Features of

The Earth
Earth

• Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the

fifth largest planet in the solar system in
terms of size and mass. Its near-surface
environments are the only places in the
universe known to harbor life.
Features
Life of Earth
• About 4.568 billion years ago, in a corner of a
galaxy, a cloud of gas and dust created a new
star surrounded by a protoplanetary disc,
whose material began to clump together in
ever-increasing masses. According to the
most widely accepted hypothesis, the
subsequent collision between the Proto-Earth
and Theia, another Mars-sized object, gave
rise to our Earth and its Moon some 4.5 billion
years ago.
Water on Earth

• About 71 percent of the Earth's surface is

water-covered, and the oceans hold
about 96.5 percent of all Earth's water.
Water also exists in the air as water
vapor, in rivers and lakes, in icecaps and
glaciers, in the ground as soil moisture
and in aquifers, and even in you and your
dog
Plants on Earth
• Plants are considered a critical resource
because of the many ways they support life
on Earth. They release oxygen into the
atmosphere, absorb carbon dioxide, provide
habitat and food for wildlife and humans, and
regulate the water cycle 
Nutrients on Earth
• Nutrients are chemical substances found
in every living thing on Earth. They are
necessary to the lives of people, plants,
animals, and all other organisms.
Nutrients help break down food to give
organisms energy. They are used in every
process of an organism's body.
Ocean on Earth
• About 71% of Earth's surface is made up of
the ocean, dwarfing Earth's polar ice,
lakes, and rivers.Oceans feed us, regulate
our climate, and generate most of the
oxygen we breathe. They also serve as the
foundation for much of the world's
economy, supporting sectors from tourism
to fisheries to international shipping.
Land on Earth
• The remaining 29% of Earth's surface is land,
consisting of continents and islands. Earth's
surface layer is formed of several slowly
moving tectonic plates, interacting to produce
mountain ranges, volcanoes, and earthquakes. The
land sustains every aspect of our lives, providing
fundamental life-support systems and the
foundation of our economy and society. It is the
place we stand. And also the place we act. It is
where we make decisions that affect not just the
land, but also water, oceans, air, and atmosphere,
and the life they support.
Sunlight on Earth
• On Earth, sunlight is scattered and filtered
through Earth's atmosphere, and is obvious
as daylight when the Sun is above the
horizon. When direct solar radiation is not
blocked by clouds, it is experienced as
sunshine, a combination of bright light and
radiant heat.