1.

ATTRIBUTES OF THE EARTH

Characteristics of the Earth

Our planet Earth is a rotating sphere that orbits the Sun. The Earth's axis of rotation is at a constant tilt
with respect to its orbit around the Sun, resulting in the change of seasons.

The physical characteristics of the Earth include its size and composition. The Earth also has gravity and
magnetic force fields.

Questions you may have include:

 What is the Earth's relationship with the Sun?

 What are the Earth's physical characteristics?
 What do the Earth's force fields do?

Earth's relationship with Sun

The Earth is the third planet from the Sun, with Mercury and Venus being closer. Its unique position
gives the Earth a temperate climate, allowing the chemical reactions necessary to sustain life. But over
the years, the climate has varied enough to melt the ice caps near the North and South poles, or to
cause glaciers to move south in an Ice Age.

Revolves around the Sun in an orbit

The Earth goes around the Sun in a counterclockwise orbit, taking a year or about 365 days to make one
revolution. The orbit is an ellipse, so the Sun is slightly off-center.

The Earth orbits the Sun

The average distance from the Sun is 149,597,890 kilometers (92,955,820 miles). This distance is so
great that it takes light about 8 minutes to reach the Earth from the Sun.

Spins on its axis

The Earth spins or rotates on its axis in a counterclockwise motion, as viewed from above the North
Pole. It makes one revolution in 24 hours.

The spinning of the Earth on its axis is what causes the Sun to appear to move across the sky. The effect
the apparent movement of the Sun is similar to looking out the window of a moving car, where things
outside appear to be moving past you.
Tilt affects seasons

The Earth's axis also tilts with respect to the Sun, causing the changes of the seasons. In summer, the
Earth is tilted such that the Sun falls more directly, while in winter the Sun looks lower in the horizon
and the light comes at a glancing angle. The tilt of the Earth also causes the summer days to be longer
than the nights. In winter the days are shorter and there is less light to heat the ground.

The light from the Sun is more direct in summer than

in winter at the same latitude

The further north you go, the more the effect of the tilt of the Earth is apparent. Above the Arctic Circle,
daylight can be seen for a full 24 hours in the summer or night can be 24 hours in the winter. That is why
they call the area "the land of the midnight sun."

Moon

The Earth has only one moon, while Mars has two moons and Jupiter has 9 moons.

Physical characteristics of Earth

Physical characteristics include shape, size and composition.

Spherical in shape

Just as the Sun and Moon appear as spheres, so too is the Earth spherical in shape. To people on Earth,
the planet appears to be generally flat (not counting for hills and valleys), but in reality the surface of the
Earth has a slight curve. This can be noticed when looking out on a large lake or the ocean and seeing a
ship come up along the horizon.
 Ship coming up over the horizon

The shape of the Earth has been proven by ships circling the Earth, as well as from pictures of the Earth
taken from the space vehicles.

View of Earth from space

Its shape is actually slightly flattened at the poles.

Size

The diameter of the Earth at the equator is 12,756 km (7,926 miles), and its circumference or distance
around the Earth at the equator is 40,075 km (24,901 miles).

Composition

The composition of the Earth consists of the solid and liquid portion and the atmosphere or gaseous
portion.
Solid and liquid

The percentage composition of the Earth's solid and liquid materials (by mass) is:

Element Percentage

Iron 34.6%

Oxygen 29.5%

Silicon 15.2%

Magnesium 12.7%

Nickel 2.4%

Sulfur 1.9%

Titanium 0.05%

Oxygen is chemically combined with many substances to produce liquid and solid compounds. Although
water (H2O) is a dominant compound on Earth, Hydrogen is not listed above because of its small mass.

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) is sand, and that compound makes up a large portion of the Earth's mass. Much of
the Iron is in the Earth's core and is responsible for the Earth's magnetic field.

Atmosphere

Although most people think air is mainly Oxygen, the atmosphere of the Earth actually consists of 79%
Nitrogen (N2), 20% Oxygen (O2) and 1% of other gases such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2).

Force fields

The Earth has two major force fields: gravity and magnetism.

Gravity

Gravity is the force at a distance that attracts objects of mass toward each other. The force of gravity
from the Earth holds down our atmosphere, oceans and everything else.
Lost atmosphere

Some planets and moons that have less gravity than Earth have lost their atmosphere because it wasn't
sufficient to hold the gas close to the surface.

Escape velocity

When you throw a ball or shoot a bullet upward, it will slow down due to the Earth's gravity, until it
finally falls back to the ground. You would have to shoot the object at 40,248 km/hr (25,009 mph) for it
to escape the Earth's gravity and fly out into space. This is called the Earth's Escape Velocity.

(See the lesson on Gravity for more information.)

Magnetic field

The Earth is like a giant magnet with a magnetic pole near the North Pole and the opposite near the
South Pole. The north pole of a magnet seeks the North Magnetic Pole. Through the ages, indications
are that the poles switched directions. No one is sure why this happened.

The rotation of the Earth and the fact that the core of the Earth is made of iron are major factors in
creating the magnetic field.

