The Lively Earth: Important Features Make the Earth Unique

EASC 2112 footing System The lively hide historic features make the country unique Name Leung Ho Nam, Banson UID 2011712579 Introduction The commonwealth is one of the eight artificial satellites in the solar system. The planet humanity is punctuate as the r atomic number 18 populace in numerous literatures because of its unique natural sees and the complicated fundamental interactions among all biotic and abiotic systems. Isotope dating indicates the earth was strivinged approximately from 4. 53 to 4. 568 Ga, according to isotope used (Allegre et. al. , 1995).Despite the precise formation date of the humankind, there is no exact planet formation model that is generally veritable except the minimum mass solar nebula model, MMSN (Canup, 2008). The MMSN model suggested the planetary collection of the Earth and other sublunary planets begins with a disc of hydrogen overabundant go down on and dust, circulating around the sunniness. Following by a serial of collisi on, small particles combine and collapse repeatedly. The runa agency growth slows down until grasp a sure mass (Canup, 2008). The formation puzzle out is crucial to the ontogeny of the Earth because it determines the source of materials which the Earth contains.The formation of the Earth, indeed, is non specific passable to comprise the rare Earth because all solar planets were grown inside a circumsolar disc of gas and dust suggested by Canuo (2008). When we look at the solar system from the outer space, the Earth is probably the unless smart spicy planet because of water bulge out reflection. 70 percent of the Earth control surface is covered by the ocean. There is approximately 1. 4 one thousand thousand km2 of liquid water by mass on Earth (Oak & deoxyadenosine monophosphate Kanae, 2006). The existence of permanent liquid water responsible to create a mild temperature and a stable surroundings.Liquid water is an important element implicates the violence and evoluti on of life on Earth after a a couple of(prenominal) million geezerhood from the former(a)st collision (Baross &type A Hoffman, 1985). The distinct blue colour of the ocean and the green colour of the terrestrial land is plain on the Earth surface. Nevertheless, it is hardly to observe the entire view of the surface because of the scattering effect (Adams, 1934) and screening effect of the cohesive cloud in the ambience. Differences betwixt the earths atmo demesne and other planetary automatic teller machine including the presence of atomic number 8 and relatively low carbon dioxide parsimony.The nimbus is super important to the biosphere. Without melodic line, organisms nowadays would probably remain in the simple form or single celled. Further much, the ozone layer in the atmosphere absorbs and reflects part of the solar radiation incoming from the sun. This reduction of solar radiation lowers down the atmospheric temperature dramatically which allows organisms to surviv e. The Earth would not be so unique among the solar system when missing either one of the systems. The Gaia hypothesis cogitate this concept and indicates the Earth is a giant self-regulating system.The interactions of the organisms with their abiotic environments modified the condition of the Earth such as oxygen content and atmospheric temperature, fashioning the Earth more than livable terrestrial planet (Lovelock, 1973). Evolution of the Earth Allegre and the research team (1995) suggested that the Earth was formed 4. 53 to about 4. 7 Ga. The age range of the earth was estimated by means of a serial of isotope dating so the results are relatively valid. The Earth queues the third planet from the sun and its average radius is 6371 km (Lide, 2000).Because of specific outdo from the sun and the size, the Earth pre airs some of the very light elements, such as hydrogen, from escaping, by gravitational force (Adams, 1934). Moreover, the Earth has a gravitational force of 10 g ( Yoder, 1995). Gravitational force is an inconspicuous pull generated from the Earth core. The Earth self-spins once it is formed. The rotation period of the earth is 23 hours and 56 proceeding (Gold, 1967). This spinning effect creates centrifugal force which differentiate substances by mass. doughy metal tends to migrate toward the Earth core and leaving the light materials outside.When time passes, the surface of the earth cools and the first land formed. Although land excessively appears in other planets such as Mars, the crust of the Earth is different. Interestingly, unlike Mars, the Earth surface is not covered by a concrete sphere but a few tectonic plates. Since the Mars is much small than the Earth so the cooling effect of Mars is much quicker than the Earth. By now, the crust of the Mars has not been renewed for a certain adeninele period. The plate tectonic moves with three strategies, convergency, divergency and transformation. The movement of the plates compulsiv e by the underneath semisolid magma (Courteny, 2008).Surface morphology is determined by the way which the tectonic plates move and density of the plates. Tectonic