Biosphere Definition

by Laurent Cousineau
(Montreal)

The biosphere is the sum of all ecosystems worldwide. An ecosystem consists of all living organisms and the abiotic or nonliving environment which supplies the energy and nutrients necessary to sustain life.

Essentially, it is the zone of all life on Earth, from the smallest bacterium to the largest whale. It extends from the polar ice caps to the Equator, covering the entire planet.

Furthermore, life exists on Earth several kilometers under the ocean floor to many kilometers in the atmosphere, from very cold to very hot environments.

Web of Interdependent Relationships

Moreover, the biosphere also includes the relationships between living beings and the elements of the lithosphere, the hydrosphere, and the atmosphere.

In effect, all organisms within the biosphere depend on each other and this is the basis for deep ecology.

Biomes

Moreover, the biosphere is divided into many biomes that are either terrestrial or marine.

These biomes are large geographic regions with similar kinds of communities and climates. Hence, each biome is made up of many ecosystems which are made up numerous species.

Origins

Finally, the biosphere is believed to have begun 3.5 billion years ago (the Earth is about 4.54 billion years old) through a process called biogenesis and has evolved ever since.

Destabilization of the Biosphere

However, mankind's contribution to climate change will have severe effects on the biosphere and thus will impact every single living organism and life supporting system on the planet.

In order to help protect the biosphere, we must understand not only the causes of climate change, but also the effects of climate change.

Only then, we will truly know how to help stop climate change and start building a sustainable future for generations to come.