Question

Describe in short the various non-living components of environment.

Answer 1

The various non-living components of environment are

(i) $$Atmosphere$$ is a protective layer of gases which is surrounding the earth. It extends to thousands of kilometer above the earth surface. It is held to the earth by the force of gravity.

The constituents which make up the atmosphere are gases ($$N_2,O_2,CO_2$$), water vapours and aerosols.

The atmosphere is divided into four major regions depending on the height as: $$Troposphere,Stratosphere,Mesosphere,Thermosphere$$.

(ii)$$Hydrosphere$$ constitutes the total water present on the earth in solid, liquid and gaseous phases. Water covers $$71$$% of the total surface of the earth. Hydrosphere includes all types of water resources such as $$oceans,seas,rivers,lakes,streams,reservoirs,glaciers,polar\space ice\space caps\space and\space ground\space water$$.

The circulation of water between hydrosphere,atmosphere, lithosphere and biosphere is called the $$hydrological\space cycle$$.

(iii)$$Lithosphere$$ is the solid component of the earth consisting of $$soil,rocks,mountains$$,etc. It is the region which interacts with hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. The earth comprises of three layer $$crust,mantle\space and\space outer\space inner\space core$$.

Soil is most important part of lithosphere. It is storehouse of minerals and used for growing plants.

(iv) $$Biosphere$$ refers to the part of the earth in which all life forms exist. It is extended from 6 km above sea level to about 10 km below sea level.

Living organisms and their non-living environment are inseparably interrelated and interact upon each other in an orderly manner so that there is continuous flow of energy and matter between them.

The community of organisms interacting with each other and their non-living surroundings is called an $$ecosystem$$.