One thing the magnetic field does is to attract charged particles that have been emitted from the Sun.
The focusing of these particles at the poles may help to prevent us from being harmed by the high
energy particles.

These particles cause the air in the upper atmosphere to glow. This is called the northern lights (aurora
borealis) or southern lights (aurora australis).

(See the lesson on Magnetism for more information.)

Summary

The Earth is a rotating sphere that orbits the Sun. The axis of rotation of the Earth is at a constant tilt
with respect to its orbit around the Sun, thus resulting in the change of seasons. Iron and oxygen make
up 65% of the Earth's mass. The Earth also has gravity and magnetic force fields.
What Is Earth?

This picture of Earth is sometimes called the Blue Marble.

Credits: NASA

The tilt of Earth causes seasons.

Credits: NASA
NASA has more than a dozen Earth science satellites in orbit. They help NASA study the oceans, land and
air.
Credits: NASA

NASA studies our planet to find ways to take care of it.

Credits: NASA

This article is part of the  NASA Knows! (Grades 5-8)  series.

 

Earth is our home planet. Scientists believe Earth and its moon formed around the same time as the rest
of the solar system. They think that was about 4.5 billion years ago. Earth is the fifth-largest planet in the
solar system. Its diameter is about 8,000 miles. And Earth is the third-closest planet to the sun. Its
average distance from the sun is about 93 million miles. Only Mercury and Venus are closer.

Earth has been called the "Goldilocks planet." In the story of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," a little
girl named Goldilocks liked everything just right. Her porridge couldn't be too hot or too cold. And her
bed couldn't be too hard or too soft. On Earth, everything is just right for life to exist. It's warm, but not
too warm. And it has water, but not too much water.

Earth is the only planet known to have large amounts of liquid water. Liquid water is essential for life.
Earth is the only planet where life is known to exist.

What Does Earth Look Like?

From space, Earth looks like a blue marble with white swirls and areas of brown, yellow, green and
white. The blue is water, which covers about 71 percent of Earth's surface. The white swirls are clouds.
The areas of brown, yellow and green are land. And the areas of white are ice and snow.

The equator is an imaginary circle that divides Earth into two halves. The northern half is called the
Northern Hemisphere. The southern half is called the Southern Hemisphere. The northernmost point on
Earth is called the North Pole. The southernmost point on Earth is called the South Pole.

How Do We Know Earth Is Round?

Humans have known that Earth is round for more than 2,000 years! The ancient Greeks measured
shadows during summer solstice and also calculated Earth's circumference. They used positions of stars
and constellations to estimate distances on Earth. They could even see the planet's round shadow on
the moon during a lunar eclipse. (We still can see this during lunar eclipses.)

Today, scientists use geodesy, which is the science of measuring Earth's shape, gravity and rotation.
Geodesy provides accurate measurements that show Earth is round. With GPS and other satellites,
scientists can measure Earth's size and shape to within a centimeter. Pictures from space also show
Earth is round like the moon.

Even though our planet is a sphere, it is not a perfect sphere. Because of the force caused when Earth
rotates, the North and South Poles are slightly flat. Earth's rotation, wobbly motion and other forces are
making the planet change shape very slowly, but it is still round.

How Does Earth Move?

Earth orbits the sun once every 365 days, or one year. The shape of its orbit is not quite a perfect circle.
It's more like an oval, which causes Earth's distance from the sun to vary during the year. Earth is
nearest the sun, or at "perihelion," in January when it's about 91 million miles away. Earth is farthest
from the sun, or at "aphelion," in July when it's about 95 million miles away.

At the equator, Earth spins at just over 1,000 miles per hour. Earth makes a full spin around its axis once
every 24 hours, or one day. The axis is an imaginary line through the center of the planet from the North
Pole to the South Pole. Rather than straight up and down, Earth's axis is tilted at an angle of 23.5
degrees.

Why Do We Have Day and Night?

At all times, half of Earth is lighted by the sun and half is in darkness. Areas facing toward the sun
experience daytime. Areas facing away from the sun experience nighttime. As the planet spins, most
places on Earth cycle through day and night once every 24 hours. The North Pole and South Pole have
continuous daylight or darkness depending on the time of year.

Why Does Earth Have Seasons?

Earth has seasons because its axis is tilted. Thus, the sun's rays hit different parts of the planet more
directly depending on the time of year.

From June to August, the sun's rays hit the Northern Hemisphere more directly than the Southern
Hemisphere. The result is warm (summer) weather in the Northern Hemisphere and cold (winter)
weather in the Southern Hemisphere.

From December to February, the sun's rays hit the Northern Hemisphere less directly than the Southern
Hemisphere. The result is cold (winter) weather in the Northern Hemisphere and warm (summer)
weather in the Southern Hemisphere.

From September to November, the sun shines equally on both hemispheres. The result is fall in the
Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere.

The sun also shines equally on both hemispheres from March to May. The result is spring in the
Northern Hemisphere and fall in the Southern Hemisphere.

What Are Earth's Different Parts?

Earth consists of land, air, water and life. The land contains mountains, valleys and flat areas. The air is
made up of different gases, mainly nitrogen and oxygen. The water includes oceans, lakes, rivers,
streams, rain, snow and ice. Life consists of people, animals and plants. There are millions of species, or
kinds of life, on Earth. Their sizes range from very tiny to very large.

