Outline of Earth sciences

[1] It is also known as geoscience, the geosciences or the Earthquake sciences, and is arguably a special case in planetary science, the Earth being the only known life-bearing planet.

Many of the subsystems are characterized as "spheres", coinciding with the shape of the planet.

Earth's ecosphere lies it self within the heliosphere (the Sun's astrosphere).

[4] Listed roughly from outermost to innermost the named spheres of the Earth are: Atmospheric sciences – The study of the atmosphere, its processes, and interactions with other systems Geography – The science that studies the terrestrial surface, the societies that inhabit it and the territories, landscapes, places or regions that form it.

Oceanography – The study of the physical and biological aspects of the ocean Planetary science – The study of planets (including Earth), moons, and planetary systems (in particular those of the Solar System) and the processes that form them.

Diagram of the structure of the Earth including its atmosphere
A false-color composite of global oceanic and terrestrial photoautotroph abundance from September 1997 to August 2000, showing Earth's biosphere. Provided by the SeaWiFS Project, NASA / Goddard Space Flight Center and ORBIMAGE .