In my opinion, the biosphere is not the most important physical system. Instead, I consider the atmosphere the most important system. The atmosphere is crucial for the success of the other physical systems. If Earth had no atmosphere then the gases which we breathe would simply escape into space. Without gases, animals and plants could not survive, eliminating the biosphere. Beside gases escaping, large amounts of cosmic radiation would strike the planet and the temperature would rise. The increased temperature would slowly boil Earth’s oceans away, destroying the hydrosphere. If not for the atmosphere many of Earth’s physical systems would disappear and life on Earth would be impossible.
I agree with you comment. The biosphere is the most important earth system. Why? you ask, simply because without it what would we breathe? We depend on the plants on the earth to create oxygen for us. What's the point of having all the other "spheres" if the biosphere is the only one that supports us. Without it would global warming not be accentuated? If we cut down the rainforest, would the earth's temperature not become warmer?
I disagree with the statement that the biosphere is the most important physical system. On the contrary, I think that the atmosphere is the most important physical system because it contains the gases that surround the earth. These gasses are extremely important as without them we would not be able to breathe and therefore humans would not be able to live on planet earth. I think that the other physical systems-lithosphere, hydrosphere, and the biosphere are all extremely important, just not as important as the atmosphere because that is what determines if we can live on this planet or not.
Responding to brandon vincent. You have logic in your posts, but your ignoring the fact that YOU make up the biosphere. If you got rid of the biosphere YOU would be in effect committing suicide. What would be the point of the earth's oceans if there were no life on the planet? The earth would just become a barren wasteland without the biosphere. Quote, "without the atmosphere life on earth would be impossible." Well, without the biosphere there would be no life on earth at all.
Responding to Frank. It is true that the biosphere is important, but when you say that we would not be able to breathe without it, that also applies true for the atmosphere. So maybe we are saying that they're both equally important and that they need each other to function properly? Also, from your response to Brandon, i don't feel like it is accurate to say that we make up the biosphere, i quote from the book "The part of the earth in which all of the planet's plant and animal life exists is called the biosphere." I don't think we are plant and animals. Regardless, I do respect your opinion and you did a nice job of supporting it.
In response to the comment posted by Frank, I would have to surly have to disagree with his statement. If the biosphere were suddenly removed, the other physical systems such as the atmosphere, and the hydrosphere would still exist. If the atmosphere were removed none of those systems would exist. The atmosphere is directly responsible for the control of the other physical systems.
I disagree with the statement the Earth's biosphere is the most important physical system. I think that the lithosphere is the most important because without the lithosphere there would be no continents or water and we would all fall into the magma core of the Earth. Because we would all be burning in the core of the Earth, the rest of the physical systems become somewhat irrevelent.
In response to Frank. I understand that the biosphere helps support life, but if the lithosphere was non-existent, the biosphere would just crumble and fall into the Earths core. So the biosphere and hydrosphere depend on the lithosphere to keep them away from the core of the Earth.So, pretty the only system left to survive would be the atmosphere and if were all in the core of the Earth, being able to breath won't be helping us much.
In reverberation to Rick’s statement the Lithosphere’s only purpose is to support land formations and aquatic bodies. And to correct Rick, the lithosphere only includes the crust and the upper mantle not all of Earth’s layers, excluding the inner and outer core. The atmosphere though on the other hand protects from cosmic radiation, maintains Earth’s temperature, and deflects meteorites. The atmosphere is what makes Earth's lithosphere a reality. A relevant example is the planet Mars. Look at a photo of Mars and observe what a thin atmosphere does to the terrestrial surface. A good example of how the atmosphere is connected to the lithosphere is the process of terraforming. Because the atmosphere is thickened the lithosphere is modified. Again, the atmosphere is responsible for the Earth's physical systems.
I do agree with the statement "The biosphere is Earth's most important physical system." First, the physical systems are so intricately linked that if one was disrupted, life as we know it would cease to exist. Therefore, one cannot simply state that physical system "x" is better or worse than physical system "y." However, I do believe that a few are more important than others. The hydrosphere and the lithosphere seem less important to me than the atmosphere or biosphere. This is because the atmosphere makes life even feasible, and the biosphere IS life. However, I understand that the hydrosphere and lithosphere are also necessary for life. As I said before, one physical system cannot exist on its own. That being said, if SOMEHOW, hypothetically, only one could exist, and it SOMEHOW did exist independent of the others, the biosphere would be the most important because it is life, and the purpose of the other three is to sustain life. However, that is not the case, so one cannot simply state that the biosphere is life so it is therefore most important. Now, the most independent physical system is the lithosphere. The lithosphere could, arguably, exist independently of the others, albeit with minor changes. However, what is the purpose of a chunk of rock? Similarly, what is the purpose of a body of water? Or floating gases? All these things are useless alone, but they all support life. I understand that all four systems are necessary for life to exist. However, that statement in itself proves that the biosphere is the most important. Many people say "without the atmosphere, life could not exist." To me, that sounds like the purpose of the atmosphere is to support the biosphere. Is not the same true for the other two? My point is, they are all important, but the atmosphere's, lithosphere's, and hydrosphere's main purpose s to support life, which is the biosphere.
In response to Brandon's first statement... I quote from your last sentence, "If not for the atmosphere many of Earth’s physical systems would disappear and life on Earth would be impossible." I agree completely with you. The atmosphere is required for life to exist. But that is my exact point. It is required for life to exist, and its purpose is to support life. Without life, the atmosphere has no purpose except to support the other physical systems. If it helps at all, I do think atmosphere is second most important because it also sustains the others. I am not saying that the atmosphere, lithosphere or even the hydrosphere (the forgotten one) are unimportant. All of them are vital for earth to function properly. I am simply saying that, without life to support, all three would be useless!
Responding to Priya's first comment... Again, I shall quote you... "These gasses are extremely important as without them we would not be able to breathe and therefore humans would not be able to live on planet earth." This is completely true. Let me paraphrase and see if you disagree with me; The atmospheric gases support life. A bit simplified, but essentially the same. So, if there was no life, what purpose does the atmosphere serve? Let me compare this to the Olympics, since they are a big topic currently. The athletes who compete train for years to get as good as they are. That training supports their Olympic experience. However, if they did not compete in some way, even if it is not the Olympics, what purpose would that training serve? It would all be for naught! Again, that training is vital to their experience, and without it, they would not be in the Olympics. But no one brags about how many years they spent in training when they are wearing a gold medal. That medal is the end result; the purpose.