Below Earth's surface are layers of rock and metal. Temperatures increase with depth, all the way to
about 12,000 degrees Fahrenheit at Earth's inner core.

Earth's parts once were seen as largely separate from each other. But now they are viewed together as
the "Earth system." Each part connects to and affects each of the other parts. For example:
  Clouds in the air drop rain and snow on land.
 Water gives life to plants and animals.
 Volcanoes on land send gas and dust into the air.
 People breathe air and drink water.

Earth system science is the study of interactions between and among Earth's different parts.

Why and How Does NASA Study Earth?

NASA studies Earth to learn about how the planet changes. Earth's parts - land, air, water and life - are
always changing. Some of the changes are natural and some are caused by humans. Scientists want to
understand how Earth has changed in the past and how it is changing now. This information helps them
predict how Earth might change in the future.

NASA studies Earth using satellites. Satellites look toward Earth from space. They take pictures of, and
collect information about, all of Earth's parts. NASA satellites are especially good for observing clouds,
oceans, land and ice. They also measure gases in the atmosphere, such as ozone and carbon dioxide.
They measure how much energy enters and leaves Earth's atmosphere. And they monitor wildfires,
volcanoes and their smoke.

Information gathered by NASA satellites helps scientists predict weather and climate. It also helps public
health officials track disease and famine. It helps farmers decide when to plant crops and what kinds to
plant. And it helps emergency workers respond to natural disasters.

The more people know about Earth and its current and predicted changes, the better decisions they can
make.

Planet Earth, explained

Our home planet provides us with life and protects us from space.

Earth, our home planet, is a world unlike any other. The third planet from the sun, Earth is the only
place in the known universe confirmed to host life.

With a radius of 3,959 miles, Earth is the fifth largest planet in our solar system, and it's the only one
known for sure to have liquid water on its surface. Earth is also unique in terms of monikers. Every
other solar system planet was named for a Greek or Roman deity, but for at least a thousand years,
some cultures have described our world using the Germanic word “earth,” which means simply “the
ground.”

Earth is the only planet known to maintain life. Find out the origins of our home planet and some of
the key ingredients that help make this blue speck in space a unique global ecosystem.
Our dance around the sun

Earth orbits the sun once every 365.25 days. Since our calendar years have only 365 days, we add an
extra leap day every four years to account for the difference.

Though we can't feel it, Earth zooms through its orbit at an average velocity of 18.5 miles a second.
During this circuit, our planet is an average of 93 million miles away from the sun, a distance that
takes light about eight minutes to traverse. Astronomers define this distance as one astronomical unit
(AU), a measure that serves as a handy cosmic yardstick.

Earth rotates on its axis every 23.9 hours, defining day and night for surface dwellers. This axis of
rotation is tilted 23.4 degrees away from the plane of Earth's orbit around the sun, giving us seasons.
Whichever hemisphere is tilted closer to the sun experiences summer, while the hemisphere tilted
away gets winter. In the spring and fall, each hemisphere receives similar amounts of light. On two
specific dates each year—called the equinoxes—both hemispheres get illuminated equally.

Many layers, many features

About 4.5 billion years ago, gravity coaxed Earth to form from the gaseous, dusty disk that surrounded
our young sun. Over time, Earth's interior—which is made mostly of silicate rocks and metals—
differentiated into four layers.

At the planet's heart lies the inner core, a solid sphere of iron and nickel that's 759 miles wide and as
hot as 9,800 degrees Fahrenheit. The inner core is surrounded by the outer core, a 1,400-mile-thick
band of iron and nickel fluids. Beyond the outer core lies the mantle, a 1,800-mile-thick layer of
viscous molten rock on which Earth's outermost layer, the crust, rests. On land, the continental crust
is an average of 19 miles thick, but the oceanic crust that forms the seafloor is thinner—about three
miles thick—and denser.

Like Venus and Mars, Earth has mountains, valleys, and volcanoes. But unlike its rocky siblings, almost
70 percent of Earth's surface is covered in oceans of liquid water that average 2.5 miles deep. These
bodies of water contain 97 percent of Earth's volcanoes and the mid-ocean ridge , a massive mountain
range more than 40,000 miles long.

Earth's crust and upper mantle are divided into massive plates that grind against each other in slow
motion. As these plates collide, tear apart, or slide past each other, they give rise to our very active
geology. Earthquakes rumble as these plates snag and slip past each other. Many volcanoes form as
seafloor crust smashes into and slides beneath continental crust. When plates of continental crust
collide, mountain ranges such as the Himalaya are pushed toward the skies.

Protective fields and gases

Earth's atmosphere is 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen, and one percent other gases such as
carbon dioxide, water vapor, and argon. Much like a greenhouse, this blanket of gases absorbs and
retains heat. On average, Earth's surface temperature is about 57 degrees Fahrenheit; without our
atmosphere, it'd be zero degrees . In the last two centuries, humans have added enough greenhouse
gases to the atmosphere to raise Earth's average temperature by 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit . This extra
heat has altered Earth's weather patterns in many ways.

