The concept of "biosphere" was introduced into everyday life a long time ago. Initially, it was used to name hypothetically immortal organic molecules, which were the basis of living things. Another concept of the living shell of the Earth gives the Austrian geologist E. Suess in 1875. He in his work “The Origin of the Alps” 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 contemporaries of E. Suess and ours.
Later in 1926 V.I. Vernadsky supplements 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 of organisms, but also of their habitat., I.e., it complements 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 two equal 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. The boundaries of the biosphere will coincide with the boundaries of life on Earth. So, the upper boundary runs at an altitude of 15-20 km (the entire troposphere and lower layers of the stratosphere); the lower one captures sea and ocean
depressions at a depth of over 10 km and the bowels of the Earth at a depth of up to 3 km. The results of the life of organisms are seen in the form of sedimentary rocks and at greater depths. The rest 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 due to what 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 the open thermodynamic shell of the Earth, the “work” of which is carried out through 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 hard earth shells that are inhabited by organisms and change under the influence of their activities.
To maintain functioning, this shell of the Earth must have
certain properties that help her exist.
The main 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, the settlement of soil by microorganisms and the restoration of vegetation after the eruption of a volcano. However, now this property may not always work due to human intervention in nature (the creation of agrocenoses, i.e., artificial ecosystems that lack the ability to independently recover).
- Great species diversity, which guarantees its sustainability.
- The cycle of substances.
Summing up and answering the question of what the biosphere is, we can say that this is a special, living shell of the Earth, a global ecosystem that has its own borders and certain properties that help it to exist.