EARTH AS THE LIVING PLANET
There are six general classifications of space objects orbiting our sun. These are the Terrestrial
planets, The Jovian Planets (gas planets), dwarf planets, moons, thousands of asteroids found in Kuiper Belt,
and Icy Particles (including comets) beyond the Kuiper Belt, gathered in a spherical shell around the solar
system. Of all these space objects, it is Earth which has not only one but many conditions to support the
flourishing of life.
CONDITIONS THAT SUPPORT LIFE ON EARTH
1. Earth occupies a circumstellar habitable zone.
2. Earth has a magnetic field.
3. Earth has an atmosphere rich in nitrogen and oxygen.
4. Earth’s climate and temperature are relatively stable.
HABITABLE ZONE
The habitable zone around the sun is an orbital region which receives the right range of radiant energy
so that water in a planet stays in liquid form. Astronomers estimate the region of habitable zone based on its
Stellar Luminosity and Stellar Flux.
Water in liquid form is essential for the functioning of biological systems. It is an ideal aqueous solution
within which many chemical reactions take place. The human body, for example, is 60% water, 71% of earth’s
surface is covered in water.
MAGNETIC FIELD
Earth’s magnetic field is produced by the rotation of the planet’s core and the rotation of Earth itself.
Deep in the center of our planet, some 6,000 km deep, is a molten core two-thirds the size of moon and largely
made from iron and nickel. Right at the center of this core is iron in crystallized form, turned into solid by
extreme pressure. Earth’s molten core is in constant motion due to thermal convection produced by heat. This
motion, combined with Earth’s rotation, produces a magnetic field.
Without the magnetic field, the solar wind is capable of sweeping away Earth’s atmosphere which is
protective layer for the planet. By way of comparison, Mars, which is believed to have had a magnetic field in
the past, has an atmosphere which is only 1% as dense as Earth’s. No life has yet been found in Mars.
EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE
Earth’s atmosphere is unique among the planets, because it is 78% N2 and 21% O2, the rest are Ar,
CO2, CH4, and trace elements of inert gases. No other planet in our solar system has an atmosphere close to
ours. Nitrogen and Oxygen, together with hydrogen, carbon and phosphorus, are the constituent elements of
biological molecules: carbohydrates, protein, lipids, and nucleic acid.
After the planet’s magnetic field, the atmosphere acts as the next layer of protection against sun’s
harmful radiation. Gas molecules and precipitates absorb and deflect harmful UV-rays, Gamma Rays, and X-
rays. In particular, the ozone layer absorbs most of the suns UV-B radiation. Through Rayleigh scattering, the
atmosphere also scatters high frequency light waves, reducing their intensity when they reach the Earth’s
biosphere.
RAYLEIGH SCATTERING – is the dispersion of electromagnetic radiation by particles that have a radius
less than 1/10 the wavelength of radiation, this radiation are the high frequency light waves, such as, UV-
rays, Gamma Rays, and X-rays.
STABLE CLIMATE AND TEMPERATURE
Earth has a climate and temperature which are remarkably stable when compared with those of other
planets. The average temperature of Earth’s surface, for example, is 20˚C. Anyone who has been to Baguio
City knows how pleasant 20˚C is.
The relative stability of Earth’s climate and temperature is important for the formation of biological
molecules. For living things, it allows them to adapt and evolve gradually.
By way of comparison, Venus surface temperature is approximately 453˚C. Any trace of liquid water in
this planet would have evaporated quickly. Mars temperature, on the other hand, is a freezing -55˚C. Any
aqueous solution contained in a cell in this temperature would have frozen, destroying the cell’s membrane,
leading to the death of the cell itself.
EARTH SUBSYSTEMS
Earth Science is a collective term that studies all major parts of our planet, namely land, sea, air, the
interior structure of our planet, and distribution of living organisms. These parts lead to four major subdivisions
of Earth’s systems: Geosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere and Biosphere. The four prefixes, geo, hydro,
atmos, and bio, each means earth, water, vapor, and life. Sphere describes the distribution of matter that
occupies these regions: it is spherical in shape.
