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A biosphere is that part of a planet's terrestrial system— including air, land and water— in which life develops, and which life processes in turn transform. It is the collective creation of a variety of organisms and species which form the diversity of the ecosystem. From the broadest geophysiological point of view, the biosphere is the global ecological system integrating all living beings and their relationships, with their interaction with the elements of the lithosphere (rocks), the hydrosphere (water), and the atmosphere (air). Individual life sciences and earth sciences may use biosphere in more limited senses (see below).

The term was coined by the geologist Eduard Suess in 1875. The concept of biosphere is thus from geological origin and is an indication of the impact of Darwin on Earth sciences. The ecological concept of the biosphere comes from the 1920s (see Vladimir I. Vernadsky), preceding the 1935 introduction of the term ecosystem by Arthur Transley . The biosphere is an important concept in astronomy, geophysics, meteorologyMeteorology is the scientific study of the atmosphere that focuses on weather processes and forecasting. Meteorological phenomena are observable weather events which illuminate and are explained by the science of meteorology. Those events are bound by the, biogeographyBiogeography is the science which aims at documenting and understanding spatial patterns of biodiversity. It can be defined as the study of distribution and pattern of variation in numbers and kinds of living organisms. Biogeography is a synthetic science, evolutionThis article is about biological evolution. For other possible meanings, see Evolution (disambiguation). Evolution generally refers to any process of change over time. However, in the context of the life sciences, evolution is a change in the genetic make, geologyGeology (from Greek γ&eta ge "the earth") and λογος logos "word", "reason")) is the science and study of the Earth, its composition, structure, physical properties, history, and the processes that shape it. Geolog, geochemistryThe field of geochemistry involves study of the chemical composition of the Earth and other planets, chemical processes and reactions that govern the composition of rocks and soils, and the cycles of matter and energy that transport the Earth's chemical c, and generally speaking all life and earth sciences.

Biosphere is often used with more restricted meanings. For example, geochemists also give define the biosphere as being the total sum of living organisms (usually named biomassBiomass is the organic non- fossil material of biological origin, collectively. For example, plants (including trees) and animals are biomass, as are the materials they produce, such as animal droppings and wood. The most successful animal of the earth, i or biotaBiota can mean several things: Biota Biota (ecology) Biota is the plant and animal life of a region or area. The biota of the Earth is known as the biosphere. See Also Biome Fauna Flora Ecology Biota (municipality) Biota is a municipality (pop. 1,202) in by biologists and ecologists). In this sense, the biosphere is one of the four components of the geochemical model, the others being the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere).

Some consider that the semantic and conceptual confusion surrounding the term biosphere is reflected in the current debates related to biodiversity, or sustainable development. The meaning used by geochemists is one of the consequences of the specialization of modern science.

Many appear to prefer the word ecosphere, coined in the 1960s-'70s. Others, however, claim this word is sullied by association with the idea of ecological crisis.

Vernadsky defined ecology (originally intended as the "economy of nature") as the science of the biosphere.

The Second International Conference on Closed Life Systems defined biospherics as the science and technology of analogs and models of Earth's biosphere, ie. artificial Earth-like biospheres. Some also include the creation of artificial non-Earth biospheres--for example, human-centered biospheres or a native Martian biosphere---in the field of biospherics.



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