THE biosphere is a term developed by Swedish geologist Eduard Suess, in 1985, and corresponds to the set of ecosystems on Earth. In the field of Earth sciences, it is seen in conjunction with the elements of climate, relief and hydrography, constituting the natural field of reproduction of the activities and behavior of the living beings.
When we approach the complexity of the biosphere, we consider that it is a result of the presence and harmony of three other terrestrial "spheres": a atmosphere, a lithosphere and the hydrosphere. After all, it is the complex assembly of these systems that gives rise and form to the natural environment where all living beings inhabit and reproduce. This perspective is better illustrated in the following diagram:
Scheme of the Earth's structure and the composition of the biosphere
It is, therefore, the combination of different extracts from the Earth that enables the existence of living beings and, consequently, of the biosphere. Some extreme conditions resulting from this combination, however, can hinder or even prevent the existence of life, as occurs in regions with very unfavorable climates, extreme altitudes or lack of Water.
The presence of the biosphere is also conditioned to the variations and dynamics of the different parts that compose it, such as the atmospheric variations and their effects, gradual or abrupt transformations of relief forms, among others examples. Thus, to say that everything that makes up the Earth system is dynamic is the same as saying that the biosphere is also dynamic, changing its shapes, features and characteristics over time.
Some forms of life manage to survive the most adverse natural conditions, such as some bacteria that inhabit the Dead Sea, known for its extreme salinity that makes the survival of other species practically impossible. In some desert regions, in turn, various animals (and even human groups) remain alive and, consequently, structure their ecosystems.
The big current question regarding the biosphere revolves around its maintenance. This is because human activities and the growing production of certain activities in geographic space contribute to extreme aggression to the natural environment. Among several cases, we can mention deforestation, air pollution, extinction of species, climate change, pollution or extinction of rivers, among others. As in nature everything is structured from a balance, preserving the biosphere is also preserving the environment on which human beings build their societies and extract their livelihood.
It is important to remember that Earth Sciences are not the only ones studying the biosphere. Several fields of knowledge, especially Biological Sciences, also do so, however, with different emphases. Thus, each "part" of the sphere of life is understood from its multiple aspects, such as the morphoclimatic domains, the structure of living beings, biomes, ecosystems and many others themes. Knowing these disciplines means gaining more knowledge about the space around us.
By Me. Rodolfo Alves Pena
