Lesson 2: Earth and its Characteristics

Objectives:

In this lesson, you will learn to:

1. Describe the characteristics of the Earth that are necessary to support life
2. Explain that the Earth consists of four subsystems, across whose boundaries matter and energy
flow

Origin and Structure of the Earth

The origin of the earth is said to be directly linked to the creation of the sun. When the
sun was created, the cloud of dust and gases that were left over formed the inside of the Earth,
which stayed cool at 2000gF.

As time passed, the elements in the solid center of the earth began to decay. In the
beginning, the center of the earth was composed of iron and silicates, along with materials that
were radioactive. These radioactive materials, as they decayed, emitted heat. Principally, these
radioactive materials are composed of uranium, potassium, and thorium. The heat that was
released melted the silicates and iron. Since iron is heavier, it sank towards the center. This
became the Earth's core. Then, a layer of rock formed around the core. There were depressions
on the surface, and these are where water from the inside of the earth accumulated.

Key Characteristics of the Earth's Structure

There are two magnetic fields in the earth which repels solar wind and protects the
earth from solar radiation
The atmosphere of the earth is stratified, which means that it is made up of main ly
nitrogen and oxygen
The earth is made up of a variety of minerals, melts, fluids, glasses, and volatiles, which
were all left behind after the solar system was created.
The earth has layers: a crust, a mantle, and a metallic core
The earth can be divided into an outer lithosphere and a plastic asthenosphere.

The Subsystems of the Earth

The earth has subsystems that consist of the geosphere (or lithosphere), hydrosphere,
atmosphere, and biosphere. Each of these spheres are important for the survival of animals and
plants on Earth.

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 The Atmosphere

The atmosphere is the layer of air that surrounds the earth. It protects the earth from
solar rays. It also circulates the air and gases that plants and animals need in order to survive.

The atmosphere is divided into 6 layers according to altitude:

▪ Exosphere: (500 km above the earth) this is where the atmosphere merges with
space
• Thermosphere: (90 km above the earth) this is where space shuttles orbit
✓ Mesosphere: (50-90 km above the earth) this is where the meteors burn
• Stratosphere: (12-50 km above the earth) this is where the air is stable and is
good for planes and jets to fly in
▪ Tropopause: (11-12 km above the earth)
▪ Troposphere: (0-11 km above the earth) it is the "mixing layer", all the weather
is li mited to this layer

The Geosphere/Lithosphere

The Geosphere, also known as the Lithosphere, consists of the crust, the mantle, and
the core:

> Crust: it is the outermost "skin" of the earth and has various thicknesses. The
thickest is the mountain ranges, while the thinnest is under the mid-ocean
ridges.
o The Mohorivicic discontinuity (or loho) is the lower boundary. It
separates the crust from the upper mantle.
It was discovered in 1909 by Andrija Mohorovocic.
o It is also marked by a change in velocity of seismic waves.
o There are two types of crust: the continental crust and oceanic crust.
o The crust is mainly composed of 8 elements: Oxygen, Silicon, Aluminum,
Iron, Calcium, Sodium, Potassium, and Magnesium
o Oxygen is the most abundant of all these elements
> Mantle it is a solid rock laver between the core and the crust
o It is composed of a rock called peridotite
• It also convects: the cool mantle sinks and the hot mantle rises
• Three subdivisions of the mantle: upper, transitional, and lower
> Core: an iron-rich sphere with a radius of 3,471 km.
The outer core is made of iron, nickel, and sulfur, and is 2,255 km thick.
The flow in the outer core creates the earth's magnetic field
• The inner core is made of solid nickel, iron alloy
• It has a radius of 1,220 km.

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 The Hydrosphere

The hydrosphere is the total amount of water on a planet. This includes water that is on
the surface of the plane, underground, and in the air. The hydrosphere can be liquid, vapor, or
ice.

The hydrosphere can come in three different states due to the range of surface
temperatures and pressures of our planet. The solid part of the hydrosphere comes in the form
of ice, such as glaciers. The liquid water exists on the surface in the form of oceans, lakes, and
rivers. The underground part of the hydrosphere includes groundwater, in and aquifers.
The hydrosphere is also in the air in the form of water vapor, such as clouds and fog.

The Biosphere

The biosphere pertains to the parts of the Earth where life exists. It extends from the
deepest trenches up to the highest mountains, and from lush rain forests to the driest deserts.

The biosphere overlaps all other subsystems, as life exists on land, under water, and
even up in the air.

The biosphere has existed for about 3.5 billion years

The earliest life-forms, called prokaryotes, which includes bacteria and archaea.
Prokaryotes survived without oxygen.
The addition of oxygen to the biosphere allowed the evolution of more complex
life-forms, such as plants and animals. Bacteria evolved to decompose animals
and plants.
The biosphere is thought of as a large ecosystem, that is, a complex community
of living and non-living things functioning as a single unit.

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Reference:

Bryson, B. (2004). A Short History of Nearly Everything. Broadway Books.

LEGS. (n.d.) inside the earth. Retrieved from: http:Hpubs.usgs.govigiadynanniclinside.html

National Geographic Society, Hydrosphere. Retrieved from:

http:finationalgeographic.orgiencyclopedialhydrosphere!

National Geographic Society, Biosphere. Retrieved from:

h -ftp://nationalgeographic.ordencycloped ]aibiospherei