The atmosphere not only nourishes life on Earth, but it also protects it: It's thick enough that many
meteorites burn up before impact from friction, and its gases—such as ozone—block DNA-damaging
ultraviolet light from reaching the surface. But for all that our atmosphere does, it's surprisingly thin.
Ninety percent of Earth's atmosphere lies within just 10 miles of the planet's surface .

We also enjoy protection from Earth's magnetic field, generated by our planet's rotation and its iron-
nickel core. This teardrop-shaped field shields Earth from high-energy particles launched at us from
the sun and elsewhere in the cosmos. But due to the field's structure, some particles get funneled to
Earth's Poles and collide with our atmosphere, yielding aurorae, the natural fireworks show known by
some as the northern lights.

Spaceship Earth

Earth is the planet we have the best opportunity to understand in detail—helping us see how other
rocky planets behave, even those orbiting distant stars. As a result, scientists are increasingly
monitoring Earth from space. NASA alone has dozens of missions dedicated to solving our planet's
mysteries.

At the same time, telescopes are gazing outward to find other Earths. Thanks to instruments such as
NASA's Kepler Space Telescope, astronomers have found more than 3,800 planets  orbiting other stars,
some of which are about the size of Earth , and a handful of which orbit in the zones around their stars
that are just the right temperature to be potentially habitable. Other missions, such as the Transiting
Exoplanet Survey Satellite, are poised to find even more.

10 characteristics of the earth

Earth is the third planet in the solar system, in orbit around the Sun between Venus and Mars, that is,
149,600,000 km from the Astro Rey.

It is the largest and densest of the so-called Terrestrial planets, and the fifth in size of the eight that
exist. It is also the only planet to date capable of hosting organic life as we know it.

Its name comes from the ancient Roman mythology: Terra, incarnation of a primitive goddess who was
associated with femininity, fertility and the origin of most things. It is associated with motherhood in
various cultures, such as the Pachamama of the Incas or Western Mother Earth.
The Earth has a unique natural satellite that we call the Moon, in orbit only 384,400 km away from the
surface. The Moon is the fourth largest satellite in the solar system and measures a quarter of the Earth.

Characteristics Of Earth

1. Origin and formation

The origin of the Earth and of the other planets is in the solar nebula, a disc of matter remaining from
the formation of the Sun itself. It has been calculated that 4550 million years ago the Earth existed, after
a period of cooling and constitution about 10 to 20 million years ago, the end result of which was the
conformation of the outer layers of the Earth’s surface and the Moon, the result of an impact between a
body roughly the size of Mars and Earth about 4530 million of years.

Then there was a gradual degassing of the planet’s crust, which together with the incipient volcanic
activity, initiated the chemical processes that would result in the Earth’s atmosphere. Similarly, the
appearance of water from the oceans, a prelude to life, was due to the introduction of ice and liquid
water into comets, asteroids or protoplanets that made an impact on the young Earth.

2. Movements
The Earth has three different forms of movement: rotation, translation and obliquity.

Rotation. The Earth revolves around its own axis, in a West-East direction, and it takes 23 hours, 56
minutes and 4 seconds to complete a turn. This movement gives rise to day and night, alternating
between the face exposed and hidden from the Sun.
Translation. The Earth’s orbit around the Sun has a perimeter of 930 million kilometers, at a speed of
108,000 kilometers per hour. That means that a full orbital lap takes place every 365 days, 5 hours, 48
minutes and 45 seconds. This period is what we commonly call the year.
Obliquity. The Earth is tilted on the plane of its elliptical at just over 23 °, and is responsible for the
seasons of the year, as it brings and moves certain planetary latitudes to the Sun. This movement
decreases at a rate of 0.47 “per year.
3. Atmosphere
The ball of gases that surrounds the Earth’s surface, subject to its gravity, is called the atmosphere. It
consists of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and the rest of noble gases and extends from the earth’s surface
to about 11 km in height (in 75% of its content). However, there are no definite limits of the
atmosphere, since it begins at some point to vanish in space.

Atmospheric nature is due to climatic phenomena and the redistribution of thermal energy, as well as
the appearance of the ozone layer, essential for the preservation of life from the direct impact of the
Sun’s UV radiation.

4. Composition and internal structure

The Earth belongs to the terrestrial planets, that is to say, that is a rocky body and not gaseous, like
Jupiter. The terrestrial body is composed of different levels or geological layers, namely:

Lithosphere. Composed by the terrestrial upper surface, crust and mantle, it is the layer that extends
from 0 to 60 km deep. It is the coldest and most rigid layer of all. The tectonic layers are composed of it.
Astenosphere A viscous layer on which the lithosphere floats, goes from 100 to 700 km deep.
The mantle. This is the name given to the layer between 35 and 2890 km depth, although it is a series of
different geological levels.
External nucleus. A liquid layer of matter, of very low viscosity, that surrounds and rests on a solid core.
Internal core. The central sphere of the Earth, composed mainly of iron, nickel and low percentages of
sulfur and oxygen. The core in total is 3500 km thick
5. Proportions
Of the terrestrial planets, the Earth is the most dense, possessing the most intense magnetic field and
the highest surface gravity, in addition to the fastest rotation. This molds it like a flattened sphere
(oblate spheroid) at the height of its poles, and bulging slightly at the height of the equator.

