2. what is an environmental sphere or earth system sphere? name the earth’s five major environmental spheres and state the defining characteristics of each. i'm not asking for the answer for a test, i just need understanding what they are and what they all do. so much to anyone that . : ) -blackcanary

Environmental spheres refer to all the physical entities present in the environment. It majorly includes four spheres namely atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere. However, some include cryosphere as a distinct portion.

1. Atmosphere: It refers to the gaseous blanket that surrounds the earth.

2. Biosphere: It includes all the living organisms including the environment they live in.

3. Hydrosphere: It represents all the water present on the earth. It may be in the form of rivers, lakes, glaciers, oceans, water vapors et cetera.

4. Geosphere: It refers to the solid portion of the earth. It includes crust, mantle, and core of the earth. It provides all the rocks and minerals required by the living organisms.

5. Cryosphere: It refers to the ice sheets (solid form of water) of the earth.