EARTH SCIENCE

Characteristics of Earth that is Necessary to Support Life

How earth help to sustain life?

The Earth helps sustain life by providing the right conditions for living things. It has air to
breathe, water to drink, and soil to grow plants. The Earth also has the right temperature and
sunlight that plants, animals, and people need to live and be healthy.

To support life, Earth possesses a unique combination of characteristics that create a

habitable environment for all living things. These characteristics can be categorized into
physical, atmospheric, chemical, and biological aspects.

1. Physical Characteristics

a. Size and Mass

● Gravitational Pull -Earth's mass provides the right gravitational force,
which is strong enough to retain an atmosphere yet not so strong as to
cause crushing pressure. This gravity also allows for the stable
presence of liquid water.

b. Distance from the Sun (Habitable Zone)

● Optimal Temperature Range - Earth is located in the "Goldilocks
Zone," where temperatures are suitable for liquid water to exist. This
distance ensures that Earth isn't too hot or too cold, which is crucial for
most biological processes.

c. Rotation and Tilt

● Day-Night Cycle - Earth's rotation creates a 24-hour day-night cycle,
which helps regulate temperature and provides periods of light and
darkness necessary for different life processes.

● Axial Tilt - The tilt of Earth’s axis (approximately 23.5 degrees) causes
seasonal changes, distributing solar energy more evenly across the
planet and supporting diverse ecosystems.

2. Atmospheric Characteristics

a. Composition
● Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide - Earth's atmosphere contains about 21%
oxygen, necessary for the respiration of most life forms, and a small
percentage of carbon dioxide, crucial for photosynthesis in plants.
● Nitrogen -Comprising about 78% of the atmosphere, nitrogen acts as
an inert filler gas, providing a buffer that stabilizes atmospheric
pressure and temperature.

b. Protective Layers
 EARTH SCIENCE

● Ozone Layer - The stratospheric ozone layer absorbs and scatters

harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun, protecting living
organisms from DNA damage.
● Magnetosphere - Earth’s magnetic field deflects charged particles
from the solar wind, preventing them from stripping away the
atmosphere and causing harmful radiation exposure.

3. Chemical Characteristics

a. Water
● Universal Solvent - Water is essential for life, as it dissolves and
transports nutrients, aids in temperature regulation, and facilitates
biochemical reactions.
● States of Matter - Earth's temperature range allows water to exist in
solid, liquid, and gaseous states, which is vital for the water cycle
(evaporation, condensation, precipitation) and various life processes.

b. Essential Elements and Compounds

● Carbon - Earth's carbon cycle plays a central role in climate regulation
and is a fundamental building block of organic molecules.
● Nitrogen and Phosphorus - These elements are critical for DNA, RNA,
and proteins, making them essential for all known forms of life.

4. Biological Characteristics

a. Biodiversity
● Complex Ecosystems - Earth hosts a wide variety of ecosystems, from
oceans to forests to deserts, each supporting different forms of life.
This diversity ensures ecological balance and resilience.

b. Evolutionary Processes
● Genetic Variation and Adaptation - Earth's environments and
ecosystems drive evolutionary processes, allowing species to adapt
and survive in changing conditions.

5. Energy and Nutrient Cycles

a. Energy from the Sun

● Photosynthesis - Solar energy is the primary energy source for Earth,
driving photosynthesis, which produces oxygen and serves as the
foundation of the food chain.

b. Nutrient Cycles
● Carbon, Nitrogen, and Water Cycles - These cycles involve the
movement and transformation of essential elements and compounds
through Earth's systems, supporting life by recycling nutrients.
 EARTH SCIENCE

6. Geological and Environmental Stability

a. Plate Tectonics
● Land Formation and Climate Regulation - The movement of tectonic
plates shapes the continents, forms mountains, and influences ocean
currents and climate patterns. Volcanic activity from tectonics also
recycles minerals and nutrients.

b. Moderate Climate
● Stable Climate Patterns - Earth's relatively stable climate over
geological timescales has allowed life to evolve and thrive.