It has an equatorial circumference of 40,091 km, a diameter of 12,756 km and a mass of 5.9736 × 10^4
kg.

6. Surface
The total area of the Earth is 510,072,000 km2, of which 70.8% is water and the remaining 29.2% is land.
The relief of this exposed surface is a combination of mountains, deserts, plains and plateaus, while the
submerged one possesses canyons, plateaus and submarine ridges, as well as deep abyssal plains, where
sunlight does not reach.

The earth’s surface is modified over the years, due to the underground movement of the tectonic plates,
whose folds and collisions generate various relief phenomena.
7. Biosphere
The biosphere is understood as the total set of organic life on the planet, in the context of its physical
locations. Divided into several biomes, according to its latitude, height above sea level and humidity
margins, it is estimated that it has begun to evolve 3,500 million years ago.

The planetary biodiversity is very high, privileging for it the low and humid zones like the Tropical Forest,
while the high and arid zones are not habitable for plant and animal life.

In each biome there are diverse ecosystems, in which life has organized itself from the possible
relationships between living beings. The total mass of life on the planet is about 1 trillion tons of carbon.

8. Hydrosphere
A fundamental difference of the Earth with respect to other planets of the Solar System is its abundant
presence of water. This total aquifer surface is known as hydrosphere, and encompasses not only the
extensive oceans and seas, but lakes, rivers and groundwater up to 2 kilometers deep. The sum of this
mass of water on the planet is 1/4400 of its total mass.

The oceans extend over an area of 361.84 × 106 km2, with an average depth of 3682.2 meters and a
volume of 1.3324 × 109 km3. That means that if the land were leveled, the water would cover it
completely up to 2.7m in height.

9. Magnetic field
The Earth’s magnetic field is the largest of the terrestrial planets. Its poles are identified with the
geographical poles, although its origin is assumed in the movement of the metallic core of the planet,
which generates electric currents.

This is how the magnetosphere is formed, the earth’s magnetic field that, among other things, diverts
the solar wind particles. The dipole magnetic moment of the planet is estimated at 7.91 × 1015 T m3.
This magnetic force weakens towards the equator.

10. Human population

Spread across the continents, we inhabit around the world some 7 billion human beings and this figure
is expected to reach 9.2 billion by the year 2050. The most populated continent is Asia, and global
statistics point to 40% of rural population versus 60% of urban population.

The various human nations (204 sovereign nations for the year 2011) have claimed almost all of the land
surface, except for large areas of Antarctica and an unclaimed area between Egypt and Sudan, called Bir
Tawil. Even so, barely an eighth of the earth’s surface is habitable by human beings.

2. HOW HUMANS INTERACT WITH AND AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT

How do Human Activities Affect the Environment?

The environment is like a blanket that surrounds our being everywhere. By environment, we do not only
mean plants or animals. The environment is inclusive of all the living and nonliving creatures present on
the Earth. The interaction between humans and the environment exists right from the evolution of
human beings on earth. Humans have a significant impact on the environment. 
There are many answers to how human activities affect the environment. The impact of human activities
on the environment is two-sided - positive and negative. Humans are responsible for impacting the
biophysical environment, biodiversity, and other resources and the working mechanism of the
environment. Many factors have led to alterations in the environment. Have you ever wondered how
the human population affects the environment? 

Effects of Human Activities on Environment are as Follows

1. Loss of Biodiversity

Ever wondered how human activities affect the environment? One of the major effects of human
activities on the Environment is Biodiversity loss. Biodiversity is the variety of species living in an
ecosystem. The larger the number of species and genetic variation, the greater is the biodiversity. Due
to the increase in human settlements, many forests are being cut. This has led to a reduction in the
number of plant species. Many animals become homeless. The constantly changing climatic conditions
and extinction of many ecosystems have also led to the loss of biodiversity. It is astonishing to see the
impact of human activities on the environment.
2. Pollution

Pollution is a major issue faced by us today. Pollution is a result of the ignorance of humans towards
their environment. The wrongful disposal of wastes on the roads, in the water bodies, leads to land and
water pollution. The harmful emissions from the human-made factories get released into the air,
causing air pollution. It is sad to see that the developments made to benefit us are depleting our
environment day after day. This is how humans affect their environment.
3. Climate Change

One of the most significant human impacts on the environment is deforestation. Due to deforestation
and pollution, there are significant changes in the weather conditions of a place. These changes when
happening in a prolonged chain are known as climate change. Deforestation causes a delay in the arrival
of monsoon and the purification of the air. With growing human settlements and industrialization, the
level of harmful gases in the environment keeps increasing.  
4. Misuse of Natural Resources

The misuse or over-exploitation of natural resources also has a human impact on the environment. It
puts a lot of stress on the environment to re-create these natural resources. Not all natural resources
can be re-created. Some of them like petroleum take thousands of years to get replenished. 
5. Erosion

Another major human impact on the environment is brought by Erosion. The deforestation and littering
of the soil make it more prone to erosion. Due to the uprooting of trees, the soil becomes loose and can
easily be carried away by the air or floods. Erosion is also partially connected to climate change. 
How does Human Population Affect the Environment?