Responding to Rick, I don't agree that the lithosphere is the most important earth system. If we only had the lithosphere what would make us different from any other planet. Earth so far is the only planet that supports life, with no biosphere it wouldn't be able to support life. The lithosphere is just rock, it provides the ground we walk on, but seriously who needs rocks anyways. Tommy I completely agree with you. You are smart.
Responding to Tommy. It totally agree with your 1st comment and I have to say that your analogy about the Olympics is very ingenious. None the less, its seems as if you have changed your opinion. In your first generic response you stated that you agreed with the statement that the biosphere is the most important. If this is the case, then i do not agree with you. However, in the second paragraph you began to say that they are equally important. This I do agree with one hundred percent. Each physical system of the earth seems like each animal in the food chain. If one animal drops out, that causes many others to die off. If one physical system shuts down, there is no possible way for any form of life to live. Any other system can try to make up for the lost system as much as it wants, but that will never ever work because each system is as important to the earth as any other system. None can function without the other and the reason we have all of them is because we need them. If one physical system wasn't needed, then why would mother nature have created it? Do you agree with this?
In response to Frank’s most recent comment, the physical system defined as the lithosphere is not just rock. If a lithosphere were not present the top layer of Earth would be the mantle. I find it very hard to believe that humans could thrive on a layer whose temperature on average ranges around 5400 ºF (3000ºC).
I think that the biosphere is the most important. Without it we would not be alive and able to discuss this. The biosphere gives us life and plants and animals. However all of the systems are so closely interrelated you can not discus one without discussing the others. The atmosphere gives us air to breathe. The lithosphere gives us an actual land to walk and live on. The hydrosphere provides us with water and without water we would not be able to survive. All of these physical systems are to important to even say that one is better than the other, but the biosphere is slightly more important because it gives us the life we need to survive.
I agree with Frank. We all make up the biosphere so if you say that it is not the most important then you are taking away our life. We need plants to create oxygen and animals to sustain us. True, Brandon you make valid points but without the biosphere we would cease to exist.
Yes, it is logical to assume that without a biosphere we would not exist. The same is true with an atmosphere. Without an atmosphere we would also not be able survive. I am going to have to agree with Tommy, each system relies on each other for survival. It that was not true, the systems would not be there for a reason.
In my opinion, I think the biosphere is the most important because it supports all animal and plant lifeforms including humans. So if it wasn't for the biosphere, we wouldn't be alive and on this blog. Even though the other systems are important to the life on Earth, like the atmoshere gives us oxygen to breathe, we wouldn't be here to breathe that oxygen if it wasn't for the bioshere.
I don't agree. I believe that the Atmosphere is the most important physical system. The Atmosphere allows for the Earth to survive because if it's temperature regulation. See, without it one side of the earth would be extremely hot when facing the Sun, and the opposite side would be freezing cold. In addition, the atmosphere protects us from dangerous objects such as Meteors by destroying them. Also, the Atmosphere allows for the existence of the other physical systems. For example, when water from the ocean evaporates, the Atmosphere allows the water vapor to stay in Earth in the form of clouds. Thus, keeping valuable and essential resources here in Earth.
I disagree with the statement that the biosphere is Earth's most important physical system. In my opinion, the atmosphere is the most important physical system. The atmosphere contains elements crucial to the respiration of all living organisms on the earth. In addition, it provides protection from harmful radiation and possible collisions with meteors. While the other physical systems have near equal importance, the atmosphere holds the greatest significance. Without the atmosphere, the others would likely not exist, and there would not be a possibility of life. It keeps the water on the earth, the hydrosphere, at a temperature where it is a liquid and holds the vapor inside the atmosphere. The hydrosphere can then sustain life, the biosphere.
@Rachel: Although I disagree with your view that the biosphere is the most important, I completely agree with your statement that all physical systems are necessary to support life, and that one cannot function without the others. In response to your view that the biosphere is the most important system: the biosphere would not exist if it were not for the atmosphere, which provides gases that we need to breathe.
Responding to Priya. First, Humans are a type of animal (Homo Sapien), so know that you know this. Aren't we part of the Biosphere? However, supporting my viewpoint, the Atmosphere allows for the Biosphere to exist, making the Atmosphere more inmportant.
Responding to everyone on this blog. You all have picked one of the four systems that you all think is most important. Even though I also picked one, I feel like we are all skipping over one thing-without any of them, even the most important one will be of no use to us. SO what im trying to say is that, picking one that is most important is sort of useless as it can't be most important because it has to have al the other ones to survive. Technically speaking, if only the biosphere were in action all animals and plants would die, therefore making it a useless system by itself. If only the atmosphere were in action, sure we would have gasses and air, but what could is the atmosphere if there is no animals, plants or humans to live off of it. Now to the lithosphere. The lithosphere forms the ocean floor and the continenets. By itself, the world would be nothing but a plain place with 7 continents and and bare ocean floors. The lithosphere is useless by itself. Theres no point of land if theres no vegetation or people or animals on it. Now to the hydrosphere. The hydropshere is water. All water on the earth is part of the hydrosphere. Sure water could exist by itself, but it wouldn't benefit anything if there was no biosphere and if there was no biosphere then the atmosphere would have no point. So through my long rant, my point is that i technically disagree with everyone (including my first opinion on this blog) who has identified one physical system as more important than any other. If one of them stops, then they're all gone. They're all worthless without the others.
@Andy: Just for clarification - the biosphere doesn't support animal and plant life forms; it is plant and animal life forms. I do see your point that without the biosphere, there would be no life for the atmosphere to provide gases for. However, the atmosphere is what made life possible in the first place. Without the atmosphere, the biosphere (and hydrosphere) wouldn't exist.
