Earths life support systems

• Importance of water for life

  Photosynthesis provides the energy animals need for life

  Reflects terrestrial radiation adding to the greenhouse effect that keeps the planet warm for life.

  Allows for homeostasis

  transpiration cools plants and keeps water in the xylem (transports minerals)

  Necessary for metabolic functions
• Importance of carbon for life

  Forms 95% of all known compounds

  Life building blocks like protein are made of carbon

  Major component of greenhouse gases

  Used to photosynthesis and create glucose.
• Carbon is an element that can bond with lots of different atoms to create complex molecules.
• Carbon can make bonds with up to 4 other atoms simultaneously including other carbon atoms which can form very long polymer bonds.