The concept of "biosphere" was put into use a long time ago. Initially, it was used to name the hypothetically immortal organic molecules that were the basis of the living. A different concept of the living shell of the Earth is given by the Austrian geologist E. Suess in 1875. In his work The Origin of the Alps, he answers the question of what the biosphere is. In his opinion, this is an independent shell of the Earth, which is created by living organisms. This definition is supported by many scientists - both E. Suess's contemporaries and ours.
Later in 1926, V. I. Vernadsky supplemented this concept. What is the biosphere according to the teachings of V. I. Vernadsky? The scientist in his work says that the living shell of the Earth is made up not only by organisms, but also by their habitat., That is, he supplements the definition of E. Suess with a biogeochemical component. However, not all scientists support the opinion of V. I. Vernadsky. Therefore, at the moment, there are equally valid definitions of the concept of "biosphere": according to Suess (narrow understanding) and according to Vernadsky (broad understanding).
According to the teachings of Vernadsky, the living shell exists due to the energy of the Sun and has its limits. Bordersbiospheres will coincide with the boundaries of life on Earth. Thus, the upper boundary passes at an altitude of 15-20 km (the entire troposphere and the lower layers of the stratosphere); the lower one captures the marine and oceanic
depressions at a depth of more than 10 km and the bowels of the Earth at a depth of up to 3 km. The results of the life-activity of organisms are noticed in the form of sedimentary rocks and at greater depths. The remaining parts of the shells of the Earth, where there is no life, as well as outer space, are the environment for the living shell of our planet.
So what is the biosphere in the modern sense, and why does it exist? Based on the teachings of E. Suess and V. Vernadsky, taking into account modern discoveries, we can say that the “ball of life” is an open thermodynamic shell of the Earth, the “work” of which is carried out due to the interaction of living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components. The composition of this sphere includes all organisms and their remains, parts of the air, water and solid earth shell, which are inhabited by organisms and change under the influence of their activities.
To maintain the functioning of this shell of the Earth must have a
certain properties that help it exist.
Basic properties of the biosphere:
- The central link is living matter.
- Openness: she needs energy that comes from outside - solar energy.
- Self-regulation (homeostasis): it is able to return to its original state, using certain mechanisms for this. For example, soil settlementmicroorganisms and revegetation after a volcanic eruption. However, now this property cannot always work due to human intervention in nature (the creation of agrocenoses, i.e. artificial ecosystems that are unable to recover on their own).
- High species diversity, which guarantees its sustainability.
- Cycle of matter.
Summing up and answering the question of what the biosphere is, we can say that it is a special, living shell of the Earth, a global ecosystem that has its own boundaries and certain properties that help it exist.
