Life on Earth

What are the unique

characteristics of
Earth that allow the
existence of life?
 Liquid Water
• Life would not have begun without water.
• The presence of water allowed the first photosynthetic
organisms to thrive.
• Scientists believe that water on Earth came from 2
possible sources:
o Water released through volcanism
o Water came from icy meteors
 Liquid Water
• Earth is situated within a habitable zone, the distance
from a star where liquid water can exist in its liquid form.
• The habitable zone is also called Goldilocks zone, it
provides just the right amount of heat and provides Earth
with the capacity to maintain water in its form.
 Heat Source
• The heat necessary to support life on Earth comes from
2 sources:
o Internal heating of the Earth
o External heating from the sun
• Heat coming from the Earth is caused by radiogenic heat
from radio active decay of materials in the core and
mantle and extruded via active tectonic activities;
volcanism and plate movement.
 Heat Source
• The heat coming from the sun is in the form of radiation
which enters Earth.
• As sunlight strikes Earth, some of the heat is trapped by
a layer of gases called atmosphere.
• Atmosphere, responsible for the occurrence of
greenhouse phenomenon. It is a natural process which
maintains heat.
 Atmosphere
• The atmosphere is a vital part of photosynthesis.
• It is the layers of gases surrounding a planet or other
celestial body.
• Earth's atmosphere is composed of about 78% nitrogen,
21% oxygen, 0.9% argon, and 0.1% of other gases.
 Atmosphere
• The atmosphere contains the air that we breathe;
o protects us from the harmful radiation of the Sun;
o helps to keep the planet's heat on the surface, and
o plays a very important role in the water cycle.
 Exosphere
• The exosphere is the highest layer of Earth’s
atmosphere.
• The planet's first line of defense against the sun's rays.
• It is also the first layer to come into contact and protect
the earth from meteors, asteroids, and cosmic rays.
• Most Earth satellites orbit in the exosphere.
 Troposphere

• Lowest, thinnest, and densest atmospheric layer

• Most of Earth’s weather happens here, and almost all
clouds that are generated by weather are found here.
• A layer where temperature generally decreases with
height (altitude).
 Mesosphere
• It gets progressively colder with altitude.
• The coldest place found within the Earth system.
• Most meteors burn up in this atmospheric layer.
• Sounding rockets and rocket-powered aircraft can reach
the mesosphere.
• This layer serves as Earth’s protection.
 Stratosphere
• Best known as home to Earth’s ozone layer, which
protects us from the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation.
• Temperature increases with height (altitude).
• Contains high level of ozone / ozone layer.
• It’s also the highest part of the atmosphere that jet
planes can reach.
 Thermosphere
• This layer absorbs the sun's radiation, making it very hot
in temperature.
• It is both cloud- and water vapor-free.
• The aurora borealis and aurora australis are sometimes
seen here.
• The International Space Station orbits in the
thermosphere.
Aurora Borealis
 Aurora
Australis
 Geosphere
• Also known as “Lithosphere”
• Refers to the solid Earth.
• It is composed of naturally occurring solid-aggregate of
minerals, organic materials, or natural glass called rocks,
and loose particles of rocks that blanket the surface of
the Earth called regolith.
• Landforms such as mountains, hills, etc.,
 Atmosphere
• Composed of mixture of gases (nitrogen, oxygen, argon,
carbon dioxide, and water vapor)
• The atmosphere is an important part of what makes
Earth livable.
• It blocks some of the Sun’s dangerous rays from
reaching Earth.
• It traps heat, making Earth a comfortable temperature.
 Hydrosphere (“hydro “means water)
This covers about 75% of Earth’s surface, including
groundwater and Earth’s frozen water (the cryosphere)
and almost 1% of the water is drinkable. The Oceans
help regulate climate by absorbing large amounts of
solar energy, particularly near the equator, and
circulating heat towards the poles. Water constantly
circulates between the hydrosphere, the lithosphere,
and the atmosphere through water cycle processes.
 Lithosphere (“litho” means stone or rock)

Made up of plates and it includes all the solid part of the Earth that
covers approximately 10% of earth’s surface and deeply affects
every part of the ecosystem. It extends up to the inner core of the
planet. Soil supports billions of plants, animals, and
microorganisms, it filters water, and it facilitates the decomposition
of wastes. This holds air, water, heat, and nutrients and is the
medium in which we grow food and fiber. It is responsible for the
formation of many landforms through its endogenic activities.
 Atmosphere (“atmos” means vapor)

This component is the blanket of gas that surrounds

Earth. This distributes rain and traps some of the heat
radiated by Earth to help keep us warm. It also protects us
from harmful solar radiation through the ozone layer,
and plays a role in driving ocean currents that
redistribute Earth’s heat. Component layers are the
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere
and exosphere.
 Biosphere (“bio” means life)

It consists of all living things, plants and animals, from microbes

to humans. This is intimately connected with and dependent on
the other spheres. Through processes such as photosynthesis,
respiration, decay, and human activity such as burning forests or
fossil fuels, the biosphere continuously exchanges gases with the
atmosphere. Human activities can also cause changes in land and
water use. To the extent that the biosphere modifies the other
components of the Earth system, it can also modify Earth’s
climate
 Biosphere

• All life forms and even organic matter that has not yet
decomposed.
• It is also in the zone that the interaction between the
different subsystems is most dynamic.
Thank You
for
Listening!
 Nature Walk Observations!
Procedures:

1. Take an outside nature walk for 5-10 minutes. As you

walk, record at least five observations. What do you see?
What’s going on outside today? What do you see
happening in nature? Have you noticed any changes in
nature around your home or school? Your observations
might seem simple or obvious, but they will be important
later on.
.
 Nature Walk Observations!
Procedures:

2. Look for the components of Earth systems (water, soil,

air, living things, sun). Identify the system that each
observation falls into on your data capture sheet.

3. Observe in more detail and describe the interactions

between the systems..
Observation System

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.