Earth System

From the perspective we get on Earth, our planet appears to be

big and sturdy with an endless ocean of air. From space,
astronauts often get the impression that the Earth is small with a
thin, fragile layer of atmosphere. For a space traveler, the
distinguishing Earth features are the blue waters, brown and
green land masses and white clouds set against a black
background.
• Many dream of traveling in space and viewing the wonders of the
universe. In reality all of us are space travelers. Our spaceship is
the planet Earth, traveling at the speed of 108,000 kilometers
(67,000 miles) an hour.

• Earth is the 3rd planet from the Sun at a distance of about 150
million kilometers (93.2 million miles). It takes 365.256 days for
the Earth to travel around the Sun and 23.9345 hours for the Earth
rotate a complete revolution.

• It has a diameter of 12,756 kilometers (7,973 miles), only a few

hundred kilometers larger than that of Venus. Our atmosphere is
composed of 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen and 1 percent
other constituents.
Earth is the only planet in the solar system known to
harbor life. Our planet's rapid spin and molten nickel-
iron core give rise to an extensive magnetic field,
which, along with the atmosphere, shields us from
nearly all of the harmful radiation coming from the Sun
and other stars. Earth's atmosphere protects us from
meteors, most of which burn up before they can strike
the surface.
• Earth is the only planet we know of that can support life.
The planet is not too close or too far away from the sun.

• The distance from Earth to the sun is one of the most

important factors in making Earth habitable. The next closest
planet to the sun, Venus, for example, is the hottest planet in the
solar system. Temperatures there reach more than 750 F (400 C),
while the average temperature on Mars is minus 80 F (minus 60
C).
Table 1. Comparison of
the features of Venus,
Earth and Mars
  VENUS EARTH MARS
Mass (1024kg) 4.87 5.97 0.642
Diameter (km) 12,104 12,756 6792
Density(kg/m3) 5243 5514 3933
Gravity(m/s2) 8.9 9.8 3.7
Escape velocity(km/s) 10.4 11.2 5
Surface pressure(bars) 92 1 0.01
77% N 95% CO2
96% CO2
Composition of atmosphere 21% O2 2.7% N
3.5% N
1% Ar 1.6% Ar
Major greenhouse gases CO2 CO2 H2O CO2
Mean temperature(°C) 464 15 -65
Temperature if no greenhouse gases are present -46 -18 -57
Change in temperature (°C) due to greenhouse gases
+523 +33 +10

Distance from the Sun(106)miles 108.2 149.6 227.9

Orbital period (days) 224.7 365.2 687
Orbital velocity (km/s) 35 29.8 24.1
Length of day(hours) 2802 24 24.7
Global magnetic field NO YES NO
Earth consists of layers made up of different densities
Core
- composed of dense materials like nickel
and iron.
Solid inner core
- has a radius of 1250km
- consist mainly of iron-nickel alloy and is
magnetic
- temperature : 6000°C
Outer Core
- made mostly of iron and nickel
- approximately 2300km thick.
- temperature ranges from 4000°C - 5000°C
- because of high temperature, the outer core is
liquid.
The Earth’s Core is responsible for three vital
physical properties of the Earth which are life
promoting - the occurrences of gravitational,
electromagnetic and internal thermal fields of the
Earth.
Mantle
- largest part of Earth
- made up of molten rocks called Magma.
- the total thickness is 2900 km.

Lower Mantle
- hot and exhibits plasticity
- 2700 km thick
 • Escape Velocity is the minimum speed an objects needs to
escape a planet’s pull of gravity.

• Surface Pressure is the atmospheric pressure at a

location on the surface of the planet. It is proportional to
the mass of air above the location.

• Temperature if no greenhouse gases are present indicates the

temperature of the planet without the warming effect of
greenhouse gases.
• Length of Day is a function of rotational speed

• Water in liquid form is the most important

prerequisites for life. There is recent evidence that
liquid water, in the form of brine (salty water) flows
intermittently on the surface of Mars.
Why Is There Life on Earth?
• Liquid water
Water is essential for life on Earth and presumably
elsewhere in the Universe.
Even in the most extreme conditions on Earth, if water is
present, life is too.
Extremophiles :
- Thermophiles - bacteria that can tolerate extreme
temperatures ( 41 to 122°C ) commonly associated with hot
springs and deep sea hydrothermal vents.
- Psychrophiles are extremophilic organisms that are
capable of growth and reproduction in cold temperatures,
ranging from −20 °C[1] to +10 °C.
• Gravity and Protective Atmosphere
Smaller planets have weaker gravity and thus
thinner atmosphere ; Larger planets have stronger
gravity fields thus much thicker atmosphere.
• Life-Sustaining Gases

The Greenhouse Effect

• A natural process that warms the Earth’s surface. When the Sun’s energy reaches the
Earth’s atmosphere, some of it is reflected back to space and the rest is absorbed and
re-radiated by greenhouse gases.
- Greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone
and some artificial chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
- The absorbed energy warms the atmosphere and the surface of the Earth. This process
maintains the Earth’s temperature at around 33 degrees Celsius warmer than it would
otherwise be, allowing life on Earth to exist.
• Strong Magnetic Field
- Convection in Earth’s outer core generates a planetary
magnetic field.
- Magnetic field is characteristic of planets that are large
enough to still have hot interiors and that rotates relatively
quickly.