The Biosphere
Created | Updated Feb 13, 2003
The 'biosphere' refers to those parts of the earth system directly influenced by life. This includes the entire atmosphere, hydrosphere, and parts of the lithosphere and cryosphere, as well as the living beings themselves.
Although the word was first used by Edward Suess (an Austrian geologist) he used it to describe only living tissue. It was Vladimir Vernadsky who recognised life as a potent geological force it its own right, and extended the concept to include the non-living regions of the Earth that were nevertheless altered, or even entirely created by life processes. For example, the atmosphere's high oxygen content could not be maintained if not continuously supplied by the metabolism of living beings.
As we learn more about the Earth, it seems more and more regions can be included in the biosphere. The deep lithosphere has been the latest candidate, with a hypothesised biomass equivalent to that of surface organisms.
Although the word was first used by Edward Suess (an Austrian geologist) he used it to describe only living tissue. It was Vladimir Vernadsky who recognised life as a potent geological force it its own right, and extended the concept to include the non-living regions of the Earth that were nevertheless altered, or even entirely created by life processes. For example, the atmosphere's high oxygen content could not be maintained if not continuously supplied by the metabolism of living beings.
As we learn more about the Earth, it seems more and more regions can be included in the biosphere. The deep lithosphere has been the latest candidate, with a hypothesised biomass equivalent to that of surface organisms.
