Earth As A Living Planet Q1W1 PDF

Have you ever wondered why Earth is unique and that it is the only planet in our solar system able to host life? Learning Competencies Recognize the uniqueness of Earth, being the only planet in the solar system with properties necessary to support life. Explain that the Earth consists of four...

Have you ever wondered why Earth is unique and that it is the only planet in our solar system able to host life? Learning Competencies Recognize the uniqueness of Earth, being the only planet in the solar system with properties necessary to support life. Explain that the Earth consists of four subsystems, across whose boundaries matter and energy flow. What do you think are the characteristics of the planet Earth that make it different from all the other planets? 1. Atmosphere Earth has a breathable atmosphere. Oxygen is the gas that is required for the life of most creatures. Oxygen is constantly put into the atmosphere by plants and trees. The oxygen makes it livable for living organisms including humans for respiration and for our cells to function. 1. Atmosphere 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. 1. Atmosphere 2. Hydrosphere hydrosphere is the total amount of water on a planet. Earth has water! Water is considered to be the most important chemical necessary for life. 3. Soil and Vegetation The soil is a mixture of minerals, water, air, organic matter, and organisms. It is 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.  Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants, and is, by far, the most abundant biotic element of the biosphere. 3. Soil and Vegetation In return, vegetation produces trees and forests cover, ensures the water and nutrient cycle, and prevents soil and wind erosion. This mutual relationship between soil and vegetation makes our planet livable. 4. Light All planets receive light from the Sun, but no planet uses it as usefully as Earth. Trees and plants on the planet produce oxygen through a process called photosynthesis. 5. The Sun Because of Earth's ideal distance from the Sun, it receives the perfect amount of heat and light to allow life to be created and to support it. The Sun's gravity keeps Earth in its orbit, but if the Sun vanished, Earth would simply float away. 6. The Ozone Layer The Sun continually pumps out radiation. Heat and light are two examples of this radiation and, as we have seen, are essential to life existing on Earth. But there is another type of radiation that the Sun produces which we can't see or feel. This is ultraviolet radiation or UV rays.  6. The Ozone Layer Only about 1% of the ultraviolet radiation that the Sun sends to Earth actually reaches the surface. Small amounts of exposure to UV rays are beneficial. But even so, too much exposure to it can cause sunburn or have even more serious long-term effects. What prevents most of these dangerous UV rays from reaching the surface is the ozone layer.  6. The Ozone Layer The ozone layer is a part of Earth's atmosphere situated in an area known as the stratosphere. The ozone layer starts at between 10 to 17 kilometers (6 to 10 miles) from Earth's surface and extends up to 50 kilometers (30 miles) high. Ozone is able to absorb most ultraviolet radiation so prevents it from reaching the surface. 7. Earth’s Magnetic Field Earth’s magnetic field protects the atmosphere. At the core of Earth is a load of molten iron. Iron is a very magnetic element, and it causes Earth to act as one giant magnet. It's basically why Earth is said to have a north pole and a south pole.  7. Earth’s Magnetic Field The radiation that the Sun sends out is electromagnetic radiation. As Earth's iron core produces a magnetic field, it is able to repel most of the electromagnetic radiation from the Sun. By doing so, it prevents the solar wind from stripping Earth of its protective atmosphere. The Four Subsystems of the Earth 1. Atmosphere The Earth‘s atmosphere is the gaseous layer that envelopes the world. The common term for the atmosphere is ―air. The Earth‘s atmosphere is held around the planet by the force of gravity. 1. 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. 1. Atmosphere 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. 1. Atmosphere 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. 1. Atmosphere 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. 2. Geosphere/Lithosphere 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. A. CRUST 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.  B. MANTLE 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. B. MANTLE 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. It is subdivided into several layers based on phase changes of minerals and the material‘s type of deformation. C. 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. C. CORE It is the source of internal heat because it contains radioactive materials that release energy as they decay into more stable substances. It is comprised of two layers, the outer core and the inner core. These two regions are separated by a boundary called Bullen discontinuity. 3. 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.  4. 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.  4. Biosphere The sphere hugely depends on the other three spheres as follows: The hydrosphere replenishes plants and animals with water and moisture. The geosphere renders a solid surface for the plants and animals to inhabit. It also provides heat from beneath the earth.  4. Biosphere The atmosphere screens the sun‘s UV radiation and helps us receive just enough of the sun‘s heat. A theory known as the ecosystem better explains the interaction of the biosphere with the other spheres.  How Do The Earth’s Spheres Interact With Each Other? What is the purpose of Earth’s spheres? How are the spheres of Earth interrelated?  What would happen if the Earth’s spheres do not interact with each other?  Analyze the image below. It portrays the interconnectedness of the four subsystems. Your task is to explain how this ecosystem shows the interconnectedness of the four subsystems. Make your explanation direct yet concise and clear. END