THE

GEOSPHERE
The geosphere is the scientific
name for the solid parts of a
planet. When you go for a hike,
you can think of the ground
beneath your feet as part of the
Earth's geosphere.
The geosphere includes the rocks and minerals on Earth – from the molten rock and heavy metals in the deep
interior of the planet to the sand on beaches and peaks of mountains. The geoshere also includes the abiotic (non-
living) parts of soils, and the skeletons of animals that may become fossilized over geologic time.".
The geosphere is the earth itself: the rocks, minerals, and
landforms of the surface and interior. Below the crust -
which varies in depth from about 5 km beneath the ocean
floor to up to 70 km below the land surface, temperatures
are high enough for deformation and a paste-like flow of
elements.
Examples are all the rocks and sand particles
from dry land to those found at the bottom of
the oceans. They also include the mountains,
minerals, lava and molten magma from beneath
the earth's crust. The geosphere undergoes
infinite processes constantly and that, in turn,
modifies other spheres.
The difference between
lowland and upland. is that lowland is area
which is lower than surrounding areas
while upland is the area in the interior of a
country with a generally higher elevation;
often hilly, but not generally mountainous
(compare highlands).
SOIL ECOSYSTEM
Soils are rich ecosystems, composed of both
living and non-living matter with a multitude of
interaction between them. Soils play an
important role in all of our natural ecological
cycles—carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, water and
nutrient.
Soil Ecosystems. ... Soils play an important role
in all of our natural ecological cycles—carbon,
nitrogen, oxygen, water and nutrient. They also
provide benefits through their contribution in a
number of additional processes, called
ecosystem services.
Ecosystem services
They also provide benefits through
their contribution in a number of
additional processes
Six main roles of soil in an ecosystem
1. Medium for plant growth. In
the soil, plant roots obtain:
Physical support to anchor them,
air, water, temperature
moderation, protection from
toxins, nutrients.
2. Regulator of water supply. Soil affects water
supply by storing water for use by plants, or
allowing water to seep down into the
groundwater. Contaminated water may also be
purified as it passes through the soil and
removes impurities. Wetlands are a good
example of this!
3. Nutrient cycling. Soil is nature’s
recycling system. Waste and dead
matter are decomposed and their
nutrients made available for new
life.
4. Habitat for many organisms. Many
living things, from small mammals and
reptiles to tiny insects and
microorganisms, find their homes in the
soil.
5. Atmospheric modification. Soils breathe! Gases
are exchanged between the soil surface and the air.
Gases like oxygen and methane are absorbed,
while, while gases like carbon dioxide and nitrous
oxide are released. The soil provides a valuable
carbon sink. The evaporation of soil moisture also
affects air temperature and weather patterns.
6. Foundation for construction. Soil
provides building material such as
bricks and gravel. It also provides
the solid foundation for all our
roads and buildings.
◦Soil contamination or soil pollution as part
of land degradation is caused due to the
presence of xenobiotics (human-made)
chemicals or other alteration in the
natural soil environment. It is typically caused by
industrial activity, agricultural chemicals or
improper disposal of waste.
What Causes Soil Pollution?
Industrial wastes such as harmful gases and chemicals,
agricultural pesticides, fertilizers and insecticides are the
most common causes of soil pollution.
~ Ignorance towards soil management and related systems.
~ Unfavorable and harmful irrigation practices.
~ Improper septic system and management and
maintenance of the same.
~ Leakages from sanitary sewage.

~ Acid rain, when fumes released from industries mix with rain.

~ Fuel leakage from automobiles that get washed away due to rain and seep into
nearby soil.

~ Unhealthy waste management techniques, which are characterized by release

of sewage into the large dumping grounds and nearby streams or rivers.
What are the Effects of Soil
Pollution?
 What are the Effects of Soil Pollution?
~ Loss of soil and natural nutrients present in it.
Plants also would not thrive in such soil, which would
further result in soil erosion.
~ Disturbance in the balance of flora and fauna
residing in the soil.
¬ Increase in salinity of the soil, which therefore
makes it unfit for vegetation, thus making it useless
and barren.
~ Generally crops cannot grow and flourish in polluted soil. Yet, if some crops
manage to grow, they would be poisonous enough to cause serious health
problems in people consuming them.

~ Creation of toxic dust is another potential effect of soil pollution.

~ Foul smell due to industrial chemicals and gases might result in headaches,
fatigue, nausea, etc., in many people.
~ Soil pollutants would bring in alteration in the soil structure, which would lead
to death of many essential organisms in it. This would also affect the larger
predators and compel them to move to other places, once they lose their food
supply.