Earth Science (organized)

• Earth has existed for 4.543 billion years
• During its early formation, life is not possible because the environment does not permit it
• As time goes by, microorganisms formed into more complex organisms
• Life on earth is possible due to some factors
• Temperature


  • Influences how quickly atoms, molecules, or organisms move
  • Low temperature slows down chemical reactions, produces ice
  • High temperature breaks down of important biological molecules
  • Radiogenic heat is heat emitted by the planet
• Goldilocks' zone


  Earth's location where the temperature is just right
• Earth is the only planet with liquid water because some planets may have water but due to the low temperature it's only in solid form
• Water


  Most important ingredient in biological processes
• Absence of water


  Will interfere with reactions necessary for life
• Water


  • Solid form (ice) hinders living organisms to use it
• Water


  • Solid (ice) in the 2 poles and liquid along the equator
  • Can be consumed
• Atmosphere


  The layer of gases surrounding the Earth made up of Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Carbon Dioxide
• Hydrosphere


  The system of water in and around the Earth, including Oceans, Lakes, Rivers, and Groundwater
• Biosphere


  The region on and within the Earth where living things exist, including Plants, Animals, and Microorganisms
• Geosphere


  The solid part of the Earth, including the Crust, Mantle, and Core
• Hydrosphere role


  Creates weather systems, regulates climate, and supports aquatic life
• Biosphere role


  Sources life and maintains ecosystem, cleanses atmosphere through respiration and photosynthesis
• Geosphere role


  Provides solid foundation, supports tectonic plate movement, and provides mineral resources
• Atmosphere role


  Regulates Earth's climate, filters out harmful radiation, and cycles air and water
• Atmosphere provides


  • Chemicals needed for life: carbon dioxide, nitrogen
  • Insulation/shielding from the sun and impact of small to medium size meteorites
• Greenhouse gases


  Carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) trap heat and avoid our planet from freezing
• Ozone (O3) layer


  Shields the Earth's surface from harmful UV radiation
• Size and distance from the sun


  Affects the ability of the Earth to hold a significant amount of atmosphere
• Earth's size and distance from the sun is just right which permits it to have the right amount of atmosphere
• Presence of gravity also sustains the atmosphere
• Sources of energy for living organisms

  • Light (for photosynthetic plants and bacteria)
  • Chemical energy (for chemosynthetic organisms)
• Earth has rich sunlight to support life
• Chemosynthetic organisms rely on chemical energy to support biological processes
• Earth's position from the sun


  Is just right to enable it to harness enough amount of sunlight
• Nutrients


  Essential factor used to build and maintain organism's body structure
• Insufficient amount of nutrients


  Can impede synthesis of biological molecules
• Volcanism helps in cycling nutrients
• Examples of nutrients

  • Water
  • Carbon
  • Oxygen
• Sub systems of the earth

  
• Atmosphere


  • Provides chemicals needed for life: carbon dioxide, nitrogen
  • Provides insulation/shielding from the sun and impact of small to medium size meteorites
  • Ozone (O3) layerShields the Earth's surface from harmful UV radiation
• Greenhouse gases

  Carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) trap heat and avoid our planet from freezing
• Ozone (O3) layer


  • Shields the Earth's surface from harmful UV radiation
• Earth's size and distance from the sun


  Affects the ability of the Earth to hold a significant amount of atmosphere
• Earth's size and distance from the sun is just right which permits it to have the right amount of atmosphere
• Presence of gravity also sustains the atmosphere