How come Earth, as far as we

know, is the only planet that can

sustain life?
What are the unique
characteristics of Earth that
allows the existence of life?
 Lesson 1.3
Life on Earth
Some important characteristics that
are necessary in supporting life:
1. Presence of liquid water
2. Ability to maintain heat
3. Existence of its atmosphere
Presence of liquid water

⚫ It allowed the first

photosynthetic organisms to
thrive

⚫ Cyanobacteria used sunlight,

CO2 and water to produce
biomass and O2, and essential
Possible sources of water on Earth:

1. Water released through

volcanism
2. Water from the icy meteors of
the outer region s of the Solar
System which bombarded Earth
Habitable zone (Goldilocks Zone)
– the Earth’s distance from the
sun wherein it allows Earth to
hold water in its liquid form
 2 sources of heat on Earth:

1. Heat coming from Earth

⚫ It is caused by the radiogenic

heat from the radioactive decay
of materials in the core and
mantle and extruded via active
tectonic activities (volcanism
 2 sources of heat on Earth:

2. Heat provided by the sun

⚫ As radiation from the sun enters

Earth, some of the heat is

trapped by the atmosphere.
⚫ This causes the greenhouse

phenomenon which is being

regulated by photosynthesis.
Greenhouse effect
The trapping of the sun’s warmth
in a planet’s lower atmosphere
due to the greater transparency
of the atmosphere to visible
radiation from the sun than to
infrared radiation emitted from
the planet’s surface.
 Existence of atmosphere:

⚫ It greatly influences surface

temperature, weather and
climate.
⚫ They are essential to the

formation of life and

biodiversity on Earth.
 Lesson 1.4
Motions of Earth
Earth’s rotation:

⚫ It is the amount of time that it

takes to turn around once on its
axis.
Axis:

⚫ It is an imaginary line about

which a body rotates.
⚫ It is tilted 23.5 degrees.
2 Types of rotation:

1. Sidereal day
⚫ The amount it takes for Earth to

turn on its axis

2 Types of rotation:

2. Solar day
⚫ The amount of time it takes for

the sun to return to the same

spot.
The variation is due to Earth’s
rotation:

While the Earth rotates on its

axis in 23 hours, 56 minutes,
and 4.09 seconds, it is also
orbiting around the sun so the
sun’s position in the sky
catches up by 4 minutes each
day.
The sidereal day is shorter than
the solar day because as well as
rotating on its axis, the Earth
also orbits around the sun.
During the formation of the Solar
System, the momentum of all
particles set the cloud spinning.

This is the cause of the Solar

System’s current motion.

As the sun spins, Earth and the

moon also rotate on their axes.
The simultaneous motions of the
Earth make it possible to
support life.

As Earth rotates around the sun,

a flow of energy is received
through solar radiation.
1. Biologically

Only photosynthetic organisms

are capable of harnessing and
converting radiant energy into
chemical energy.
These chemical energy is
transferred from level of the
trophic level to the next.
2. Physiologically

All organisms respond to

stimulus.

Each organism is equipped with

a unique structure, such as the
human skin, that responds to
sunlight.
3. Meteorologically

Earth’s weather and climate is

driven by solar radiation.

Heating of the planet as a result

of rotation affects the different
biogeochemical cycles such as
the hydrologic cycle.
3. Meteorologically

The general circulation of the

atmosphere determines the
different ecosystems on Earth.
Since the Earth is tilted 23.5
degrees on its axis as it revolves
around the sun in an elliptical
orbit, the angle by which light is
received on Earth varies.
This results in changes in weather,
ecology, and daytime called
season.