1. GEOSPHERE
Generally speaking, geosphere refers to the solid part of Earth to distinguish it from atmosphere (air)
and hydrosphere (water). For us humans, it defines much of the environment we live in. It defines the shape of
lands, distribution of mountains, position of continents, shape of sea floor, shape and direction of rivers and
streams. It also controls the distribution of rocks, minerals, soils, and other natural resources. It also influences
the type of living organisms that dwells on land. Geosphere is the largest of the four spheres. It does not only
cover the land surface which is easily visible to us. It also includes the interior of Earth all the way to its core.
The geosphere is not uniform in its composition.
Based on the characteristics of matter that occupies each layer, it is
divided into three main parts: the core, the mantle, and
the c crust. The core can also core and outer core.
INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE GEOSPHERE
LAYER DESCRIPTION
CRUST 8 to 40 km thick, the outer shell of Earth and represents only 1% of Earth's radius (6,400
km). Thinnest beneath the oceans, thickest beneath the continents.
MANTLE 2,900 km thick, has two subdivisions: upper mantle and lower mantle. Upper mantle
contains molten rock, lower mantle contains rocky materials under high temperatures and
pressure.
CORE OUTER CORE 2,250 km thick, composed of iron and nickel in viscous liquid
form.
INNER CORE Radius 1,300 km, solid metal.
2. HYDROSPHERE
The hydrosphere includes water on the planet's surface, underground, and in the air. It can take the
form of liquid, vapor, or ice. On Earth's surface, it is in liquid form in oceans, lakes, and rivers. It is found in
frozen form in glaciers, ice caps, and icebergs. The frozen part of the hydrosphere is called cryosphere (cryo
means ice). Underground, it is found in aquifers and wells and is generally called groundwater. Up in the air, it
is visible as clouds and fog.
3. ATMOSPHERE
The atmosphere is a mix of many gases and holds many suspended liquid droplets and particulate
matter. Interestingly, however, only two gaseous elements make up 99% of Earth's atmosphere. These are
nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%). The rest is a mix of trace elements: Ar, CO2, Ne, He, CH4, etc.
COMPOSITION OF THE ATMOSPHERE
NITROGEN N2 78%
OXYGEN O2 21%
ARGON Ar 0.09%
CARBON DIOXIDE CO2 0.03%
OTHERS Ne, H2, He, CH4, N2O, 0.88%
WATER VAPOR, etc.
As one goes up from the bottom to the top, temperature of the atmosphere shows variations. These
differences and other physical features in the vertical layering of the atmosphere lead to its major
subdivisions. These subdivisions are troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere.
Each of the layers are bounded by "pauses" where the greatest changes in thermal characteristics, chemical
composition, movement, and density occur.
EXOSPHERE
This is the outermost layer of the atmosphere. It extends from about 375 miles (600 km) to 6,200 miles
(10,000 km) above the earth. In this layer, atoms and molecules escape into space and satellites orbit the
earth. At the bottom of the exosphere is a transition layer called the thermopause.
THERMOSPHERE
Between about 53 miles (85 km) and 375 miles (600 km) lies the thermosphere, known as the upper
atmosphere. While still extremely thin, the gases of the thermosphere become increasingly denser as one
descends toward the Earth. As such, incoming high energy ultraviolet and x-ray radiation from the sun begins
to be absorbed by the molecules in this layer and causes a large temperature increase. Because of this
absorption, the temperature increases with height. From as low as -184°F (-120°C) at the bottom of this layer,
temperatures can reach as high as 3,600°F (2,000°C) near the top.
However, despite the high temperature, this layer of the atmosphere would still feel very cold to our skin. The
high temperature indicates the amount of the energy absorbed by the molecules, but with so few molecules in
this layer, the total number would not be enough to heat our skin.
The bottom of the thermosphere is the mesopause - the transition into the mesosphere.
MESOSPHERE
This layer extends from around 31 miles (50 km) above the Earth's surface to 53 miles (85 km). The gases that
comprise this layer continue to become denser as one descends. As such, temperatures increase as one
descends, rising to about 5°F (-15°C) near the bottom of this layer.
The gases in the mesosphere are now thick enough to slow down meteors hurtling into the atmosphere, where
they burn up, leaving fiery trails in the night sky. Both the stratosphere (next layer down) and the mesosphere
are considered the middle atmosphere. The transition boundary which separates the mesosphere from the
stratosphere is called the stratopause.
STRATOSPHERE
The stratosphere extends from 4 -12 miles (6-20 km) above the Earth's surface to around 31 miles (50 km).