Responding to John. It is true that the atmosphere allows the biosphere to exist, but i do not feel like that makes it the most important. The reason for this is because what if there was no biosphere? Then the atmosphere would have no point. Im not saying that the biosphere is anymore important than the atmosphere, but i also dont think that the atmosphere is more important than the biosphere, for the reason stated above. Although that is what is said in my first comment, my opinion has changed as i've read more and more into detail and behind the lines.
I disagree with the biosphere being the most important earth system. It is my opinion that the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere are equally important. We are protected from the radiation of the sun and given air to breathe by the atmosphere. In addition, the atmosphere provides atmospheric pressure and it modulates our temperatures. Air is a necessity, so where would we be without this layer of gases? Nowhere. We are able to inhabit this planet due to the fact that we have access to stable surfaces (more or less) of land where we are free to settle. Where would we live if the lithosphere (all of the earth’s crust) did not form the ocean floor and the terrain that we currently inhabit? Nowhere. The hydrosphere includes any body of water (oceans, rivers, etc.) on this earth. It is evident that we, in addition to other organisms, could not exist without water; our bodies need it to function. Without the hydrosphere, where would we be? Nowhere. Lastly, the biosphere is where all organisms and diverse biomes are able to exist. This may seem redundant, but where would we be without it? Again, nowhere. In conclusion, no one system of the earth is more important; each one is vital to our survival.
@ Everyone: Everyone makes valid points. The biosphere needs the atmosphere to exist, but without the biosphere what is there for the atmosphere to protect and give gases to. I agree with Andy. The biosphere gives everything a reason to exist. All of the systems are to closely related to really say which is the most important, but the biosphere is the most important. It is life and gives everything else a reason to exist.
Responding to Priya. All i can say is that you have made a valid point and a very convincing argument. in concurrence, our physical systems are like a house of cards. If you pull one part of the whole out, it (being the house of cards) will collapse. Plus, our physical systems are what make the earth unique by allowing it to support life, So in a trait like that, how can you rank the importance of its components?
In response to John, I agree that humans are a part of the biosphere. I think that the biosphere is the most important physical system because of what you said "humans are a part of the biosphere". What is the point of the other systems if there was no life to support.
In response to Ajay, the atmosphere is very crucial to the life on earth, but why would there be a need for the atmosphere if there was nothing on earth? I think the biosphere is the most important because it is the system that supports human life on earth. The other physical systems, to me, seem like they were made so the biosphere could exist and we could live on earth.
In response to Priya (responding to me...) I was not changing my opinion in the second paragraph. I think that all of the systems are important, and that it is difficult to say whether one is more important than the other. However, I believe the biosphere is the most important. Let us suppose that only one system could exist, but that system could somehow exist independently of the others. Which would be the one that you would want to exist? Personally, I would prefer the biosphere to exist, because that is me. If just the atmosphere existed, that is just fine for those gases, but they are meaningless. I do agree with the fact that the atmosphere supports other earth systems aside from the biosphere. However, what is the point of any of those systems? The answer is to support life, a.k.a. the biosphere.
Responding to Priya and John I completely agree with both of you when you say that they are all equally important. I especially like the analogy of the house of cards. Let me extend that analogy and say the biosphere is the top layer. All of the other layers are important, because they hold up the top. Nevertheless, the top is still on top. Long live the biosphere, because nothing else lives!
Anyways, they are all important, and I am glad we have them all. Without any of them, we would not be any different from other planets (and without the lithosphere, we would hardly be a planet at all).
In response to tommy's response to my response :]. I totally understand what you are saying. You and me seem to be responding to two slightly different questions. I think your response is more considering that one could live on its own, while i'm just responding with the actual fact that they can't. anyways, I think we're both pretty much saying the same thing, and that i especially agree with the statement that you want the biosphere, because we are all part of it!!! :]. Anyways, i totally agree with the analogy made by john are the way you extended it made it even better! So, heres to the biosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere, and the hydrosphere!!!
In my honest opinion i believe that the lithospere is by far the most important. Without this there would be no life on Earth. There would be no water or no land. The lithosphere makes up all land and the ocean floor. The biosphere and hydrosphere depend on the lithospere, because without the lithospere there would be no hydrosphere or biosphere. The lithosphere provides life to plants and animals and keeps humans alive. Without the lithospere there would be no plants which in turn means less oxygen, and humans and organisms NEED oxygen to live. Which obviously makes the lithospere the most important system!
Responding to John’s first statement. Although my opinion that there is not one physical system that is more important, I find your reasoning for choosing the atmosphere interesting. You said that this system is what makes it possible for the other systems to exist. You presented valid points about why you think that the atmosphere is the most significant (protection and temperature modulation), which forced me to question my original statement. However, after re-evaluating my reasoning, I still believe that there is not one that is more important (they each have diverse jobs that contribute to our existence). As a result, I disagree with your opinion (sorry).
i think that these systems are all very important to earth! one is not superior to the other they all strive off each other so how could one be better! if they need each other one is not better cause with out them all none of them would have a purpose! so i think all of them are equally important! you need the atmosphere to breath the litosphere provides a place for the biosphere to be (such as plant grow on land) and the hydrosphere is our water which we definitely need. and the biosphere is plants which give us oxygen and we give them co2. so in my opinion they are all equal!
tommy: okay this is what you said "Let us suppose that only one system could exist, but that system could somehow exist independently of the others. Which would be the one that you would want to exist?"
but tommy the question is not which one would you want to exist it says which one is the most important and yes i would want the bioshpere to exist so i could exist but thats not what it says so i disagree with you i think none are more important than the other
Responding to Bailee’s first statement. I definitely agree with you that without one of them, the rest would not have a purpose due to the fact that they need each other. I respect everyone’s opinions, but I remain blind as to why one could possibly be more important than another. The atmosphere allows the other “spheres” to survive and without it we would not have the hydrosphere or biosphere. The lithosphere provides the biosphere and hydrosphere a place to settle and plants grow on the lithosphere and return oxygen back to the atmosphere. The biosphere is able to breathe because of the atmosphere and hydrosphere provides water, which is evaporated by the atmosphere. It is evident to me, and Bailee, that all of the physical systems need each other and as a result, there is not one that is better. I still stand by my reasoning included in my first statement and I do not understand why all of the other comments suggest that one is more important (the systems are all related). Why?
