biosfery

Biosphere is the global sum of all living organisms and their environments. It is the zone of life on Earth, extending from high in the atmosphere to deep underground, where conditions permit life. The concept integrates biology with geology and geochemistry; it encompasses all ecosystems and their interactions with the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere, as well as the biogeochemical cycles (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, water) that sustain life.

Origin and scope: The word biosphere was introduced in the late 19th century and later developed into a formal concept by Vladimir Vernadsky in the early 20th century. The term emphasizes the collective activity of organisms and their relationships with physical Earth.

Structure: The biosphere includes all habitats where life occurs, from oceans, rivers and soils to forests, deserts, ice, and even some subsurface environments. Life is sustained primarily by solar energy through photosynthesis, with chemosynthesis supporting some deep-sea ecosystems independent of sunlight. Organisms interact through food webs, nutrient cycling, decomposition, and symbiotic relationships.

Human context: Humans are a major component of the biosphere and drivers of ecological change. Human activities such as land use, agriculture, fossil fuel combustion, and pollution alter biodiversity, biogeochemical cycles, and climate. The concept of the Gaia hypothesis frames the biosphere as a self-regulating system, though this remains debated.