THE biosphere can be defined as the set of all ecosystems of the Earth, that is, it concerns the inhabited regions of our planet. Generally the term biosphere is related to the living beings that live here, however, the term can be expanded and used to talk about environments.
→ divisions of planet earth
Planet Earth can be divided into four interconnected spherical layers: thereitosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. These four divisions encompass virtually every major feature of our planet. Lithosphere, for example, is the name given to the solid part formed from rocks. The hydrosphere, on the other hand, is related to the portion constituted by water, and the atmosphere is the layer of air that surrounds the Earth.
Finally, we have the biosphere, which concerns the regions of the planet that have living beings and is closely related to the others, since without the other parts of the planet, life would probably not exist. Some authors prefer to say that the biosphere would be formed by the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere and that the best term to describe it would be
ecosphere.→ What environments are included in the definition of a biosphere?
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All environments are included as part of the biosphere, from the highest point on the planet to the deepest portion of the oceans. Due to this large number of environments, the biosphere is complex and has a variable constitution.
It is important to remember that the biosphere is a small portion of the planet, since as we move away from its surface, the conditions necessary for life tend to diminish. It is estimated that the biosphere is no more than 13 km thick, and this is because most living beings need water, light, heat and matter.
→ Biosphere complexity
When we talk about biosphere, we must highlight its complexity, which is the result of various chemical, physical and biological phenomena. Because of these various phenomena, we can conclude that the biosphere is constantly changing and that living beings play a fundamental role in these changes. In relation to man, the condition is even worse, since it causes changes that are often irreversible in the environment.
By Ma. Vanessa dos Santos
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SANTOS, Vanessa Sardinha dos. "What is a biosphere?"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/o-que-e/biologia/o-que-e-biosfera.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