In response to Brandons 3rd comment. I do understand that the lithosphere is only the crust and upper mantle, and you made some very valid points about the atmospheres importance but, I still believe the lithosphere is the most important. Granted, all of the spheres are needed to support life, the lithosphere is what keeps the biosphere and hydrosphere safe from the heat of the lower mantle. The lower mantle is still not as hot as the core, but defiadently hot enough to make Earth uninhabitable. So, even if the atmosphere protects from radiatin and meteorites, the lithosphere protects the 2 spheres that provide us with water and food, two essential things needed for survival.
In my opinion they are all equally important. The systems need one another to exist; they are dependent on each other. The hydrosphere makes it possible for the biosphere (people) to exist, because we can not live without water. Secondly the lithosphere is necessary for the biosphere and the hydrosphere to survive. With out those two spheres there would be not place for them to be (exist). Another thing to think about is that the biosphere has different levels of impotents to different people/things. To us the biosphere is most important, because we are the biosphere. But to the other systems it is not necessary; the biosphere mainly survives from what the other spheres provide.
Mackenzie :) - I am going to disagree with your statement, because none of the spheres are superior to each other. I don't see how you could say that the lithosphere in most important, because the biosphere needs the hydrosphere more then they need the lithosphere; the lithosphere merely provides a place for the biosphere to live. I am not saying that it is not important, because it is gravely important, but each system needs one another equally. The lithosphere needs all of the other spheres as well because without them it would be pointless, it would not matter. I believe that each system/ sphere is gravely necessary and important in its own way. None is better or needed more then another.
I believe that, the biosphere is the not the most important physical system. Nor, do I believe that the atmosphere, lithosphere or hydrosphere are the most imporatant physical system. In my opinon, they all are. If we didn't have anyone of the four physical systems we would die. For example, the lithoshere- gives us the crust and upper mantel, the biosphere- creates life on this planet and without it we would not be here, the hydrosphere- gives us all the earth's water, the atmsophere- provides all the gases in the sky, that helps us to breathe and protects us from the UV rays of the sun. So that is why not one, but all of the spheres are important.
In response to Andy. How can you say that the biosphere is the most important, because all of the spheres have certain jobs. If you take away one of the four spheres we will die, as they are all equally important.
I only partially agree with the statement that the earths biosphere is the most important. The biospher is definatly very important because it includes all the living things around us, things that we depend on to servive. But without other systems the biosphere wouldnt be able to live and everything we need would die off including ourselves. Every system is technically just as important as another because without one, another one would fail and it would cause a chain reaction in which each system would be destroyed. The point is easily argued though that the biosphere is the most important because we are a part of it being living human beings. But when thought about, we really need every system.
In responding to Priyas original statement: I understand why you would think that the Atmosphere is the most important system. it is true that has the very important gases we breathe but if you took away the biosphere there would be nothing to breathe those gases. This includes any other system, take one away and the atmospheres gases would just sit there because there would be no life to brethe them.
Responding to andy: You make a good point about how we wouldnt be here if it wasn't for the biosphere. I completely agree but, the fact is that there IS a biosphere and we ARE here. And life could be quickly ended by loss of any system.
this is again in response to tommy- you said "I especially like the analogy of the house of cards. Let me extend that analogy and say the biosphere is the top layer. All of the other layers are important, because they hold up the top. Nevertheless, the top is still on top." If you think about it this way the top is not the most important all the layers are because with about one layer they would all fall down they need support from all the other layers, just like how the spheres need the other spheres to keep going.I think they are all equally important and agree with lauren when she says "I respect everyone’s opinions, but I remain blind as to why one could possibly be more important than another." they are all EQUAL!
I think the biosphere is the most important. If the biosphere was gone, what would be the point in having any of the systems? Clearly all the others are important because without any one of them the entire system would be corrupt, but the biosphere is the reason for all of them. From what we know, Earth is the only place that has all of the systems and we are the only life. It's not a coincidence, the systems were created for the biosphere to survive.
I also think that the biosphere is the most important because without it there would be no way for us to survive. It provides air, land, etc which, in my opinion, are some of the most important elements to our survival. Without land we would have no way to provide shelter for ourselves, no way to protect ourselves from different kidns of weather, etc. Without air there would be no way for us to breathe and if we cannot breathe, obviously we will not be able to survive. Although I believe that all physical systems are needed in one way or another, I think that the biosphere is needed, and used to most; therefore it is the most important.
Rachel - I disagree; I do not think that the biosphere is the most important, because the other systems would be just fine if we did not exist. They would go on functioning as if nothing had changed. Maybe to us the biosphere is most important, but not if you look at the big picture. They all depend on each other. We (the biosphere) depend on all of the other spheres, and so on and so forth.
In responce to Ricks comment, I agree with you. The lithospere, I think, is the most important. But part of your statement is wrong, the lithospere does not include magma and the earths core. The rest of your statement is true though, there would be no land for us to live on. So there would be no point in the biosphere.
I agree completely now that I think about it. You can't really choose one. They all play their own part. Without one the other couldn't survive. Like I said before though, there is no point for any of it without the biosphere. Honestly it's a really difficult argument because it completely depends on your perspective. I mean are we talking about the systems surviving on their own or us surviving without one? Certain systems couldn't live without the others. This could possibly make one more important than the other which was the reasoning behind my statement that "the biosphere is the most important". But in another perspective we could look at it as we couldn't live without either of them gone meaning that they are each just as important as the other. So, I partially agree with Bailee's statement.
I disagree with you. The lithosphere couldn't be the most important because we don't just depend off of that we also depend on air to breathe and water to drink or else life on earth would be impossible. Yes, the lithosphere is important, but far from the MOST important.
In response to Rick. I disagree with your statement that the the llithosphere is the most important. If the lithosphere was the most important then you are saying that the other physical system are not. But what is the point of a rock floating in space. All the physical systems work toghther. So if we didn't have one we would die.
62 comments:
I think the biosphere is the most important.