activities, earthquake, mountain-building, volcanic eruption and subduction zone, are restricted along plate boundaries (Courtery, 2008). volcanic activities and oceanic subduction are highly important processes to deliver materials from the inner core and renew surface materials respectively. These recycle processes keep providing accessible resources for the living organisms. Atmosphere and ocean formation was also suggested to be related to volcanic activities (Morbidelli, 2000).Aforementioned that self-spinning of the Earth differentiate substances on Earth. Iron, as a metal that can be magnetized, and with accordingly high atomic mass, moves inward and forms the core. After 60 million years after the late Heavy Bombardment, the magnetic battlefield was established (Staff, 2010). Studies from Karato (1993) implies th e magnetic field whitethorn relate to the magnetizing properties of iron. No matter how the Earths magnetic field was formed, it prevents the atmosphere being stripped away by the solar bring up (Staff, 2010). Atmosphere The atmosphere is the outermost, thin layer enclosing the Earth.The composition of the atmosphere for example, oxygen, is imperative to the evolution of the Earth. The atmosphere of the Earth is comparable to the nearby terrestrial planet such as Mars and Venus. Given that the average distance and the size of Venus from the sun is 3/4 and 4/5 of the Earth, Venus has an atmosphere (Adams, 1934). Spectroscopic studies indicate that the atmosphere of Venus does not show any markings fabricateing the presence of oxygen and water vapour, even if these elements, once, had been appearance on Venus, they were consumed by the crust.Another result in the same spectroscopic conclude that the Venus atmosphere contains a high ingress of carbon dioxide, triggering a sever gr eenhouse effect (Adams, 1934). In addition to Venus, the Mars with besides one tenth by the mass of the Earth also has an atmosphere. Spectrograms studies raise significant markings on ? 8300 and ? 8700 recognizes the appearance of water and carbon dioxide respectively on the Mars atmosphere(Kaplan et. al. , 1964). The presence of water on Mars is obvious with the water ice cap present in the polar region of Mars (Adams, 1934).Not surprisingly, oxygen removes in Mars atmosphere and was proofed by the light relative frequency relative to carbon dioxide was not absorbed by the Mars atmosphere (Kaplan et. al.. 1964). From the example of Venus and Mars, it clearly shows that containing such a high concentration of oxygen, 21%, with extraordinary low carbon dioxide concentration, 0. 03%, as the Earths atmosphere is uncommon in the solar system. The composition of the Earth atmosphere provides with evidences that it has been modified by some other factors. This modification, as we kn ow, was conducted by plants.Plants urge on carbon dioxide and exhale free oxygen as a spin-off through the process of p warmingosynthesis, inorganic substances were also converted into organic substances during the process (Berkner & Marshall, 1965). Free oxygen facilitates the evolution of organisms because high oxygen concentration triggers aerophilic respiration, without oxygen, organisms nowadays would probably remain simple (Fenchel & Finlay, 1994). Differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration not only limit on the requirement of oxygen, the oxidizing power and favourable electron accepting properties of oxygen boosts aptitude metabolism (Babcock, 1999).Babcock (1999) also state that aerobic respiration releases much more ATPs than anaerobic respiration, ATP can be treated as the thrust storage unit in organisms. In other words, organisms undergo aerobic respiration can perform more vigorous activities or support the duration of the activities. Furthermor e, the ozone layer derived from the excess free oxygen incubated a habitable environment for living organisms. The ozone layer with related to energy budget and the effect on human was well examined in Norway (Adams, 1934 Henriksen, 1990).The ozone layer prevents living organisms fire to death by screening out part of the UV-radiation r for each oneing to the Earth surface. Hydrosphere By the time when Earth was just formed, water from asteroids,proto-planets, andcomets was locked in the core. Volcanic extrusion and outgassing brings magma along with dissolved gas and water vapour to the surface respectively. Extruded gas and water vapour suspended in the atmosphere accordingly atmospheric constrict continuously increases. Water condenses when the atmospheric vapour pressure is saturated.Water droplets fall onto the ground and ocean formed (Morbidelli, 2000). Liquid water is an surface heat reservior because of having an extremely high specific heat capacity, 4200J/kg/?. This im portantly high specific heat capacity, in other words, a queen-size sum of energy can only result in a small extent of changes in temperature of water. The high energy absorption mightiness combined with the ocean current makes the ocean a good vector for transporting absorbed solar energy and regulating global climate (Michon, 2006). by from an excellent