Lesson 1.

3 Earth: The Living

Planet
OBJECTIVE:
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to describe the different
characteristics of the earth necessary for the growth and survival of life.
EARTH
• Earth is considered as a home of simple single-celled
organisms up to the most complex life forms including
humans. It is undeniable that the planet we live in is a rare
planet as it is the only planet in our solar system that permits
life. The different characteristics of Earth are responsible for
the proliferation of life.
EARTH’S CHARACTERISTICS NECESSARY TO
SUPPORT LIFE
1. Earth’s Atmosphere
• The atmosphere consists of 78.1% nitrogen, 20.9% oxygen, 0.9% argon, 350 ppm
carbon dioxide, and other components.
• The presence of oxygen and carbon dioxide permits life on Earth. Carbon dioxide
is used by photosynthetic organisms, such as plants and algae, to convert the
energy from the sun to usable energy through the process of photosynthesis. The
oxygen makes it livable for living organisms including humans for respiration and
for our cells to function.
• Earth’s atmosphere also protects us from the sun’s radiation. Thirty percent of
the radiation is reflected away by the atmosphere, clouds, and the earth's
surface. Another 25% is absorbed by the atmosphere and clouds, and the
remaining 45% is absorbed by the earth’s surface.
• Ozone or O3 is composed of three oxygen atoms. In the stratosphere, O3 is
abundant in the form of the ozone layer. This layer absorbs the ultraviolet
wavelengths, and the absorption of this radiation heats up the air.
2. Soil and Vegetation
• The soil is a mixture of minerals, water, air, organic matter, and
organisms. It is a living medium—a medium for growth of all kinds of
vegetation. The soil promotes growth for plants by providing nutrients,
water, and as a substrate for anchorage of roots. In return, vegetation
produces trees and forests cover, ensures the water and nutrient cycle,
and prevents soil and wind erosion. This mutual relationship of the soil
and vegetation makes our planet livable.
• A is the topsoil;
B is a regolith;
C is a saprolite,
a less-
weathered
regolith; the
bottom-most
layer
represents the
bedrock.
3. Earth’s Hydrosphere
• The hydrosphere contains all the water on our planet including ice
and vapor. Nearly three-quarters of the earth’s surface is the sea and
the ocean. The ocean houses many species of marine life and diverse
mineral resources. Other forms of water include river, streams, and
lakes. Other than being a water reservoir, these forms of water are all
sources of fish and shellfish that we consume. They also serve as
thermostat and heat reservoir, especially the ocean. They also serve
as ways for transportation.
4. PLATE TECTONICS
• Vital for a world to host life – that is, a
planet whose shell is broken up into
plates that constantly move around.
• Plates cover the entire Earth and their
boundaries play an important role in
geologic happenings. The movement of
these plates atop a thick, fluid mantle is
known as plate tectonics and is the
source of earthquakes and volcanoes.
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
• PROXIMITY TO THE SUN – neither too much heat nor too little
• SYSTEM OF PLATE TECTONICS – enables the carbon-silicate cycle
regulating temperature
• THE RIGHT SIZE – large enough to hang on to its atmosphere, but not
so large to hold on to too much atmosphere and consequently too
much heat
• PROTECTION BY JUPITER – whose gravity helps divert and vacuum up
incoming debris and keep earth safe
• THE ONLY MOON – has a stabilizing effect on our planetary rotation,
which prevents the poles from shifting unexpectedly
Lesson 1.4 Earth: The Four
Subsystems
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to explain that the Earth
consists of four subsystems, across whose boundaries matter and
energy flow.
• The Earth is comprised of
four major subsystems.
These subsystems are also
called the “spheres of the
Earth.” They are
atmosphere, geosphere,
hydrosphere, and
biosphere.
ATMOSPHERE
• The word atmosphere comes from the Greek roots atmos which
means gas, and sphaira which means globe or ball. The atmosphere
makes up of all the gases on Earth. It extends outward about 10 000
km from the surface of the Earth. It is composed of 78.1% nitrogen,
20.9% oxygen, 0.9% argon, 350 ppm carbon dioxide, and other
components.
• The atmosphere has different layers – troposphere, stratosphere,
mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.
• The troposphere extends to about 14.5 km above the Earth's surface. It is
the lowest layer where the weather forms.
• The stratosphere is found 14.5 to 50 km above the Earth's surface. The
ozone layer that protects the Earth from the Sun's harmful UV radiation is
found in this layer.
• The mesosphere extends from 50 to 85 km above the Earth's surface. It
protects the Earth from the impact of space debris.
• The thermosphere is found 85 to 600 km above the Earth's surface. It has
charged particles that are affected by the Earth's magnetic field. The
particles create the Auroras or Northern and Southern lights.
• The exosphere is the farthest layer. It extends to about 10 000 km above
the Earth's surface.