In my opinion, the biosphere is not the most important physical system. Instead, I consider the atmosphere the most important system. The atmosphere is crucial for the success of the other physical systems. If Earth had no atmosphere then the gases which we breathe would simply escape into space. Without gases, animals and plants could not survive, eliminating the biosphere. Beside gases escaping, large amounts of cosmic radiation would strike the planet and the temperature would rise. The increased temperature would slowly boil Earth’s oceans away, destroying the hydrosphere. If not for the atmosphere many of Earth’s physical systems would disappear and life on Earth would be impossible.
I agree with you comment. The biosphere is the most important earth system. Why? you ask, simply because without it what would we breathe? We depend on the plants on the earth to create oxygen for us. What's the point of having all the other "spheres" if the biosphere is the only one that supports us. Without it would global warming not be accentuated? If we cut down the rainforest, would the earth's temperature not become warmer?
I disagree with the statement that the biosphere is the most important physical system. On the contrary, I think that the atmosphere is the most important physical system because it contains the gases that surround the earth. These gasses are extremely important as without them we would not be able to breathe and therefore humans would not be able to live on planet earth. I think that the other physical systems-lithosphere, hydrosphere, and the biosphere are all extremely important, just not as important as the atmosphere because that is what determines if we can live on this planet or not.
Responding to brandon vincent. You have logic in your posts, but your ignoring the fact that YOU make up the biosphere. If you got rid of the biosphere YOU would be in effect committing suicide. What would be the point of the earth's oceans if there were no life on the planet? The earth would just become a barren wasteland without the biosphere. Quote, "without the atmosphere life on earth would be impossible." Well, without the biosphere there would be no life on earth at all.
Responding to Frank. It is true that the biosphere is important, but when you say that we would not be able to breathe without it, that also applies true for the atmosphere. So maybe we are saying that they're both equally important and that they need each other to function properly? Also, from your response to Brandon, i don't feel like it is accurate to say that we make up the biosphere, i quote from the book "The part of the earth in which all of the planet's plant and animal life exists is called the biosphere." I don't think we are plant and animals. Regardless, I do respect your opinion and you did a nice job of supporting it.
In response to the comment posted by Frank, I would have to surly have to disagree with his statement. If the biosphere were suddenly removed, the other physical systems such as the atmosphere, and the hydrosphere would still exist. If the atmosphere were removed none of those systems would exist. The atmosphere is directly responsible for the control of the other physical systems.
I disagree with the statement the Earth's biosphere is the most important physical system. I think that the lithosphere is the most important because without the lithosphere there would be no continents or water and we would all fall into the magma core of the Earth. Because we would all be burning in the core of the Earth, the rest of the physical systems become somewhat irrevelent.
In response to Frank. I understand that the biosphere helps support life, but if the lithosphere was non-existent, the biosphere would just crumble and fall into the Earths core. So the biosphere and hydrosphere depend on the lithosphere to keep them away from the core of the Earth.So, pretty the only system left to survive would be the atmosphere and if were all in the core of the Earth, being able to breath won't be helping us much.
In reverberation to Rick’s statement the Lithosphere’s only purpose is to support land formations and aquatic bodies. And to correct Rick, the lithosphere only includes the crust and the upper mantle not all of Earth’s layers, excluding the inner and outer core. The atmosphere though on the other hand protects from cosmic radiation, maintains Earth’s temperature, and deflects meteorites. The atmosphere is what makes Earth's lithosphere a reality. A relevant example is the planet Mars. Look at a photo of Mars and observe what a thin atmosphere does to the terrestrial surface. A good example of how the atmosphere is connected to the lithosphere is the process of terraforming. Because the atmosphere is thickened the lithosphere is modified. Again, the atmosphere is responsible for the Earth's physical systems.
I do agree with the statement "The biosphere is Earth's most important physical system." First, the physical systems are so intricately linked that if one was disrupted, life as we know it would cease to exist. Therefore, one cannot simply state that physical system "x" is better or worse than physical system "y." However, I do believe that a few are more important than others. The hydrosphere and the lithosphere seem less important to me than the atmosphere or biosphere. This is because the atmosphere makes life even feasible, and the biosphere IS life. However, I understand that the hydrosphere and lithosphere are also necessary for life.
As I said before, one physical system cannot exist on its own. That being said, if SOMEHOW, hypothetically, only one could exist, and it SOMEHOW did exist independent of the others, the biosphere would be the most important because it is life, and the purpose of the other three is to sustain life. However, that is not the case, so one cannot simply state that the biosphere is life so it is therefore most important.
Now, the most independent physical system is the lithosphere. The lithosphere could, arguably, exist independently of the others, albeit with minor changes. However, what is the purpose of a chunk of rock? Similarly, what is the purpose of a body of water? Or floating gases? All these things are useless alone, but they all support life.
I understand that all four systems are necessary for life to exist. However, that statement in itself proves that the biosphere is the most important. Many people say "without the atmosphere, life could not exist." To me, that sounds like the purpose of the atmosphere is to support the biosphere. Is not the same true for the other two? My point is, they are all important, but the atmosphere's, lithosphere's, and hydrosphere's main purpose s to support life, which is the biosphere.
In response to Brandon's first statement...
I quote from your last sentence, "If not for the atmosphere many of Earth’s physical systems would disappear and life on Earth would be impossible." I agree completely with you. The atmosphere is required for life to exist. But that is my exact point. It is required for life to exist, and its purpose is to support life. Without life, the atmosphere has no purpose except to support the other physical systems. If it helps at all, I do think atmosphere is second most important because it also sustains the others.
I am not saying that the atmosphere, lithosphere or even the hydrosphere (the forgotten one) are unimportant. All of them are vital for earth to function properly. I am simply saying that, without life to support, all three would be useless!
Responding to Priya's first comment...
Again, I shall quote you... "These gasses are extremely important as without them we would not be able to breathe and therefore humans would not be able to live on planet earth." This is completely true. Let me paraphrase and see if you disagree with me; The atmospheric gases support life. A bit simplified, but essentially the same. So, if there was no life, what purpose does the atmosphere serve?
