Earth as an Integrated System: Coupling Geoscience with Atmospheric and Oceanic Dynamics
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64229/rkm19p82Keywords:
Earth System Science, Geosphere-Atmosphere Coupling, Ocean Dynamics, Tectonic-Climate Interactions, Biogeochemical Cycles, Planetary EvolutionAbstract
The classical approach in Earth sciences has often involved the compartmentalized study of its constituent spheres: the solid Earth (geosphere), the fluid envelopes (atmosphere and hydrosphere), and the biosphere. However, the past few decades have witnessed a paradigm shift towards a holistic, systems-level understanding of our planet. This review article synthesizes current knowledge on the dynamic couplings between geoscience-encompassing geology, geomorphology, and tectonics-and the fluid dynamics of the atmosphere and oceans. We explore how solid Earth processes, such as mountain building, volcanic activity, and seafloor spreading, fundamentally dictate climatic patterns, ocean circulation, and biogeochemical cycles over geological timescales. Conversely, we examine the powerful feedback mechanisms through which atmospheric and oceanic forces-including weathering, erosion, and ice-sheet dynamics-sculpt the terrestrial and submarine landscape, modulate magmatic processes, and influence the very pace of plate tectonics. Through the lens of integrated Earth system science, we analyze key couplings including the tectonic-climate connection, biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nutrients, and the co-evolution of life and the planet's physical environment. The article highlights the critical role of modern observational technologies, advanced numerical modeling, and paleoclimatological proxies in quantifying these complex interactions. Understanding Earth as a deeply interconnected system is not only fundamental to unraveling its past and predicting its future but is also imperative for addressing the anthropogenic perturbations currently reshaping the planet.
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