Earth's Physical Characteristics

Physical Characteristics

• Shape: Oblate spheroid (slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator)
• Radius: Approximately 6,371 kilometers (3,959 miles) at the equator
• Circumference: Approximately 40,075 kilometers (24,901 miles) at the equator
• Surface area: Approximately 510 million square kilometers (197 million square miles)
• Volume: Approximately 1.08321 billion cubic kilometers (282.6 billion cubic miles)

Composition

• Crust: Outermost solid layer, ranging in thickness from 5-70 kilometers (3-44 miles)
• Mantle: Viscous, hot layer beneath the crust, divided into the upper mantle and lower mantle
• Outer core: Liquid iron-nickel alloy, responsible for generating Earth's magnetic field
• Inner core: Solid, iron-nickel alloy at the center of the Earth

Atmosphere

• Composition: 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases
• Layers: Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere
• Pressure: Decreases with altitude, with atmospheric pressure at sea level being approximately 1013 mbar

Geological Processes

• Plate Tectonics: Movement of the Earth's lithosphere, resulting in continental drift, earthquakes, and volcanic activity
• Weathering: Breakdown of rocks into sediment through physical, chemical, and biological processes
• Erosion: Transportation of sediment through wind, water, and ice
• Deposition: Accumulation of sediment in a new location, forming new landforms and landscapes

Hydrosphere

• Oceans: Cover approximately 71% of the Earth's surface
• Freshwater: Makes up approximately 3% of the Earth's water, with 2/3 frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps
• Water Cycle: Continuous process of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation

Physical Characteristics

• Earth's shape is an oblate spheroid, meaning it's slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator.
• The planet's radius is approximately 6,371 kilometers at the equator.
• The circumference at the equator is approximately 40,075 kilometers.
• The surface area is approximately 510 million square kilometers.
• The volume is approximately 1.08321 billion cubic kilometers.

Composition

• The crust is the outermost solid layer, ranging in thickness from 5-70 kilometers.
• The mantle is a viscous, hot layer beneath the crust, divided into the upper and lower mantle.
• The outer core is a liquid iron-nickel alloy responsible for generating Earth's magnetic field.
• The inner core is a solid, iron-nickel alloy at the center of the Earth.

Atmosphere

• The atmosphere is composed of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases.
• The atmosphere is divided into five layers: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.
• Atmospheric pressure decreases with altitude, with a pressure of approximately 1013 mbar at sea level.

Geological Processes

• Plate tectonics is the movement of the Earth's lithosphere, resulting in continental drift, earthquakes, and volcanic activity.
• Weathering is the breakdown of rocks into sediment through physical, chemical, and biological processes.
• Erosion is the transportation of sediment through wind, water, and ice.
• Deposition is the accumulation of sediment in a new location, forming new landforms and landscapes.

Hydrosphere

• Oceans cover approximately 71% of the Earth's surface.
• Freshwater makes up approximately 3% of the Earth's water, with 2/3 frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps.
• The water cycle is a continuous process of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.