Let me compare this to the Olympics, since they are a big topic currently. The athletes who compete train for years to get as good as they are. That training supports their Olympic experience. However, if they did not compete in some way, even if it is not the Olympics, what purpose would that training serve? It would all be for naught! Again, that training is vital to their experience, and without it, they would not be in the Olympics. But no one brags about how many years they spent in training when they are wearing a gold medal. That medal is the end result; the purpose.
Responding to Rick, I don't agree that the lithosphere is the most important earth system. If we only had the lithosphere what would make us different from any other planet. Earth so far is the only planet that supports life, with no biosphere it wouldn't be able to support life. The lithosphere is just rock, it provides the ground we walk on, but seriously who needs rocks anyways.
Tommy I completely agree with you. You are smart.
Responding to Tommy. It totally agree with your 1st comment and I have to say that your analogy about the Olympics is very ingenious. None the less, its seems as if you have changed your opinion. In your first generic response you stated that you agreed with the statement that the biosphere is the most important. If this is the case, then i do not agree with you. However, in the second paragraph you began to say that they are equally important. This I do agree with one hundred percent. Each physical system of the earth seems like each animal in the food chain. If one animal drops out, that causes many others to die off. If one physical system shuts down, there is no possible way for any form of life to live. Any other system can try to make up for the lost system as much as it wants, but that will never ever work because each system is as important to the earth as any other system. None can function without the other and the reason we have all of them is because we need them. If one physical system wasn't needed, then why would mother nature have created it? Do you agree with this?
In response to Frank’s most recent comment, the physical system defined as the lithosphere is not just rock. If a lithosphere were not present the top layer of Earth would be the mantle. I find it very hard to believe that humans could thrive on a layer whose temperature on average ranges around 5400 ºF (3000ºC).
I think that the biosphere is the most important. Without it we would not be alive and able to discuss this. The biosphere gives us life and plants and animals. However all of the systems are so closely interrelated you can not discus one without discussing the others. The atmosphere gives us air to breathe. The lithosphere gives us an actual land to walk and live on. The hydrosphere provides us with water and without water we would not be able to survive. All of these physical systems are to important to even say that one is better than the other, but the biosphere is slightly more important because it gives us the life we need to survive.
I agree with Frank. We all make up the biosphere so if you say that it is not the most important then you are taking away our life. We need plants to create oxygen and animals to sustain us. True, Brandon you make valid points but without the biosphere we would cease to exist.
Yes, it is logical to assume that without a biosphere we would not exist. The same is true with an atmosphere. Without an atmosphere we would also not be able survive. I am going to have to agree with Tommy, each system relies on each other for survival. It that was not true, the systems would not be there for a reason.
In my opinion, I think the biosphere is the most important because it supports all animal and plant lifeforms including humans. So if it wasn't for the biosphere, we wouldn't be alive and on this blog. Even though the other systems are important to the life on Earth, like the atmoshere gives us oxygen to breathe, we wouldn't be here to breathe that oxygen if it wasn't for the bioshere.
I don't agree. I believe that the Atmosphere is the most important physical system. The Atmosphere allows for the Earth to survive because if it's temperature regulation. See, without it one side of the earth would be extremely hot when facing the Sun, and the opposite side would be freezing cold. In addition, the atmosphere protects us from dangerous objects such as Meteors by destroying them. Also, the Atmosphere allows for the existence of the other physical systems. For example, when water from the ocean evaporates, the Atmosphere allows the water vapor to stay in Earth in the form of clouds. Thus, keeping valuable and essential resources here in Earth.
I disagree with the statement that the biosphere is Earth's most important physical system. In my opinion, the atmosphere is the most important physical system. The atmosphere contains elements crucial to the respiration of all living organisms on the earth. In addition, it provides protection from harmful radiation and possible collisions with meteors.
While the other physical systems have near equal importance, the atmosphere holds the greatest significance. Without the atmosphere, the others would likely not exist, and there would not be a possibility of life. It keeps the water on the earth, the hydrosphere, at a temperature where it is a liquid and holds the vapor inside the atmosphere. The hydrosphere can then sustain life, the biosphere.
@Rachel: Although I disagree with your view that the biosphere is the most important, I completely agree with your statement that all physical systems are necessary to support life, and that one cannot function without the others.
In response to your view that the biosphere is the most important system: the biosphere would not exist if it were not for the atmosphere, which provides gases that we need to breathe.
Responding to Priya. First, Humans are a type of animal (Homo Sapien), so know that you know this. Aren't we part of the Biosphere? However, supporting my viewpoint, the Atmosphere allows for the Biosphere to exist, making the Atmosphere more inmportant.
Responding to everyone on this blog. You all have picked one of the four systems that you all think is most important. Even though I also picked one, I feel like we are all skipping over one thing-without any of them, even the most important one will be of no use to us. SO what im trying to say is that, picking one that is most important is sort of useless as it can't be most important because it has to have al the other ones to survive. Technically speaking, if only the biosphere were in action all animals and plants would die, therefore making it a useless system by itself. If only the atmosphere were in action, sure we would have gasses and air, but what could is the atmosphere if there is no animals, plants or humans to live off of it. Now to the lithosphere. The lithosphere forms the ocean floor and the continenets. By itself, the world would be nothing but a plain place with 7 continents and and bare ocean floors. The lithosphere is useless by itself. Theres no point of land if theres no vegetation or people or animals on it. Now to the hydrosphere. The hydropshere is water. All water on the earth is part of the hydrosphere. Sure water could exist by itself, but it wouldn't benefit anything if there was no biosphere and if there was no biosphere then the atmosphere would have no point. So through my long rant, my point is that i technically disagree with everyone (including my first opinion on this blog) who has identified one physical system as more important than any other. If one of them stops, then they're all gone. They're all worthless without the others.
@Andy: Just for clarification - the biosphere doesn't support animal and plant life forms; it is plant and animal life forms.
I do see your point that without the biosphere, there would be no life for the atmosphere to provide gases for. However, the atmosphere is what made life possible in the first place. Without the atmosphere, the biosphere (and hydrosphere) wouldn't exist.