7. Protection from Catastrophic Events

a. Asteroid and Comet Deflection

● Jupiter's Role - The presence of large gas giants like Jupiter in the
solar system helps protect Earth by deflecting or capturing potentially
hazardous asteroids and comets.

Earth’s Subsystem

The Earth is a complex and dynamic planet composed of several interconnected

subsystems, also known as spheres. These subsystems work together to create and
maintain the conditions necessary for life. The main subsystems of Earth are the geosphere,
hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. Some models also include the cryosphere and
anthroposphere as distinct subsystems.

1. Geosphere

The geosphere refers to the solid parts of the Earth. It includes the crust, mantle, and core.
This subsystem is responsible for many geological processes, such as plate tectonics,
volcanic activity, and mountain building.

● Crust - The thin, outermost layer of the Earth, composed of rock and soil. It includes
continental crust (landmasses) and oceanic crust (ocean floors).

● Mantle - The layer beneath the crust, composed of semi-solid rock that flows slowly.
It is involved in convection currents, which drive plate tectonics.

● Core - The innermost layer, divided into a solid inner core and a liquid outer core,
primarily composed of iron and nickel. The core is responsible for Earth's magnetic
field.

2. Hydrosphere
 EARTH SCIENCE

The hydrosphere encompasses all the water on Earth, including oceans, rivers, lakes,
glaciers, groundwater, and water vapor in the atmosphere. Water exists in solid, liquid, and
gaseous forms.

● Oceans - Covering about 71% of the Earth's surface, oceans are the largest
component of the hydrosphere and play a crucial role in regulating climate and
weather patterns.

● Freshwater - Includes rivers, lakes, and groundwater, which are essential for drinking
water, agriculture, and industrial use.

● Glaciers and Ice Caps - Part of the cryosphere, these store large amounts of
freshwater and influence sea levels and climate.

3. Atmosphere

The atmosphere is the layer of gasses surrounding Earth. It is composed primarily of

nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%), with trace amounts of other gasses like carbon dioxide,
water vapor, and ozone. The atmosphere is crucial for weather, climate, and the protection of
life from harmful solar radiation.

● Troposphere - The lowest layer, where weather occurs and where most of the Earth's
mass of air is found.

● Stratosphere - Contains the ozone layer, which absorbs and scatters ultraviolet solar
radiation.

● Mesosphere - The middle layer, where meteors burn up upon entering Earth's
atmosphere.

● Thermosphere - Contains the ionosphere, where auroras occur and where the
International Space Station orbits.

● Exosphere - The outermost layer, where the atmosphere thins out into space.

4. Biosphere

The biosphere includes all living organisms on Earth, from the smallest bacteria to the
largest mammals. It encompasses life in the oceans, on land, and in the atmosphere. The
biosphere interacts with other subsystems, exchanging energy and matter.

● Ecosystems - Communities of living organisms and their physical environment,

interacting as a system. They can range from forests and deserts to coral reefs and
tundras.
● Biodiversity - The variety of life forms within the biosphere, which is essential for the
resilience and stability of ecosystems.

5. Cryosphere
 EARTH SCIENCE

The cryosphere consists of all the frozen water on Earth, including glaciers, ice caps, ice
sheets, sea ice, and permafrost. It is a critical component of the global climate system,
influencing sea levels, ocean circulation, and weather patterns.

● Glaciers and Ice Sheets - Large masses of ice on land, primarily found in Antarctica
and Greenland.

● Sea Ice - Frozen seawater that floats on the ocean surface, mainly found in the Arctic
and Southern Oceans.

● Permafrost - Permanently frozen ground, found in polar regions and high-altitude

areas.

5. Anthroposphere

The anthroposphere refers to the part of the environment that has been modified by human
activities. It includes cities, infrastructure, agriculture, and industries. The anthroposphere
interacts with other subsystems, often causing significant changes, such as pollution,
deforestation, and climate change.

