All living things on Earth are found on or near the solid outer layer of the planet's crust,

Question

called the lithosphere . The hydrosphere , a layer of oceans, rivers and lakes, covers 75% of
the lithosphere. Compared to the size of the Earth, the lithosphere is only a thin layer,
several kilometers deep at most. The layer of air around the Earth is called the atmosphere .
The water cycle describes how water travels through the atmosphere, hydrosphere and
lithosphere. All living things need water; without the water cycle, life as we know it would
not exist.
Living things also need energy to survive. That energy comes from the sun as radiant energy.
It falls first on the atmosphere, then on the hydrosphere and lithosphere. But it's not
absorbed evenly over the entire Earth's surface, which causes different conditions in the
atmosphere at different places. The climate in the Amazon rainforest is very different from
the climate at the North Pole. We refer to the areas affected by these varying conditions of
the atmosphere as different climate regions.
living things existing only on the lithosphere.
the thickness of the lithosphere.
how water travels through the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere.
sunlight being absorbed unevenly across the Earth.

Answer 1

The passage provides an overview of the Earth's layers—specifically the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere—and their interconnectedness through the water cycle and energy from the sun. Here’s a breakdown of the key themes mentioned in your query:

1. Living things existing only on the lithosphere: This refers to the fact that all life on Earth is found on or near the lithosphere, which is the solid outer layer of the Earth. Although life is heavily dependent on water and air, its actual presence is confined to this thin crust.

2. The thickness of the lithosphere: The lithosphere is described as a thin layer, only several kilometers deep, especially in comparison to the overall size of the Earth. This emphasizes its limited extent relative to the vastness of the planet.

3. How water travels through the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere: The water cycle is the process by which water circulates through these three layers. It is essential for sustaining life, illustrating the dynamic interactions between the Earth's systems.

4. Sunlight being absorbed unevenly across the Earth: The passage highlights that solar energy is not distributed evenly across the Earth’s surface. This uneven absorption leads to varying atmospheric conditions and contributes to the diversity of climate regions, such as the Amazon rainforest versus the North Pole.

All of these points collectively illustrate the complexity and interdependence of Earth's systems, emphasizing the critical roles of the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere in supporting life.