GEOSPHERE
• Geo is a Greek root which means ground. Geosphere includes all the
soil, rocks, and minerals present in the crust to the core of the Earth.
It is divided into three layers namely crust, mantle, and core.
• The crust is the outermost layer of the geosphere. It is made mostly
of silicate materials. There are two different types of crust, the
oceanic and continental crusts. The thin oceanic crust that lies
beneath the oceanic floors is about 5 to 10 km thick. On the other
hand, the thicker continental crust that makes up the continents is
about 15 to 70 km thick.
• The mantle, which lies just below the crust, is made mostly of silicate
rocks rich in magnesium and iron. It is about 2900 km thick. It has
increasing temperatures at increasing depths. For instance, the layer
with the lowest temperature is the one right beneath the crust. This
layer, which is soft enough to flow, causes the plates of the crust to
move. On the other hand, the layer with the highest temperature is
found in contact with the heat-producing core.
• The core, which has a radius of 3400 km, is the innermost layer of the
Earth. It is made up of iron and nickel. It is the source of internal heat
because it contains radioactive materials that release energy as they
decay into more stable substances.
HYDROSPHERE
• Hydro is a Greek root which means water.
• Hydrosphere is composed of all the water on Earth in any form: water
vapor, liquid water, and ice. It is comprised of 97.5% saltwater and
2.5% freshwater. It includes all bodies of water such as oceans, lakes,
rivers, and marshes. Clouds and rain are also part of the hydrosphere.
• The water on Earth is constantly moving. It moves through the oceans
in currents. Warm waters in the tropics move toward the poles while
cold water from the polar regions move toward the tropics. Water
also flows into streams and rivers and through the rocks
underground. It can also move from the Earth’s surface to the air by
evaporation and then fall back to Earth as precipitation. It even moves
into and out of the bodies of organisms.
BIOSPHERE
• Bio is a Greek root that means life. The biosphere is comprised of all
living things. It includes all microbes, plants, and animals. It extends
to the upper areas of the atmosphere where insects and birds can be
found. It also reaches the deep parts of the oceans where marine
organisms can still survive.
• Organisms interact with the other spheres to survive. Many
organisms need oxygen and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to
carry out life processes. Water, which comprises the hydrosphere, is
also important to organisms. Finally, the rocks, soil, and minerals
constitute the geosphere also support life.
How the Earth’s Subsystems Interact
• Matter and energy move and
cycle between the four
different subsystems. These
cycles make life on Earth
possible. An example of these
cycles is the water cycle. Water
moves between the different
spheres. It absorbs, releases,
and transports energy around
the world in its different forms.
What will happen if matter or energy does not
change from one form to another?
• For example, what if water vapor does not fall back to the Earth as
rain? Then the bodies of water will be drained, and no life on Earth
will exist.
TIPS
• Some of the components in the subsystems overlap. The most
common example is the soil which can be considered as a part of
hydrosphere, geosphere, and even biosphere. Since the soil is a
complex material made up of air, soil particles, water, and organisms,
it underscores that a clear division among subsystems cannot be
drawn.
Lesson 1.5 Advancements on
the Solar System
Objective: At the end of this lesson, you should be
able to explain the current advancements and
information on the Solar System.
 Pluto's Status
• In 1930, Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto as the ninth
planet in the solar system. However, the discovery of Kuiper
Belt (an area after Neptune that contains asteroids, comets,
and other celestial bodies) questioned the status of Pluto as a
planet.
• At first, Eris was suggested as the tenth planet in the solar
system.
• Its incapability to clear its orbit due to lack of gravity led to
classify it as a dwarf planet together with Pluto. Other dwarf
planets are Ceres in the Asteroid Belt and Makemake and
Haumea both in the Kuiper Belt.
• Dwarf planets are celestial bodies that orbit the sun, have
enough mass to assume a nearly round shape, and have not
cleared its orbit due to lack of gravity.
 Planet X
• However, recent observations by two
astronomers, Mike Brown and Konstantin
Batygin, led to the speculation that a ninth
planet is present in our solar system. They
discovered six clustered objects in the Kuiper
Belt and stated that this clustering is due to the
presence of a planet enough to put them in
place. Calculations and observations have been
done to claim that a Planet X exists. However,
other astronomers stated that until it is seen,
the claim for the ninth planet in our solar
system is still in question.
 Mars Rover Mission
• Since 1970s, NASA has been deploying Mars Exploration
Rovers to examine the nearest planet to Earth, Mars.
They examined materials of Mars’ lithosphere and
assessed if the weather condition is viable for the
survival of life.
• Its mission was focused on the physical characteristics of
the planet. It aimed to collect data on how the planet
formed its rocks and soil and whether or not water has
been responsible for the weathering and erosion of
rocks. The rovers examined the rocks and analyzed that
it had sedimentary rocks that can be formed if rocks are
soaked for a long time in the water.
• Based on the data collected, scientists believe that Mars
had water in the past, and this water sustained some
microorganisms.