The human population is largely responsible for the human impact on the environment. The question of
how the human population affects the environment is very old. The human population is directly
responsible for the changes in the environment. Here are a few factors that determine the effects of
human activities on the environment.

The increase in the human population causes overcrowding. With the increase in population, the
demand for space, food, resources, and employment increases. This directly leads to the clearing of
forests or deforestation. 

The employment requirements of the people lead to an increase in industrialization. Industrialization

also demands deforestation. The wastes of the industries are dumped in the river beds or released into
the air, which causes pollution.
Important Facts of Human Impact on the Environment 

Did you know that around 27,000 trees are cut every day to produce toilet paper rolls? Toilet paper rolls
are used almost in every household. They are used and thrown into the garbage bags. So many trees are
cut to satisfy human needs. Such is the impact of human activities on the environment.
Solved Example

1. How Does the Human Population Affect the Environment?

Answer: The human population has a great impact on the environment. The impact of human activities
on the environment is direct. Overpopulation of humans leads to deforestation which is responsible for
climatic change. The more the population, the demand for resources and food grows. This leads to an
over-exploitation of resources. To study the impact of humans on the environment through the Forest
and Environment Act, there is a separate human impact on the environment article mentioned in the
Act.

Impacts of Human Activities on the Environment

There are different ways humans impact the environment positively and negatively. The rise and
development of industries resulted in major impacts like acid rain, ozone depletion, genetic
modification. Humans create a major impact on water bodies in different ways. Some of the impacts
caused by humans on the environment are as follows. 

Water Pollution 

Trillions of plastic pieces enter the water bodies like ocean, sea, lake, etc. They lie suspended on the
water surface and over time get deposited on the bed creating harm to the quality of the water. City
sewage and industrial waste are prominent sources of water pollution. In addition to that, radioactive
substances and oil substances act as a source of water pollution. Agriculture plays a vital role as the
fertilisers and pesticides are swept due to rain and affect the water bodies. It also contaminates the
quality of groundwater. Water pollution caused approximately 1.8 million deaths in the year 2015 and
also resulted in illness to humans and animals. 
Acid Rain

Any form of precipitation with high levels of nitric acid and sulfuric acid is termed acid rain. They occur in
the form of rain, snow, and dry materials and get settled to earth. Acid rain has a pH of 4.3 while pure
water is perfectly balanced at 7. An increase in the number of industries and emission of different
chemical components into the air changes the mix of gases in the atmosphere. The release of fossil fuels
like coal, the exhaust of nitrogen oxides, and sulphur dioxide from automobiles results in acid rain. Acid
rain spread miles after falling on earth. The toxic substances enter water bodies and create harm to the
aquatic animals by making water toxic. Acid rain also affects the trees by slowing down their growth and
sometimes making the tree die. The food chain also gets affected due to these harms caused by acid
rain. 

Acid rain can be prevented by reducing emissions and designing cleaner power plants and reducing the
number of pollutants. Despite major prevention being done to reduce acid rain, It affects lakes and
aquatic life. More than 95,000 lakes in North America have been affected by acid rain. The monuments,
sculptures, and buildings are also damaged due to acid rain.

Global Warming 

Due to the industrial revolution, the emission of carbon dioxide(CO 2) in the atmosphere has been
increased. This resulted in the decrease of the pH value of surface ocean water. Carbon dioxide is
naturally present in the atmosphere and it gets dissolved into the seawater. water and carbon dioxide
react to form carbonic acid, a weaker acid than hydrogen ions (H +) and bicarbonate ions (HCO 3-). Due to
the impact of humans, the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased and more carbon
dioxide gets dissolved and reduces the pH level of the ocean water. 

Ocean acidification becomes a major threat to aquatic animals and decreases the formation of corals.
The limitation of coral growth affects the habitat of coral animals. Larger aquatic animals will also face
the threat due to the increase in the acidity of water. It affects the respiratory system of aquatic
animals. Marine scientists are much concerned as these impacts are changing the ocean chemistry much
faster than the organisms can adapt. 

Ways to Create a Positive Impact on the Environment

Processes like recycling, establishing wildlife preserves and parks can create a positive impact on the
ecosystem. Reducing the usage of automobiles and switching to public transports can help reduce the
emission of harmful gases in the atmosphere. Recycling and reusing whenever possible, planting trees,
and consuming less meat can also leave a positive impact on the ecosystem.

Our environment is a very sensitive topic for the modern-day world. Human activities are literally
disrupting the balance of our ecosystem resulting in a huge negative impact on it. We are studying the
different aspects of human activities, such as pollution, and their impact on the environment to
recuperate from imminent disasters.
How Do Your Emotions Impact The Environment?

Plastic, harmful gases, contamination, these are some obvious physical ways in which human beings
deteriorate environment. People take refuge in the hills or flee to the sea to escape from the banter of
their everyday lives. Nature helps you forget about your negative emotions. But these are just some of
the ways humans interact with the environment.

