Physical Characteristics of Earth

Physical Characteristics

• Third planet from the Sun in our solar system
• Diameter: approximately 12,742 km (7,918 miles)
• Composition:
  • Iron (32.1%): core and inner core
  • Oxygen (30.1%): crust, mantle, and atmosphere
  • Silicon (15.1%): crust and mantle
  • Magnesium (13.9%): crust and mantle
  • Nickel (1.8%): core
  • Sulfur (1.2%): core
• Surface area: approximately 510 million km² (197 million miles²)
• Land area: approximately 148 million km² (57 million miles²)
• Water area: approximately 362 million km² (140 million miles²)

Atmosphere

• Composition:
  • Nitrogen (78.08%)
  • Oxygen (20.95%)
  • Argon (0.93%)
  • Carbon dioxide (0.04%)
  • Trace gases (0.01%)
• Atmospheric layers:
  • Troposphere (up to 12 km / 7.5 miles high)
  • Stratosphere (12-50 km / 7.5-31 miles high)
  • Mesosphere (50-80 km / 31-50 miles high)
  • Thermosphere (80-600 km / 50-373 miles high)
  • Exosphere (600-10,000 km / 373-6,214 miles high)

Geological Processes

• Plate tectonics: movement of the Earth's crust
• Weathering: breakdown of rocks into sediments
• Erosion: transportation of sediments by natural forces
• Deposition: accumulation of sediments in new locations
• Volcanic activity: formation of new rocks through magma and lava

Climate and Weather

• Average temperature: approximately 15°C (59°F)
• Climate zones:
  • Tropical
  • Desert
  • Temperate
  • Polar
• Weather patterns:
  • High and low-pressure systems
  • Wind patterns
  • Ocean currents and tides

Natural Resources

• Water: oceans, lakes, rivers, and groundwater
• Minerals: iron, copper, gold, silver, and others
• Fossil fuels: coal, oil, and natural gas
• Land: fertile soil, forests, and wildlife habitats

Physical Characteristics

• Earth is the third planet from the Sun, with a diameter of approximately 12,742 km (7,918 miles)
• Composition: iron (32.1%), oxygen (30.1%), silicon (15.1%), magnesium (13.9%), nickel (1.8%), and sulfur (1.2%)
• Surface area is approximately 510 million km² (197 million miles²), with 148 million km² (57 million miles²) land area and 362 million km² (140 million miles²) water area

Atmosphere

• Atmospheric composition: nitrogen (78.08%), oxygen (20.95%), argon (0.93%), carbon dioxide (0.04%), and trace gases (0.01%)
• Atmospheric layers: troposphere (up to 12 km / 7.5 miles high), stratosphere (12-50 km / 7.5-31 miles high), mesosphere (50-80 km / 31-50 miles high), thermosphere (80-600 km / 50-373 miles high), and exosphere (600-10,000 km / 373-6,214 miles high)

Geological Processes

• Plate tectonics: the movement of the Earth's crust
• Weathering: the breakdown of rocks into sediments
• Erosion: the transportation of sediments by natural forces
• Deposition: the accumulation of sediments in new locations
• Volcanic activity: the formation of new rocks through magma and lava

Climate and Weather

• Average temperature: approximately 15°C (59°F)
• Climate zones: tropical, desert, temperate, and polar
• Weather patterns: high and low-pressure systems, wind patterns, and ocean currents and tides

Natural Resources

• Water resources: oceans, lakes, rivers, and groundwater
• Mineral resources: iron, copper, gold, silver, and others
• Fossil fuels: coal, oil, and natural gas
• Land resources: fertile soil, forests, and wildlife habitats