thermal reservoir, liquid water is also a good solvent.Gases in the atmosphere and minerals from the hydorthermal vents can easily dissolve into the water. Dissolved gas and minerals has planted a seed to the extensive evolution of life end-to-end the geological time (Morris, 2007). Biosphere As we discussed the geosphere, atmosphere and the hydrosphere in a higher place, these systems have one involvement in common. All the systems are linked with the biosphere. Although other planets in the solar system exhibit either physical feature, mostly not more than two, with Earth. The true uniqueness of the Earth raised from the p resents of life which cannot be lay down on other planets recently.The origin of life is still a hot arguing topic among groups of scientists. However, the hydothermal vent is the most commonly and recently congenial concepts of the origin of life (Baross & Hoffman, 1985). The origin of life via submarine hydrothermal vent hypothesis has not been disproved yet since it was published because there are no other environment on Earth can provide a thermo-stable habitat with abundant minerals supply, for example, nitrogen and sulphur, for life establishment (Baross & Hoffman, 1985). Photosynthesis is considered as a key issue of the origin of life (Hartman, 1996).Bacteria record open up in western Australia, dated as 3. 5 billion years ago, stated that cyanobacteria may be the first autotrophic organism and responsible for the later atmospheric modification (Awranik, 1992). This key process opens the windowpane of free oxygen, hence considerably boosted the evolution of organism s. The atomic number 32 Hypothesis either system discussed above has its own features and contributions within the system boundaries. There is no doubt that every literatures when emphasizing the planet Earth, it can hardly beget any paper just put the focus on a single system.The same situation can also be detect in this article. For example, in the discussion part of the origin and development of the atmosphere, the tectonic activities and outgassing processes were mentioned. Moreover, a analogous case was obtained when investigating biosphere. Although the whole part is incline towards living organisms, the effect of atmosphere to the biosphere can hardly be eliminated. The above situation is not due to the habit of the authors or the regulations of the publishers but it is the certain case of the Earth.All systems on the Earth, including geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere or even self-defined systems, are interdependent. These systems interact with each other t o create a more habitable planey. This complex interaction has long been observed by pack Lovelock (1973) and explained in the GAIA Hypothesis. GAIA hypothesis suggested early life form achieve some miscellanea of ability to control the global climate and the effect is still active. Lovelock (1972) stated that once the life exist on Earth, the physical environment and the chemical substance states had resulted a dramatic change.For example, the solar radiation level had increased dramatically since life exists. The Earth surface temperature, nevertheless, has only changed for a few degrees, end-to-end billion of years, compared to the current temperature. More interestingly, the rate and the extent of temperature change during the ult billion years is so slow and mild respectively that the environment always permit the persistence of living organisms or provide long enough time for organisms to adapt. Without life, the atmosphere of the Earth will be similar to that of Mars and Venus.The above example, therefore, proved that the atmosphere we are now external respiration is biological contrivance (Lovelock, 1972). The terms Spaceship Earth (Lovelock, 1972) was used to represent the planet where we are living. When astronauts were sent into the space, all the requirements for survival can only obtain from the storage in the starship. If either system in the spaceship fails, astronauts will probably die. Conclusion Doubtlessly, the Earth has many physical environments that absent in other planets. For example, liquid water and living organisms.However, what really makes the Earth rare is the interaction between different functional systems with unknown complexity. These interactions connected to the terminology of the Spaceship Earth meaning the Earth has the ability to self-regulate to conform its own environmental condition that result in a harmonised giant system. Reference Awramik, S. M. (1992). The oldest records of photosynthesis. PhotosynthesisRe search 33 (2) 75-89 Claude J. Allegre,Gerard Manhes,Christa Gopel, (1995). The age of the Earth. David R. Lide. (2000). Various. Handbook of Chemistry and physical science. 1 Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 59 (8)14451456 Gerald T Babcock. (1999). How oxygen is activated and reduced in respiration. PNAS. 96(23)12971-12973 Henriksen, Thormod, Dahlback, Arne, Larsen, Soren H. H. Moan, Johan. (1990). ULTRAVIOLET-RADIATION and SKIN CANCER. EFFECT OF AN OZONE LAYERDEPLETION. 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