earth's crust, changes constantly occur: igneous igneous rocks are weathered and form sedimentary rocks, which in turn are transformed into metamorphic rocks. Under the influence of the internal energy of the Earth, the latter are remelted into magma, which, erupting and crystallizing, gives birth to new layers of igneous rocks. The main among the gyres is the movement of air in the troposphere, which occurs in the horizontal and vertical directions. The movement of air masses draws the hydrosphere into the world exchange process. The biological cycle consists in the formation, from mineral substances, water and air, of the organic substances of living organisms that pass after withering away and decomposition into mineral substances. The cycles do not form closed circles, each subsequent does not look like the previous one, and, thanks to these cyclically recurring and constantly changing processes of metabolism and energy, the geographic envelope of the Earth constantly develops in all its constituent spheres.