Responding to John. It is true that the atmosphere allows the biosphere to exist, but i do not feel like that makes it the most important. The reason for this is because what if there was no biosphere? Then the atmosphere would have no point. Im not saying that the biosphere is anymore important than the atmosphere, but i also dont think that the atmosphere is more important than the biosphere, for the reason stated above. Although that is what is said in my first comment, my opinion has changed as i've read more and more into detail and behind the lines.
I disagree with the biosphere being the most important earth system. It is my opinion that the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere are equally important. We are protected from the radiation of the sun and given air to breathe by the atmosphere. In addition, the atmosphere provides atmospheric pressure and it modulates our temperatures. Air is a necessity, so where would we be without this layer of gases? Nowhere. We are able to inhabit this planet due to the fact that we have access to stable surfaces (more or less) of land where we are free to settle. Where would we live if the lithosphere (all of the earth’s crust) did not form the ocean floor and the terrain that we currently inhabit? Nowhere. The hydrosphere includes any body of water (oceans, rivers, etc.) on this earth. It is evident that we, in addition to other organisms, could not exist without water; our bodies need it to function. Without the hydrosphere, where would we be? Nowhere. Lastly, the biosphere is where all organisms and diverse biomes are able to exist. This may seem redundant, but where would we be without it? Again, nowhere. In conclusion, no one system of the earth is more important; each one is vital to our survival.
@ Everyone: Everyone makes valid points. The biosphere needs the atmosphere to exist, but without the biosphere what is there for the atmosphere to protect and give gases to. I agree with Andy. The biosphere gives everything a reason to exist. All of the systems are to closely related to really say which is the most important, but the biosphere is the most important. It is life and gives everything else a reason to exist.
Responding to Priya. All i can say is that you have made a valid point and a very convincing argument. in concurrence, our physical systems are like a house of cards. If you pull one part of the whole out, it (being the house of cards) will collapse. Plus, our physical systems are what make the earth unique by allowing it to support life, So in a trait like that, how can you rank the importance of its components?
In response to John, I agree that humans are a part of the biosphere. I think that the biosphere is the most important physical system because of what you said "humans are a part of the biosphere". What is the point of the other systems if there was no life to support.
In response to Ajay, the atmosphere is very crucial to the life on earth, but why would there be a need for the atmosphere if there was nothing on earth? I think the biosphere is the most important because it is the system that supports human life on earth. The other physical systems, to me, seem like they were made so the biosphere could exist and we could live on earth.
In response to Priya (responding to me...)
I was not changing my opinion in the second paragraph. I think that all of the systems are important, and that it is difficult to say whether one is more important than the other. However, I believe the biosphere is the most important.
Let us suppose that only one system could exist, but that system could somehow exist independently of the others. Which would be the one that you would want to exist? Personally, I would prefer the biosphere to exist, because that is me. If just the atmosphere existed, that is just fine for those gases, but they are meaningless.
I do agree with the fact that the atmosphere supports other earth systems aside from the biosphere. However, what is the point of any of those systems? The answer is to support life, a.k.a. the biosphere.
Responding to Priya and John
I completely agree with both of you when you say that they are all equally important. I especially like the analogy of the house of cards. Let me extend that analogy and say the biosphere is the top layer. All of the other layers are important, because they hold up the top. Nevertheless, the top is still on top. Long live the biosphere, because nothing else lives!
Anyways, they are all important, and I am glad we have them all. Without any of them, we would not be any different from other planets (and without the lithosphere, we would hardly be a planet at all).
In response to tommy's response to my response :]. I totally understand what you are saying. You and me seem to be responding to two slightly different questions. I think your response is more considering that one could live on its own, while i'm just responding with the actual fact that they can't. anyways, I think we're both pretty much saying the same thing, and that i especially agree with the statement that you want the biosphere, because we are all part of it!!! :]. Anyways, i totally agree with the analogy made by john are the way you extended it made it even better! So, heres to the biosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere, and the hydrosphere!!!
In my honest opinion i believe that the lithospere is by far the most important. Without this there would be no life on Earth. There would be no water or no land. The lithosphere makes up all land and the ocean floor. The biosphere and hydrosphere depend on the lithospere, because without the lithospere there would be no hydrosphere or biosphere. The lithosphere provides life to plants and animals and keeps humans alive. Without the lithospere there would be no plants which in turn means less oxygen, and humans and organisms NEED oxygen to live. Which obviously makes the lithospere the most important system!
Responding to John’s first statement. Although my opinion that there is not one physical system that is more important, I find your reasoning for choosing the atmosphere interesting. You said that this system is what makes it possible for the other systems to exist. You presented valid points about why you think that the atmosphere is the most significant (protection and temperature modulation), which forced me to question my original statement. However, after re-evaluating my reasoning, I still believe that there is not one that is more important (they each have diverse jobs that contribute to our existence). As a result, I disagree with your opinion (sorry).
i think that these systems are all very important to earth! one is not superior to the other they all strive off each other so how could one be better! if they need each other one is not better cause with out them all none of them would have a purpose!
so i think all of them are equally important!
you need the atmosphere to breath the litosphere provides a place for the biosphere to be (such as plant grow on land) and the hydrosphere is our water which we definitely need. and the biosphere is plants which give us oxygen and we give them co2. so in my opinion they are all equal!
tommy:
okay this is what you said "Let us suppose that only one system could exist, but that system could somehow exist independently of the others. Which would be the one that you would want to exist?"
but tommy the question is not which one would you want to exist it says which one is the most important and yes i would want the bioshpere to exist so i could exist but thats not what it says so i disagree with you i think none are more important than the other
Responding to Bailee’s first statement. I definitely agree with you that without one of them, the rest would not have a purpose due to the fact that they need each other. I respect everyone’s opinions, but I remain blind as to why one could possibly be more important than another. The atmosphere allows the other “spheres” to survive and without it we would not have the hydrosphere or biosphere. The lithosphere provides the biosphere and hydrosphere a place to settle and plants grow on the lithosphere and return oxygen back to the atmosphere. The biosphere is able to breathe because of the atmosphere and hydrosphere provides water, which is evaporated by the atmosphere. It is evident to me, and Bailee, that all of the physical systems need each other and as a result, there is not one that is better. I still stand by my reasoning included in my first statement and I do not understand why all of the other comments suggest that one is more important (the systems are all related). Why?
