If the same amount of matter exists before and after changing, then is Earth like a closed ecosystem? Does is it contain a specific amount of matter until an outside source adds more matter into it?

Question

If the same amount of matter exists before and after changing, then is Earth like a closed ecosystem? Does is it contain a specific amount of matter until an outside source adds more matter into it?

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Answer 1

We’re regularly losing and gaining small amounts of matter from atmosphere that gets skimmed off from solar winds, small bits of matter coming into the atmosphere even if it “burns up” on the way in, etc….

That said, for practical purposes in a human lifetime: yes, the total mass on earth is relatively constant since those changes are quite small relative to the total mass you’re talking about.