Earth and Earth

System
Objectives
• Present Facts about the Earth;
• Identify the factors that allow a planet to support life;
• Define the concept of a system;
• Recognize the Earth as a system composed of subsystems;
and
• Determine the interconnection of the Earth System.
Essential Questions
• What are some facts about the Earth?
• What makes planet Earth habitable?
• What are the four earth systems?
• How are the four system connected to each other?
Facts About the
Earth
• The Earth’s rotation is gradually
slowing.

• This has the effect of lengthening our

days, but it happens so slowly that it
could be as much as 140 million years
before the length of a day will have
increased to 25 hours.

• The Earth was once believed to be the

center of the universe.

• Due to the apparent movements of the

Sun and planets in relation to their
viewpoint, ancient scientists insisted
that the Earth remained static, whilst
other celestial bodies travelled in
circular orbits around it. But it was
disproved by Copernicus and that Sun is
the center
• Earth has a powerful magnetic
field.

• This phenomenon is caused by the

nickel-iron core of the planet,
coupled with its rapid rotation.
This field protects the Earth from
the effects of solar wind.

• There is only one natural satellite

of the planet Earth.

• As a percentage of the size of the

body it orbits, the Moon is the
largest satellite of any planet in
our solar system. In real terms,
however, it is only the fifth largest
natural satellite.
• Earth is the only planet not named
after a god.

• The other seven planets in our solar

system are all named after Roman
gods or goddesses. Although only
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and
Saturn were named during ancient
times, because they were visible to the
• The Earth is the densest planet in
naked eye, the Roman method of
the Solar System.
naming planets was retained after the
discovery of Uranus and Neptune. • This varies according to the part
of the planet; for example, the
• 70% of the Earth’s surface is metallic core is denser than the
covered in water crust. The average density of the
Earth is approximately 5.52
• The Earth is 70% water and 30% grams per cubic centimeter.
land mass that is why it is
considered as Blue Planet
• Earth doesn’t take 24 hours to rotate on
its axis

• It’s actually 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4

seconds. This is the amount of time it takes
for the Earth to completely rotate around
its axis; astronomers call this a sidereal
day. Now wait a second, that means a day
is 4 minutes shorter than we think it is

• A year on Earth isn’t 365 days

• It’s actually 365.2564 days. It’s • Earth is mostly iron, oxygen and
this extra .2564 days that creates silicon
the need for leap years. That’s
why we tack on an extra day in • If you could separate the Earth
February every year divisible by 4 out into piles of material, you’d
– 2004, 2008, etc. – unless it’s get 32.1 % iron, 30.1% Oxygen,
divisible by 100 (1900, 2100, 15.1% Silicon, and 13.9%
etc.)… unless it’s divisible by 400 Magnesium.
(1600, 2000, etc.).
• Earth has 1 moon and 2 co-
orbital satellites

• As you’re probably aware, Earth

has 1 moon (The Moon). But did
you know there are 2 additional
asteroids locked into a co-orbital
orbits with Earth? They’re called
3753 Cruithne and 2002 AA29
Other Facts about the Earth
• The Earth is not actually round
in shape; in fact it is Geoid or
Oblate Spheroid This simply
means that the rounded shape
has a slight bulge towards the
equator.
• Only 3% water of the earth is
fresh, rest 97% salted. Of that
3%, over 2% is frozen in ice sheets
and glaciers. Means less than 1%
fresh water is found in lakes,
rivers and underground.
• Asia Continent is covered 30% of
the total earth land area, but
represent 60% of the world’s
population.
• Each winter there are about 1
septillion (1, 000, 000, 000,
000, 000, 000, 000, 000 or a
trillion trillion) snow crystals that
drop from the sky.
Characteristics of a Habitable Planet Earth
Distance from Sun:
• Earth is at the right distance from the Sun, the star it orbits. If
Earth was closer, it would have been too hot for life. If it was
more distant, temperatures may have been very low. (Goldilocks
Zone or Habitable Zone)
Atmosphere:
• The presence of an atmosphere makes Earth livable. If Earth had
no atmosphere, it would not have maintained the temperature
and gases necessary for our survival and sustenance (Greenhouse
Gases)- carbon dioxide and other gases that keep the planet
warm and protect its surface from radiation.
Characteristics of a Habitable Planet Earth
Water:
• Presence of water is another key factor. Water allows many reactions
and also works as a universal solvent.
Time for evolution:
• Earth is lucky to have a star as long-living as Sun. This ensured billions
of years of time for evolution of life, not to mention settlement of
planet itself.
Molten core:
• Earth's core allows the recycling of material and generates a magnetic
field that protects us from radiation and Solar Flares.
Characteristics of a Habitable Planet Earth

