1. humans are part of complex ecosystems. describe a few components of
the ecosystem in which you live. in your
• define abiotic and biotic factors (1)
. give an example of a biotic factor in your ecosystem (1)
• give an example of an abiotic factor in your ecosystem (1)

Mantle convection  is the slow  creepingmotion of earth's solid silicate  mantle  caused by  convection  currents carrying  heat from the interior  to the planet's surface.[1][2]  the earth's surface  lithosphere, which rides atop the  asthenosphere  (the two components of the  upper mantle), is divided into a number of  plates  that are continuously being created and consumed at their opposite  plate boundaries. accretion occurs as mantle is added to the growing edges of a plate, associated with  seafloor spreading. this hot added material cools down by  conduction  and  convection  of heat. at the consumption edges of the plate, the material has thermally contracted to become dense, and it sinks under its own weight in the process of  subduction  usually at an  ocean trench.[3]this subducted material sinks through the earth's interior. some subducted material appears to reach the lower mantle,[4]  while in other regions, this material is impeded from sinking further, possibly due to a phase transition from  spinel  to  silicate perovskiteand  magnesiowustite, an  endothermic reaction.[5]the subducted oceanic crust triggers  volcanism, although the basic mechanisms are varied. volcanism may occur due to processes that add buoyancy to partially melted mantle causing an upward flow due to a decrease in density of the partial melt.secondary forms of convection that may result in surface volcanism are postulated to occur as a consequence of intraplate extension[6]  and  mantle plumes.[7]it is because the mantle can convect that the  tectonic plates  are able to move around the earth's surface.[8]mantle convection seems to have been much more active during the  hadean  period, resulting in gravitational sorting of heavier molten  iron, and  nickel  elements and  sulphides  in the core, and lighter  silicate minerals  in the  mantle.

Environmental science studies the interactions between the physical, chemical, and biological components of the environment, including their effects on all types of organisms. earth science (also known as geoscience), is an inclusive term for all sciences related to earth (geology, meteorology, oceanogr maphy, etc).  although environmental and earth science cover essentially the same material, environmental science places greater emphasis on the biological realm, while earth science places greater emphasis on the physical realm.    environmental and earth science study the interactions of four major systems or “spheres” (figure 8.6).  the  geosphere  consists of the core, mantle and crust of the earth.the  atmosphere  contains all of the earth’s air and is divided into troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and ionosphere.the  hydrosphere  contains all of the solid, liquid and gaseous water on earth, extending from the depths of the sea to the upper reaches of the troposphere where water is found.  ninety-seven percent of the hydrosphere is found in salty oceans, and the remainder is found as vapor or droplets in the atmosphere and as liquid in ground water, lakes, rivers, glaciers and snowfields.  the  biosphere  is the collection of all earth’s life forms, distributed in major life zones known as biomes:   tundra, boreal forest, temperate deciduous forest, temperate grassland, desert, savannah, tropical rainforest, chaparral, freshwater, and marine.although the four systems have their unique identities, there is substantial interaction between them.  environmental scientists study the effects of events in one sphere on the other spheres. for example, a volcanic eruption in the geosphere may cause profound direct and indirect effects on the hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere as follows: example 1 (volcano)    on may 18, 1980, mount saint helens, in the state of washington, erupted.  this event altered the surrounding environment, and provided scientists with an opportunity to study the effects of volcanic eruptions on the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere.  such studies are vital because volcanic eruptions will continue to occur, and will have increasing impact on humans as people continue to settle lands closer to dormant volcanoes. the following are but a few of the myriad of interactions resulting from a volcanic 

Ha ha it happens bro