This layer holds 19 percent of the atmosphere's gases but very little water vapor.
In this region, the temperature increases with height. Heat is produced in the process of the formation of
ozone, and this heat is responsible for temperature increases, from an average -60°F (-51°C) at tropopause to
a maximum of about 5°F (-15°C) at the top of the stratosphere.
This increase in temperature with height means warmer air is located above cooler air. This prevents
convection as there is no upward vertical movement of the gases. As such, the location of the bottom of this
layer is readily seen by the anvil-shaped tops of cumulonimbus clouds
The transition layer at the bottom of the stratosphere is called the tropopause.
TROPOSPHERE
Known as the lower atmosphere, almost all weather occurs in this region. The troposphere begins at the
Earth's surface, but the height of the troposphere varies. It is 11-12 miles (18-20 km) high at the equator, 5½
miles (9 km) at 50°N and 50°S, and just under four miles (6 km) high at the poles.
As the density of the gases in this layer decrease with height, the air becomes thinner. Therefore, the
temperature in the troposphere also decreases with height. As one climbs higher, the temperature drops from
an average around 62°F (17°C) to -60°F (-51°C) at the tropopause.
4. BIOSPHERE
Biosphere is the region of our planet inhabited by living things. These are land, bodies of water, and air.
Hence, we can subdivide the biosphere into lithosphere (land), hydrosphere, and atmosphere. Although there
is no permanent community of living things inhabiting the atmosphere, it is a necessary environment for insects
and birds.
The structural organization of the biosphere can be presented in many ways, but the most convenient
conceptual and physical organization of the biosphere is arranged from smallest unit of living things to the
largest. These are atom, molecules, organelles, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms, populations,
communities, ecosystems, biomes, and biosphere. Incidentally, this is also how biology is organized as a field
of study. This organization is also sometimes called the hierarchy of life or the pyramid of life.
SPHERE INTERACTIONS
The four spheres interact among themselves in such a way that matter and energy are constantly exchanged
between and among them. Carbon dioxide, for example, is constantly exchanged between the atmosphere and
biosphere when plants take in CO2 to complete photosynthesis. When plants die and decompose, CO2 returns
to the atmosphere.
Open system vs. closed system
An open system is one where matter and energy are exchanged with
the surroundings. A closed system is one where only energy, but not matter, is exchanged with the
surroundings.
Earth is a closed system, but its subsystems are open, and it is not difficult to see why this is so. Let us
take as an example the story of a tomato plant. As an organism it is part of the biosphere, but during its lifetime
it exchanges matter and energy with its surroundings. In fact, even when it is already dead the flow of matter
and energy continues. Let us enumerate the events in the life of our humble tomato plant that illustrate this
exchange.
CYCLING OF ENERGY AND MATTER
With carbon dioxide and water, plants initiate photosynthesis by converting the radiant energy of sunlight into
glucose, releasing Oxygen to the atmosphere as a byproduct. Glucose is the storage form of energy among
plants. Herbivores consume plants and convert it into glycogen, the energy storage form for animals. Animals
use this energy (chemical energy) for metabolism and to support many lives sustaining processes. The
byproducts are carbon dioxide, water, and heat. Heat is leached into the atmosphere, and carbon dioxide
mixes with air and gets absorbed again by plants initiating a new cycle of photosynthesis. After animals die, the
decomposition process begins. Decomposers breakdown animal tissues into its constituent molecules: water,
carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, etc. Gases return to the atmosphere, minerals return to the soil
(geosphere), and water stays in the soil or evaporates into the atmosphere.
Many elements are continuously being cycled through the Earth's subsystems. But before we leave this topic,
let us trace the paths taken by rocks as they undergo transformation.
The atmosphere and hydrosphere act on rocks through the processes of chemical and mechanical weathering.
These processes turn some constituent elements of rocks into ions which are then transported to lakes and
seas as water run-off.
In bodies of water, they get dissolved, and marine animals absorb them to form their shells and other hard
parts. When shellfish die, their shells and hard parts accumulate at the bottom of lakes and seas, and
overtime, form limestone.
In this transformation, rock enters the hydrosphere as dissolved minerals, becomes absorbed into the
biosphere as constituent substance of exoskeletons, and returns to the geosphere as limestone.
