Biosphere

A Biosphere is an ecological system that encompasses all living beings and their interactions with the elements of the lithosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.

• Context:
  • It can represent the global ecological system integrating all life forms and their relationships, including their interactions with the Earth’s environments.
  • It can (typically) include all ecosystems on Earth, forming a closed system with respect to matter and an open system with respect to energy.
  • It can (often) be referred to as the ecosphere, highlighting its comprehensive integration of living and non-living components.
  • It can range from natural biospheres, such as Earth, to artificial biospheres created for research or colonization purposes.
  • It can involve processes like photosynthesis, which captures solar energy, supporting the energy needs of the biosphere.
  • It can integrate with planetary systems, influencing and being influenced by geological and atmospheric processes.
  • It can encompass the evolutionary history of life, from the origin of life (biopoiesis or biogenesis) to the present diversity of species.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • the Earth's Biosphere, which includes all ecosystems, living organisms, and their interactions with the environment.
  • Biosphere 2, an artificial, closed ecological system located in Arizona used for research on sustainability and the interaction between life systems.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Isolated Ecosystems that do not interact with other ecosystems or the broader planetary systems.
  • Dead Zones, areas in oceans or lakes with low oxygen where most marine life cannot survive.
• See: Technosphere, Noosphere, Closed Ecological System, Astrobiology, Ecosystem, Life, Earth, Photosynthesis, Solar Energy.

---

---

References

2024

• (Wikipedia, 2024) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/biosphere Retrieved:2024-6-15.
  • The biosphere (from Greek βίος bíos "life" and σφαῖρα sphaira "sphere"), also known as the ecosphere (from Greek οἶκος oîkos "environment" and σφαῖρα), is the worldwide sum of all ecosystems. It can also be termed the zone of life on Earth. The biosphere (which is technically a spherical shell) is virtually a closed system with regard to matter, with minimal inputs and outputs. Regarding energy, it is an open system, with photosynthesis capturing solar energy at a rate of around 100 terawatts. By the most general biophysiological definition, the biosphere is the global ecological system integrating all living beings and their relationships, including their interaction with the elements of the lithosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. The biosphere is postulated to have evolved, beginning with a process of biopoiesis (life created naturally from matter, such as simple organic compounds) or biogenesis (life created from living matter), at least some 3.5 billion years ago. In a general sense, biospheres are any closed, self-regulating systems containing ecosystems. This includes artificial biospheres such as and , and potentially ones on other planets or moons.

---