• Since January 2014, rovers started digging for fossilized
evidence of ancient life.
Mars One Program
• The Mars One Program aims to land the first
humans on Mars and establish a human
colony on that planet by 2027.
• In 2014, the program chose astronauts that
will be sent to Mars. Plans of landing rovers
and establishing communication satellites
were also formulated. The target is that by
the year 2022, the first crew will start its
travel to Mars and will reach it after a year,
and by 2035, the colony will have twenty
crew and will be able to sustain itself.
 Titan’s Water
• Titan is Saturn’s largest moon. Astronomers studying the
Titan’s composition lead to the discovery that liquid
substance is present on the moon in the form of liquid
methane. Below is an image that was taken from the
shutter-snapping Cassini spacecraft which shows the most
detailed look at one of the famous lakes on the surface of
Titan.
• The discovery of Titan has been a breakthrough since it is
the only known celestial body in our solar system that has
liquid substance on it, aside from Earth.
• It was also discovered that the Titan is undergoing chemical
processes, the same processes that the Early Earth have
undergone. If the Sun became large enough, it will receive
the same amount of solar energy we are receiving, thus,
making the possibility for life’s survival possible.
 Lesson 1.6 Contributors in
Understanding the Earth
Systems
Objective: In this lesson, you should be able to cite
the contributions of personalities/people to the
understanding of the earth systems.
Earth System Science (ESS)
• The study of the Earth as a system. It considers interactions between
the Earth’s “spheres” – atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and
biosphere. It is a relatively new field whose foundations are
established long ago by scientists in other fields.
• An integration of chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics. It is
the study of the Earth as an integrated system. It seeks to understand
the past, current, and future states of the Earth.
• Many scientists had built the foundations of understanding the Earth
systems. They include James Hutton, Alexander von Humboldt,
Vladimir Vernadsky, James Lovelock, and Lynn Margulis.
James Hutton
• The father of modern geology, was a Scottish
farmer and naturalist. It was in farming that he
observed how land was shaped by destructive
forces of wind and weather systems.
• He described how the Earth was formed in a
repeated cycle of erosion and sedimentation,
with heat from volcanic activity as the driving
force.
• He also introduced the concept of
uniformitarianism, implying that the geological
forces (such as those that trigger erosion and
volcanic activities) in the past are the same as
those in the present, making it possible to
determine the Earth's history by studying rocks.
 Alexander von Humboldt
• Alexander von Humboldt, a 19th-century
geographer, helped establish the foundation for
Earth System Science through his observations of
nature.
• He, together with his colleagues, traveled to
America; collected botanical, zoological, and
geological specimens; recorded the location of the
specimens where they were found; and
performed atmospheric and geophysical
measurements.
• From his records, he recognized patterns that
reveal underlying processes, such as the transport
of heat in ocean currents and the influence of
temperature on plants.
Vladimir Vernadsky
• Vladimir Vernadsky, one of the founders of
geochemistry, popularized the term noosphere. In his
theory of Earth development, he stated that
geosphere was the first phase of the Earth that was
developed.
• The second phase was the biosphere or biological life.
The emergence of life on Earth transformed the
geosphere. Then the noosphere, the sphere of human
consciousness, is the third phase. The development of
human cognition then transformed the biosphere.
• Today, the study of human impact on the biosphere
led to the concept of sustainability, which is the
capacity of the Earth to continue to support human
life.
 James Lovelock
• James Lovelock, a British environmentalist,
proposed the Gaia hypothesis, which
postulates that the Earth works as a self-
regulating system.
• He stated that the living organisms co-evolve
with nonliving things in the environment to
form a synergistic, self-regulating system
where life is maintained and perpetuated.
He cited as evidence the photosynthetic
bacteria during the Precambrian times.
• The bacteria modified the Earth’s
atmosphere to become oxygen-enriched.
The change in the atmosphere then
supported the evolution of more complex
organisms.
Lynn Margulis
• Lynn Margulis, an evolutionary theorist,
further developed Lovelock’s Gaia hypothesis.
• Margulis noticed that all kinds of bacteria give
off gases and thought that atmospheric gases
were from biological sources.
• She collaborated with Lovelock and published
a paper on how life regulates the
temperature and chemical composition of the
soil and the atmosphere.
 National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA)
• The major landmark in the formal development of the
Earth System Science was the formation of the Earth
System Science Committee in NASA in 1983. NASA began to
study components of the Earth system, their linkages,
dependencies, and fluxes.
• Scientists from NASA conduct the Earth Science Program
with a purpose of understanding the Earth system by using
satellites for long-term observations. By viewing the Earth
from space, they have studied how the planet is changing
in response to human influences. For instance, they have
shown how the climate is changing due to the increasing
concentrations of carbon dioxide and aerosols from human
activities. These substances trap the Sun’s heat causing an
increase in the global temperature.