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    g11 Support Life

    Uploaded by

    Angel Alibangbang
    life

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    g11 Support Life

    Uploaded by

    Angel Alibangbang
    6 views1 page
    life

    Original Title

    g11 support life

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    life

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    6 views1 page

    g11 Support Life

    Uploaded by

    Angel Alibangbang
    life

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 1

    The Sun’s Energy is Important to Life on Earth

    Solar radiation, or energy produced by the Sun, is the primary energy source for most
    processes in the Earth system and drives Earth’s energy budget.

    Energy from the Sun makes it possible for life to exist on Earth. It is responsible for
    photosynthesis in plants, vision in animals, and many other natural processes, such as
    the movements of air and water that create weather. Most plants need at least some
    sunlight to grow, so without light, there would be no plants, and without plants, there
    would not be oxygen for us to breathe. Infrared radiation from the Sun is responsible for
    heating the Earth’s atmosphere and surface. Without energy from the Sun, Earth would
    freeze. There would be no winds, ocean currents, or clouds to transport water.

    Temperature

    The average temperature of the Earth is a fundamental part of what allows Earth to be
    habitable. Of all of the planets that have been found, Earth is the only one known to
    support life. This "perfect" temperature exists because Earth lies in a "Goldilocks zone" in
    terms of temperature, being neither too hot nor too cold to support life. In contrast, if
    Earth was even slightly warmer or colder, life as we know it would not exist on this
    planet. Venus and Mars provide examples of what different temperatures on the surface
    of a planet similar in composition to the Earth could range between.

    Nutrients
    The next factor related to the planet that determine its habitability is the constituent
    chemicals and water on the planet. Although the planets and moons from the same
    star system would have a similar chemical makeup, certain types of compounds are
    necessary for the development of life. If it’s a carbon-based life form, chemicals
    needed to make proteins and carbohydrates should be present.

    Apart from the availability of compounds needed to create nutrients, there should
    also be a system that circulates the water to be accessible to various life forms. On
    Earth, this occurs in numerous ways, like the water cycle, carbon cycle, etc., and
    during events like volcanic eruptions.

    Atmosphere
    One of the main components of Earth’s interdependent physical systems is the
    atmosphere. An atmosphere is made of the layers of gases surrounding a planet or other
    celestial body. Earth’s atmosphere is composed of about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and
    one percent other gases. These gases are found in atmospheric layers (troposphere,
    stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere) defined by unique features
    such as temperature and pressure. The atmosphere protects life on earth by shielding it
    from incoming ultraviolet (UV) radiation, keeping the planet warm through insulation, and
    preventing extremes between day and night temperatures. The sun heats layers of the
    atmosphere causing it to convect driving air movement and weather patterns around the
    world.

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