In response to Brandons 3rd comment. I do understand that the lithosphere is only the crust and upper mantle, and you made some very valid points about the atmospheres importance but, I still believe the lithosphere is the most important. Granted, all of the spheres are needed to support life, the lithosphere is what keeps the biosphere and hydrosphere safe from the heat of the lower mantle. The lower mantle is still not as hot as the core, but defiadently hot enough to make Earth uninhabitable. So, even if the atmosphere protects from radiatin and meteorites, the lithosphere protects the 2 spheres that provide us with water and food, two essential things needed for survival.
In my opinion they are all equally important. The systems need one another to exist; they are dependent on each other. The hydrosphere makes it possible for the biosphere (people) to exist, because we can not live without water. Secondly the lithosphere is necessary for the biosphere and the hydrosphere to survive. With out those two spheres there would be not place for them to be (exist). Another thing to think about is that the biosphere has different levels of impotents to different people/things. To us the biosphere is most important, because we are the biosphere. But to the other systems it is not necessary; the biosphere mainly survives from what the other spheres provide.
Mackenzie :) -
I am going to disagree with your statement, because none of the spheres are superior to each other. I don't see how you could say that the lithosphere in most important, because the biosphere needs the hydrosphere more then they need the lithosphere; the lithosphere merely provides a place for the biosphere to live. I am not saying that it is not important, because it is gravely important, but each system needs one another equally. The lithosphere needs all of the other spheres as well because without them it would be pointless, it would not matter. I believe that each system/ sphere is gravely necessary and important in its own way. None is better or needed more then another.
I believe that, the biosphere is the not the most important physical system. Nor, do I believe that the atmosphere, lithosphere or hydrosphere are the most imporatant physical system. In my opinon, they all are. If we didn't have anyone of the four physical systems we would die. For example, the lithoshere- gives us the crust and upper mantel, the biosphere- creates life on this planet and without it we would not be here, the hydrosphere- gives us all the earth's water, the atmsophere- provides all the gases in the sky, that helps us to breathe and protects us from the UV rays of the sun. So that is why not one, but all of the spheres are important.
In response to Andy. How can you say that the biosphere is the most important, because all of the spheres have certain jobs. If you take away one of the four spheres we will die, as they are all equally important.
I only partially agree with the statement that the earths biosphere is the most important. The biospher is definatly very important because it includes all the living things around us, things that we depend on to servive. But without other systems the biosphere wouldnt be able to live and everything we need would die off including ourselves. Every system is technically just as important as another because without one, another one would fail and it would cause a chain reaction in which each system would be destroyed.
The point is easily argued though that the biosphere is the most important because we are a part of it being living human beings. But when thought about, we really need every system.
In responding to Priyas original statement: I understand why you would think that the Atmosphere is the most important system. it is true that has the very important gases we breathe but if you took away the biosphere there would be nothing to breathe those gases. This includes any other system, take one away and the atmospheres gases would just sit there because there would be no life to brethe them.
Responding to andy: You make a good point about how we wouldnt be here if it wasn't for the biosphere. I completely agree but, the fact is that there IS a biosphere and we ARE here. And life could be quickly ended by loss of any system.
this is again in response to tommy-
you said "I especially like the analogy of the house of cards. Let me extend that analogy and say the biosphere is the top layer. All of the other layers are important, because they hold up the top. Nevertheless, the top is still on top." If you think about it this way the top is not the most important all the layers are because with about one layer they would all fall down they need support from all the other layers, just like how the spheres need the other spheres to keep going.I think they are all equally important and agree with lauren when she says "I respect everyone’s opinions, but I remain blind as to why one could possibly be more important than another." they are all EQUAL!
I think the biosphere is the most important. If the biosphere was gone, what would be the point in having any of the systems? Clearly all the others are important because without any one of them the entire system would be corrupt, but the biosphere is the reason for all of them. From what we know, Earth is the only place that has all of the systems and we are the only life. It's not a coincidence, the systems were created for the biosphere to survive.
I also think that the biosphere is the most important because without it there would be no way for us to survive. It provides air, land, etc which, in my opinion, are some of the most important elements to our survival. Without land we would have no way to provide shelter for ourselves, no way to protect ourselves from different kidns of weather, etc. Without air there would be no way for us to breathe and if we cannot breathe, obviously we will not be able to survive. Although I believe that all physical systems are needed in one way or another, I think that the biosphere is needed, and used to most; therefore it is the most important.
Rachel -
I disagree; I do not think that the biosphere is the most important, because the other systems would be just fine if we did not exist. They would go on functioning as if nothing had changed. Maybe to us the biosphere is most important, but not if you look at the big picture. They all depend on each other. We (the biosphere) depend on all of the other spheres, and so on and so forth.
In responce to Ricks comment, I agree with you. The lithospere, I think, is the most important. But part of your statement is wrong, the lithospere does not include magma and the earths core. The rest of your statement is true though, there would be no land for us to live on. So there would be no point in the biosphere.
In response to Bailee's comment:
I agree completely now that I think about it. You can't really choose one. They all play their own part. Without one the other couldn't survive. Like I said before though, there is no point for any of it without the biosphere. Honestly it's a really difficult argument because it completely depends on your perspective. I mean are we talking about the systems surviving on their own or us surviving without one? Certain systems couldn't live without the others. This could possibly make one more important than the other which was the reasoning behind my statement that "the biosphere is the most important". But in another perspective we could look at it as we couldn't live without either of them gone meaning that they are each just as important as the other. So, I partially agree with Bailee's statement.
In response to Mckenzie's statement:
I disagree with you. The lithosphere couldn't be the most important because we don't just depend off of that we also depend on air to breathe and water to drink or else life on earth would be impossible. Yes, the lithosphere is important, but far from the MOST important.
In response to Rick. I disagree with your statement that the the llithosphere is the most important. If the lithosphere was the most important then you are saying that the other physical system are not. But what is the point of a rock floating in space. All the physical systems work toghther. So if we didn't have one we would die.
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