Part 1: Understanding Our Planet

Part 1: Understanding Our Planet 1G03 - Lecture Notes Lecture Introduction ● our planet which is known as earth is a special one in this large universe. ● ONLY here is there life, as this planetthanks to the distance from the Sun, the atmosphere, and water. ● Education of our planet is important in enabling people and future generations to embrace sustainable future. The Structure of Earth ● There are many layers in earth and all of them are different in properties as well as the materials that are included in them. - To distinguish them these layers are called the crust, the mantle, the outer core, and the inner core. 1. Crust is the shallowest layer of the earth’s lithosphere, and it is composed of solid rocks on which we live. 2. mantle which is a solid core of rock though it tends to move slowly. The outer core is the second last layer in the interior structure of the earth which is again in the form of a liquid but having metal compounds such as iron and nickel mainly through which the activity of the magnetic field occur. 3. The actual center of the Eath is the inner core, a sphere composed mainly of iron and nickel, which is extremely hot and under pressure. Plate Tectonics - Tectonic plates are large pieces within the Earth’s crust that are known to shift constantly. - These are plates that are located on the semi-solid mantle and are in a continuous state of motion though at a rather slow pace. - Tectonic plate movement is responsible for many phenomena of geology, such as earthquakes, volcanism, and mountain building. When plates come together mountains can be made like the Himalayan Mountain. - When they pull apart they can create rift valleys, like the African Great Rift Valley running from the Afar Triple Junction in Ethiopia. \ The Atmosphere ● Earth’s atmosphere is a layer of gasses that envelops the planet and is essential for supporting live. It is made up of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapor in small proportions. - It shields us from dangerous solar rays, controls heat and is too crucial to weather and climate. They are: Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, and the Exosphere. By nature all the layers possess their own distinctive characteristics as well as responsibilities. The Hydrosphere: Hydrosphere therefore comprises all the water on the surface of the earth including the ocean, lake, river and glaciers. ● Water is recognized as one of the prerequisites of any living organism, and the hydrosphere concentrates all factors that control climate and weather. ● The cycling of water through processes that are evaporation, condensation, and precipitation etc is a constant motion of water on the surface of the Earth and the beneath it. ● Recognition of the hydrosphere is a crucial prerequisite for comprehension of the globe’s total performances. The Biosphere: is a layer of the ecosystem that encompasses all forms of life ranging from microorganisms, plants, animals and even the largest mammals cuts. - It forms a system with the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere through which different complex processes conducive for life are made. - It is essential to note that the biosphere is a very diverse one which includes millions of different species all being customized to fit their environment. - This work underlines that the processes of the biosphere depend on the concepts of Biodiversity that can be outweighed by the stability and reliability of ecosystems.