The Moon:
• The Earth has a slight tilt and teeters like a top as it spins, which
can cause drastic shifts in climate over the course of thousands of
years. But because of the moon's stabilizing effect on our orbit, our
climate is a lot more steady. Plus, the moon causes the tides, and
some biologists think life began in tidal pools.
Stable rotation:
• The regularity and frequency of day and night on this planet go
far to prevent extreme temperatures and encourage life.
Earth Systems
 Question:
• What are the different processes
and phases of water involved in
the water cycle?

• condensation

• precipitation

• evaporation

• transpiration

• infiltration

• surface run-off
What is System?
• A set of interconnected components that
are interacting to form a unified whole

What are the Earth’s System?

• Atmosphere

• Biosphere

• Hydrosphere

• Lithosphere
 Atmosphere
• The atmosphere is the thin gaseous layer that
envelopes the lithosphere.

• The present atmosphere is composed of 78%

nitrogen (N), 21% oxygen (O2), 0.9% argon, and
trace amount of other gases.

• One of the most important processes by which

the heat on the Earth's surface is redistributed is
through atmospheric circulation.

• There is also a constant exchange of heat and

moisture between the atmosphere and the
hydrosphere through the hydrologic cycle.
Biosphere
• The biosphere is the set of all life forms on
Earth.

• It covers all ecosystems—from the soil to the

rainforest, from mangroves to coral reefs, and
from the plankton-rich ocean surface to the
deep sea.

• For the majority of life on Earth, the base of the

food chain comprises photosynthetic organisms.
During photosynthesis, CO2 is sequestered from
the atmosphere, while oxygen is released as a
byproduct. The biosphere is a CO2 sink, and
therefore, an important part of the carbon
cycle.

• Sunlight is not necessary for life.

 Hydrosphere
• About 70% of the Earth is covered with liquid
water (hydrosphere) and much of it is in the
form of ocean water

• Only 3% of Earth's water is fresh: two-thirds

are in the form of ice, and the remaining one-
third is present in streams, lakes, and
groundwater.

• The oceans are important sinks for CO2

through direct exchange with the atmosphere
and indirectly through the weathering of rocks.

• Heat is absorbed and redistributed on the

surface of the Earth through ocean circulation.
Lithosphere
• The lithosphere includes the rocks
of the crust and mantle, the
metallic liquid outer core, and the
solid metallic inner core.

• Plate Tectonics as an important

process shaping the surface of the
Earth. The primary driving
mechanism is the Earth's internal
heat, such as that in mantle
convection.
Lithosphere’s Layers
• Lithosphere – rigid outer layer of the
layer which is made up of the brittle crust
and upper mantle

• Plate tectonics – theory which proposes

that the earth’s crust and upper mantle
to be composed of several large, thin, and
relatively rigid plates that move relative
to one another

• Seismic wave – an elastic shock wave that

travels outward in all directions from an
earthquake source

• Convection – transfer of heat by mass

movement or circulation of a substance
Lithosphere’s Layers
• Crust – thin, outermost layer of the Earth; is of two different types:
continental crust and oceanic crust

• Asthenosphere – layer of weak, ductile rock in the mantle; situated below

the lithosphere

• Moho – boundary separating the crust and the mantle

• Mantle – middle layer of the earth between the crust and the core; makes
up about 83% of Earth’s interior

• Core – innermost layer of the earth; outer core is in a liquid state whereas
inner core is in solid state
How are the four systems connected?
• Water Cycle is one of the
example.

• When warmed by the sun,

water on the surface of
oceans and freshwater bodies
evaporates, forming a vapor.
Water vapor rises into the
atmosphere, where it
condenses, forming clouds.
Once the vapor turns back
into liquid it goes back to the
surface as precipitation and
become essential to the living
organisms in a way where it • Do you have other examples
provides water to the soil where it shows the connection of
which is essential for the the four system?
plants to grow.
Activity Time
• Think of an example where it shows the connection of the Earth Systems
and present it through a concept map.
You can use either of these platforms or it could be Handwritten
https://venngage.com/
https://piktochart.com/formats/infographics/
https://www.canva.com/create/infographics/

• In sending your output you can take a screenshot on it or download it

from the tool you used. Don’t forget to convert the file into PDF Format.
• Format: Paper size: short. File name: FamilyName