How the Earth System Works

The Earth is a system of connected processes that shape our world and how it changes through time. Click the icons below to learn more about How the Earth System Works. Each page contains example Earth system models constructed using the UGC icons and Earth Scene.

Sort the icons by categories in the UGC Infographic by clicking the buttons in the row below.

UGC infographic that highlights absorption/reflection of sunlight as aspects of the global energy budget and how the Earth System works. Click to see full infographic.

Absorption / reflection of sunlight

UGC infographic that highlights atmospheric circulation as an aspect of how the Earth System works. Click to see full infographic.

Atmospheric circulation

UGC infographic that highlights the carbon cycle as an elemental cycle that is an aspect of how the Earth System works. Click to see full infographic.

Carbon cycle

UGC infographic that highlights Earth's internal heat as a component of Earth's energy budget, which is an aspect of how the Earth System works. Click to see full infographic.

Earth’s internal heat

UGC infographic that highlights evolution as an aspect of how the Earth System works. Click to see full infographic.

Evolution

UGC infographic that highlights the greenhouse effect as an aspect of how the Earth System works. Click to see full infographic.

Greenhouse effect

UGC infographic that highlights the nitrogen cycle as an elemental cycle that is an aspect of how the Earth System works. Click to see full infographic.

Nitrogen

UGC infographic that highlights ocean circulation as an aspect of how the Earth System works. Click to see full infographic.

Ocean circulation

UGC infographic that highlights the phosphorus cycle as an elemental cycle that is an aspect of how the Earth System works. Click to see full infographic.

Phosphorus

UGC infographic that highlights photosynthesis as an aspect of how the Earth System works. Click to see full infographic.

Photosynthesis

UGC infographic that highlights plate tectonics as an aspect of how the Earth System works. Click to see full infographic.

Plate Tectonics

UGC infographic that highlights re-radiation of heat as an aspect of how the Earth System works. Click to see full infographic.

Re-radiation of heat

UGC infographic that highlights respiration as an aspect of how the Earth System works. Click to see full infographic.

Respiration

UGC infographic that highlights the rock cycle as an aspect of how the Earth System works. Click to see full infographic.

Rock cycle

UGC infographic that highlights the water cycle as an aspect of how the Earth System works. Click to see full infographic.

Water Cycle

UGC infographic that highlights species interactions as an aspect of how the Earth System works. Click to see full infographic.

Species interactions

UGC infographic that highlights weathering as an aspect of how the Earth System works. Click to see full infographic.

Weathering