Did you know that your emotions, positive or negative, also have an impact on the environment? It may
be hard to believe, but it is indeed true. Your emotions and thoughts impact the environment around us.

At a time when we are faced with environmental issues like global warming and rising pollution.
Perhaps, it is vital for us to realize that our thoughts can actually shape our planet’s future too. Hence, it
becomes essential for us to hold on to positive thoughts and spread the cheer around. It is not just for
our personal growth but for the mankind.

How Do Humans Affect The Environment | 6 Negative Ways

Human is the only living being on the earth that is responsible for the destruction of the environment.

He does it due to his ability to exploit natural resources beyond the limits of safety.

There is a heavy toll on the environment by the rise in the human population, unlimited desire for
luxury, and heavy dependence on technology.

He is solely responsible for the dangerous climate change, leading humans and other animals to
extinction.

How Do Humans Affect The Environment?

1. Polluting
2. Non-Veg diet
3. Technology
4. Deforestation
5. Excess usage of commodities
6. Wastage of resources: water, power, petroleum, etc.
Pollution

 Humans pollute a lot and contribute to air pollution, water pollution, sound, radiation,
light, and even soil pollution.
 This is due to many of the human activities like travel, power generation, industrial
dumping into rivers, polyethylene waste, artificial methods used in agriculture, cell
phones, wifi, etc.
 This pollution is harmful not only to humans but also to animals and plants around. This
pollution decreases a healthy lifespan.
 Hence we can see that there is an extinction of many types of birds, plant species,
marine animals, etc.
 We can even notice many animals die due to the consumption of polyethylene covers.
 This polyethylene cover pollution is the result of litter by human use of polythene bags.
Also, carbon emissions increase due to growth in vehicles and leading air, water, and soil pollution.

Non-Veg diet

 The human digestive tract is 5 to 6 times more than the body’s length.
 The gut of the herbivorous animal is equally longer with many folds.
 While that of the gut of carnivorous animals is small & less unfolded. This indicates that
humans are suitable for a vegetable diet.
 Even evolution theory says humans are from monkeys which are herbivores. But
interestingly most of the human population relies on the non-veg diet.
 This reliance on the non-veg diet is expensive in terms of the environment. Because to
grow a hen of I kilo weight we need many kilos of wheat.
 Instead, a kilo of wheat is sufficient for a diet of more than two individuals.
 So we grow animals for food at the cost of many kilos of herbal diet.
 This requires growing cereals in many acres of land by use of manures, pesticides, etc.
which is again polluting to nature.

 Similarly, we kill many birds, deer, and other wild animals from the forest for the sake of
a diet.
This decreases their population drastically and is a cause of extinction.

Technology

 Though technology is making the lives of humans easier and comfortable.

 It poses a great threat to the environment. The threat is due to pollution, radiation
hazards, the exploitation of natural resources, etc.
 The radiation hazard is increasing day by day due to the use of mobile phones and Wi-Fi
around us.
 Hence we can notice that many small birds and insects like honey bees are not found
around these days.
 Even governments are promising to give free Wi-Fi without realizing its harmful effects.
  If you wish to know the harsh effects, sit in a library or conference room with Wi-Fi
enabled inside.
 You will notice to be having stomach acidity or a headache there. Wi-Fi reduces the use
of wired internet connectivity.
Still, wi-fi has untoward effects on humans and environments.

Deforestation

 Deforestation and widespread destruction of trees and plants in the name of expansion
and urbanization have drastic effect on the environment around them.
 Even we can see that there are some companies building resorts as a means of holiday
trip into the deepest woods in the world.
 Thus we are exploiting nature and the environment beyond the safe limits. Hence we
can see wild animals getting into villages and attacking humans.
 Deforestation is decreasing the forest area, endangering the lives of wild animals and
increasing the greenhouse gases.
 They have no place to hide, no proper lakes or ponds for drinking water, etc. Hence
animals die due to dehydration, starvation, and even accidents.
 So there is a need to conserve trees and forests.
See more details on why we need trees for survival.

Excess usage of commodities

 We use many commodities out of fantasy than they are really needed.
 We tend to own a hundred pairs of leather shoes, purses, belts, etc.
 All of them are made of skin and hides of animals.
 Many animals like cows, buffaloes, ox, pigs are killed for their skin though not for food.
 This way the unlimited desire for commodities is, in fact, causing great pain and
suffering to normal animals.
 Even the tigers, elephants are killed in large numbers for their hide, nails, and tusks in
the name of decorative items.
 Thus, human’s greed for more is causing them to be extinct in a few more years.
 Besides, there is the rampant use of plastic everywhere.
 The plastic can be recycled, but most of it is left into the oceans. This has led to
contamination of the ocean’s floors.
Plastic pollution by different sectors

 Many marine animals like whales die due to this plastic waste.
 Whenever we shop, we tend to get some sort of plastic in it.
 Be it the actual item purchased or the cover which is used to enclose the item is plastic.
 Besides, when we buy some eatables, we get some sort of disposable plastic. Like the
spoon, bottle, or cover.
Since we do buy something daily, it adds up to plastic pollution.
Wastage of resources

