The main difference between biosphere and lithosphere is that the biosphere is the layer of the Earth containing all life, whereas the lithosphere is the layer containing soil and rock.
The biosphere and lithosphere are two of the four Earth’s layers. They have unique characteristics that affect the life on Earth. Also, they interact with each other in many ways to make the Earth function.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Biosphere
– Definition, Facts, Features
2. What is Lithosphere
– Definition, Facts, Features
3. Similarities Between Biosphere and Lithosphere
– Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Biosphere and Lithosphere
– Comparison of Key Differences
5. FAQ – Biosphere and Lithosphere
– Answers to frequently asked questions
Key Terms
Biosphere, Lithosphere
What is Biosphere
The biosphere is one of the Earth’s layers, which contain life. The life exists on the ground, in the air, and in the water. Therefore, life on the Earth overlaps with the other three spheres: lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. The biosphere occurs 20 kilometers from the top to the bottom. Also, life exists about 500 meters below the ocean’s surface and six kilometers above sea level. Additionally, life has existed for about 3.5 billion years. The earliest life forms on Earth are prokaryotes that survive without oxygen. They include bacteria and archaea. Some prokaryotes are photosynthetic. Further, millions of types of plants also undergo photosynthesis. Animals consume plants. Bacteria and fungi decompose dead animals and plants. A food web represents the flow of nutrients.
Figure 1: Earth’s Layers
Furthermore, people disrupt the flow of energy. Due to the clearing of forests and burning of fossil fuels, oxygen levels decrease, and carbon dioxide levels increase in the atmosphere. However, 563 biospheres are reserved all over the world. Yangambi, Democratic Republic of Congo, is the first biosphere reserve in the world. It contains 32,000 endemic species.
What is Lithosphere
The lithosphere is another Earth’s layer. It is the solid part of the Earth. It includes the outermost layer of the Earth’s surface, which contains the brittle upper portion of the mantle and the crust. Oceanic lithosphere and continental lithosphere are two types of lithospheres. The oceanic lithosphere contains the oceanic crust, which is denser than the continental lithosphere. One of the well-known features of the Earth’s lithosphere is its tectonic activity, which is the interaction of huge slabs called tectonic plates. North American, Caribbean, South American, Scotia, Antarctic, Eurasian, Arabian, African, Indian, Philippine, Australian, Pacific, Juan de Fuca, Cocos, and Nazca are the tectonic plates of the lithosphere.
Figure 2: Lithosphere
Moreover, tectonic activity occurs at the boundaries of the plates, where they can collide, tear apart, or slide against each other. Earthquakes, volcanoes, orogeny (mountain-building), and deep ocean trenches are the dramatic geologic events due to tectonic activity.
Similarities Between Biosphere and Lithosphere
- The biosphere and lithosphere are two of the four Earth’s layers.
- They have unique characteristics that affect the life on Earth.
- They interact in many ways to make the functioning of the Earth.
Difference Between Biosphere and Lithosphere
Definition
Biosphere refers to the regions of the surface and atmosphere of the Earth or another planet occupied by living organisms, while lithosphere refers to the rigid outer part of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.
Significance
The biosphere is part of the Earth where life exists, while the lithosphere is the solid part of the Earth.
Function
The biosphere contains all the ecosystems on Earth, while the surface of the lithosphere is subjected to erosion, weathering, transport processes, tectonic processes, and volcanic activities.
Composition
The biosphere is composed of biotic components, while the lithosphere is composed of mountains, hills, minerals, and rocks.
FAQ: Biosphere and Lithosphere
What is the interaction between the biosphere and lithosphere?
Plants draw water and nutrients from the lithosphere, releasing water vapor into the atmosphere.
How is the biosphere dependent on the lithosphere?
Plants and animals die, and their bodies decompose to contribute to the lithosphere.
What is the role of the biosphere and lithosphere in the water cycle?
Both the biosphere and lithosphere play a vital role in the water cycle. Parts of the water cycle operate on land.
Conclusion
In brief, the biosphere and lithosphere are two of the four Earth’s layers. They interact with each other for the functioning of the Earth. The biosphere is composed of biotic factors. Therefore, it is the layer of Earth containing all ecosystems. Also, life exists in the biosphere. In comparison, the lithosphere is the part of the Earth containing rocks, mountains, hills, and minerals. It is subjected to erosion, weathering, tectonic processes, and volcanic activities. Hence, the main difference between biosphere and lithosphere is their components and function.
References:
- Biosphere. Education. (n.d.-a).
- Lithosphere. Education. (n.d.-d).
Image Courtesy:
- “Atmosphere-Biosphere-Hydrosphere-Lithosphere” By CK-12 Foundation – Own Work (CC BY SA 3.0) via Anatomy tool
- “Earth cutaway schematic-en” By Srimadhav – Own Work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
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