Interactions Among Subsystems

The Earth's subsystems are interconnected and constantly interact with one another. These
interactions create dynamic processes and cycles, such as the water cycle, carbon cycle,
and rock cycle. For example:

Water Cycle - Involves the movement of water between the hydrosphere, atmosphere,
geosphere, and biosphere through processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation,
and runoff.

Carbon Cycle - Involves the exchange of carbon between the atmosphere, hydrosphere,
geosphere, and biosphere, influencing climate and life on Earth.

Rock Cycle - Describes the formation, breakdown, and reformation of rocks through
geological processes involving the geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.

Physical and Chemical Properties

The study of the Earth's physical and chemical properties is crucial to understanding the
planet's structure, composition, and the dynamic processes that shape it. This study involves
examining both the physical characteristics and the chemical composition of Earth's
materials, including minerals, rocks, soil, water, and the atmosphere.

1. Physical Properties
a. Minerals and Rocks
 EARTH SCIENCE

● Hardness - The resistance of a mineral to being scratched. It is measured

using the Mohs scale, which ranges from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond).
● Luster - Describes how light reflects from a mineral's surface. It can be
metallic, glassy, pearly, or dull, among others.

● Color - The observable hue of a mineral, which can vary due to impurities.

● Streak - The color of a mineral in powdered form, obtained by scratching it on

a streak plate.

● Cleavage and Fracture - Describes how minerals break. Cleavage is the

tendency to break along flat surfaces, while fracture describes an irregular
breakage.

● Density and Specific Gravity - Density is the mass per unit volume, and
specific gravity is the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of
water.

● Texture - The feel or appearance of a rock's surface, determined by the size,

shape, and arrangement of its grains or crystals.

b. Soil and Water

● Soil Texture - The relative proportion of sand, silt, and clay particles in soil,
influencing its permeability and porosity.

● Water Content and Moisture - The amount of water present in soil or rock,
affecting its physical properties like density and conductivity.

● Porosity and Permeability - Porosity refers to the volume of void spaces in soil
or rock, while permeability is the ability to transmit fluids.

2. Chemical Properties

a. Minerals and Rocks

● Chemical Composition - The elemental makeup of minerals, which

determines their specific properties. For example, quartz is composed of
silicon and oxygen (SiO₂), while calcite is composed of calcium, carbon, and
oxygen (CaCO₃).

● Reactivity with Acids - Some minerals react with acids, producing

effervescence. For example, calcite reacts with hydrochloric acid to release
carbon dioxide gas.

● Oxidation and Reduction - Minerals can undergo oxidation (loss of electrons)

or reduction (gain of electrons), affecting their stability and appearance. For
example, iron can oxidize to form rust.
 EARTH SCIENCE

b. Oil and Water

● pH Level - The acidity or alkalinity of soil and water, influencing nutrient

availability and chemical reactions. A pH below 7 is acidic, while a pH above
7 is alkaline.

● Cation Exchange Capacity - The ability of soil to hold and exchange positively
charged ions (cations), affecting nutrient availability for plants.

● Salinity -The concentration of dissolved salts in water or soil, influencing

water quality and soil fertility.

● Nutrient Content - The presence of essential nutrients like nitrogen,

phosphorus, and potassium in soil, which are vital for plant growth.

● Applications and Implications - Understanding the physical and chemical

properties of Earth's materials is essential in various fields:

a. Geology - Helps in identifying and classifying minerals and rocks, understanding the
Earth's structure, and exploring natural resources.

b. Environmental Science - Assists in assessing soil quality, water resources, and the
impact of pollution.

c. Agriculture - Guides soil management practices for optimal crop production by

understanding soil properties and nutrient content.

d. Engineering Informs the selection of construction materials and the assessment of

ground conditions for infrastructure projects.

4. Practical Activities

● Mineral Identification - Using physical and chemical tests to identify minerals.

● Soil Analysis - Testing soil samples for texture, pH, moisture content, and
nutrient levels.

● Water Quality Testing - Analyzing water samples for pH, salinity, and other
chemical properties.