 We have been exploiting coal, petroleum for our needs by digging the earth’s crest for
decades.
 Most of the extraction of petroleum is done in the name of storage for future needs.
 In the future, if technology reverts to hydrogen fuels this petroleum stored might go to
waste.
 Also instead of natural methods, we use coal for power generation.
 This coal once dug leaves cavities in the earth’s surface.
 These cavities can be troublesome in times of floods and also cause earthquakes.
 Also, we have been wasting many resources, including soil, water without following
methods to restore them back.
Environmental Management Act

Almost all national legislation on the environment is incorporated in the Environmental Management
Act. This act sets out an integrated approach to environmental management in the Netherlands and
provides the legal framework by defining the roles of national, provincial or regional, and municipal
government. 

The Act stipulates the tools to be used in environmental management including:

 Environmental plans, for instance, the national waste management plan that regulates
municipal waste collection, disposal of discarded equipment such as refrigerators and TVs, and
permits for hazardous waste shipment.
 Environmental quality criteria for emissions and discharges of harmful substances such as
greenhouse gases and heavy metals to air, water and soil. 
 Environmental impact assessment is a prerequisite for the construction of major infrastructure
such as oil refineries, nuclear power plants, chemical plants, roads, railways, and oil and gas
pipelines. 
 The Act on general provisions for environmental law lays down the rules for granting an All-in-
one Permit for Physical Aspects. The Act enables members of the public and companies to use
one transparent procedure to apply to one competent authority for permits for activities that
impact on the physical environment. Environmental permits: in addition to regulations for the
emission of substances harmful to the environment, lLarge companies, such as chemical plants,
are required to obtain environmental permits that stipulate limits for the discharge of
substances harmful to the environment.
 Environmental reporting is directed to stimulating companies to make production cleaner and
more environmentally friendly. Many companies such as those involved in metal processing and
chemical production are required to publish an annual environmental report. The Ministry is
responsible for ensuring that the reporting requirement of the EU Pollutant Release and
Transfer Register (PRTR) are met. Those companies and organisations required to prepare an
Integrated PRTR report on waste, air emissions (greenhouse gases), and discharges into water
sources are listed in the Publicatieblad van de Europese Unie Bijlage II van de EG-verordening
PRTR. 
 Enforcement: the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate is largely responsible for
ensuring the provisions of the Environmental Management Act are enforced. Enforcement is
also a task of the municipalities, the police and the justice system.

The Environment
It feels good to step outside and breathe a big breath of fresh air. Having clean air, clean water
and an environment free of toxins and pollutants has always been a desire of man. But, prior to
the 1970s, there were few mechanisms in place to protect the environment and the natural
resources found within the United States of America. Mounting concerns about air, water and
land quality led to environmental legislation designed to protect the environment from harmful
actions. In this lesson, we will learn about some groundbreaking laws and discuss how
government regulations safeguard the health of our natural world.
Environmental Legislation
Environmental legislation is the collection of laws and regulations pertaining to air quality,
water quality, the wilderness, endangered wildlife and other environmental factors. The umbrella
of environmental legislation covers many laws and regulations, yet they all work together toward
a common goal, which is regulating the interaction between man and the natural world to reduce
threats to the environment and increase public health.
As you might imagine, environmental legislation is a broad topic, mainly because the natural
environment encompasses so many different aspects. So, environmental laws need to consider
everything, from the air we breathe to the natural resources we rely on to the plants and animals
that share this world with us.
To better understand environmental law, let's look at an example. Let's say that an energy
company wants to build a coal-burning power plant to create electricity for the community.
Where should this power plant be built? What type of pollutants might result from the coal
burning, and what measures will need to be taken to control harmful emissions? If the power
plant is built at the edge of town to lessen air pollution for the human population, how will this
impact lesser species that inhabit the land downwind of the plant? These are all considerations to
be evaluated within the scope of environmental law.

Environmental Legislation Timeline

Debates over how to preserve air and water quality are not new. These topics, along with many
other environmental issues, have been subjected to laws for thousands of years. There's evidence
of early Roman law regarding the handling of water and sewage. In fact, it is speculated that the
Roman Empire lasted as long as it did because they paid so much attention to sewage networks
and extensive freshwater distribution channels.
However, the official timeline of environmental law in the United States did not start until the
20th century. The United States is regarded as a world leader when it comes to development and
application of environmental law, and the 1960s are when the process got started.
This time period in U.S. history was marked by a surge in economic and industrial growth.
Along with an increase in factories and industrial activities, came a mounting concern about the
impact these practices were having on the earth's natural environment. This was also a time
when environmentalism, which is a movement toward protecting the natural environment
against hazards and pollutants, matured into a public and political force. The new-found
awareness and events of the 1960s coalesced to establish the start of environmental legislation.

National Environmental Policy Act

The cornerstone of environmental law is the National Environmental Policy Act (or NEPA).
This is the U.S. environmental law that established a nation-wide policy promoting the
protection of the environment. This act of 1969 was formed to encourage a harmonious
relationship between the nation's citizens and their natural surroundings with the goal of
preventing destruction of the environment.