This document discusses the Earth and its spheres. It describes how the Earth formed over 4.5 billion years ago and is the only known planet that can sustain life. It then discusses how technology has allowed scientists to study the Earth through satellites, submersibles, and other methods. The rest of the document focuses on defining and describing the key spheres that make up the Earth - the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, and cryosphere. It explains how these spheres interact and exchange matter and energy through natural processes like the water, nitrogen, and carbon cycles. The last sections discuss factors that can disturb the Earth's energy budget and our role in helping to care for the planet.
PLANET EARTH AS A SYSTEM THAT OPERATES LIKE A LIVING ORGANISM.pdfFaga1939
This article aims to demonstrate the functioning of Planet Earth as a system and to present how Planet Earth behaves according to the Gaia Hypothesis formulated by scientist James Lovelock, who describes Earth as a system that operates as a living organism. Like every system, planet Earth has feedback and control mechanisms, which is the set of responses produced by the system in the face of existing imbalances. Thanks to this feedback and control mechanism, it is possible to guarantee the harmony of the subsystems that make up planet Earth and, consequently, the balance of the internal environment of the Earth system. It is through the feedback and control mechanism that occurs, for example, the regulation and control of the temperature of the planet Earth, which is losing its effectiveness due to the increasing emission of greenhouse gases resulting from human activities. The British scientist James Lovelock developed the popular Gaia Hypothesis articulated with the collaboration of Lynn Margulis, to explain the systemic behavior of the planet Earth. The Gaia Hypothesis was heavily criticized at its inception, but over time its most essential elements have been widely accepted by the scientific community. Lovelock claims that a likely tolerable future awaits us, but it is unwise to ignore the possibility of environmental disaster. Something to be done to reduce the effects of the catastrophe, as Lovelock suggests, would be to write a guide to help survivors rebuild civilization without repeating the mistakes of the past. Such material composed of a philosophical and scientific compendium sufficiently complete, clear and respectable, that it could be spread in every home, school, library or place of worship, so that it would be within everyone's reach, whatever happens.
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PLANET EARTH AS A SYSTEM THAT OPERATES LIKE A LIVING ORGANISM.pdfFaga1939
This article aims to demonstrate the functioning of Planet Earth as a system and to present how Planet Earth behaves according to the Gaia Hypothesis formulated by scientist James Lovelock, who describes Earth as a system that operates as a living organism. Like every system, planet Earth has feedback and control mechanisms, which is the set of responses produced by the system in the face of existing imbalances. Thanks to this feedback and control mechanism, it is possible to guarantee the harmony of the subsystems that make up planet Earth and, consequently, the balance of the internal environment of the Earth system. It is through the feedback and control mechanism that occurs, for example, the regulation and control of the temperature of the planet Earth, which is losing its effectiveness due to the increasing emission of greenhouse gases resulting from human activities. The British scientist James Lovelock developed the popular Gaia Hypothesis articulated with the collaboration of Lynn Margulis, to explain the systemic behavior of the planet Earth. The Gaia Hypothesis was heavily criticized at its inception, but over time its most essential elements have been widely accepted by the scientific community. Lovelock claims that a likely tolerable future awaits us, but it is unwise to ignore the possibility of environmental disaster. Something to be done to reduce the effects of the catastrophe, as Lovelock suggests, would be to write a guide to help survivors rebuild civilization without repeating the mistakes of the past. Such material composed of a philosophical and scientific compendium sufficiently complete, clear and respectable, that it could be spread in every home, school, library or place of worship, so that it would be within everyone's reach, whatever happens.
Welcome to TechSoup New Member Orientation and Q&A (May 2024).pdfTechSoup
In this webinar you will learn how your organization can access TechSoup's wide variety of product discount and donation programs. From hardware to software, we'll give you a tour of the tools available to help your nonprofit with productivity, collaboration, financial management, donor tracking, security, and more.
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The Roman Empire, a vast and enduring power, stands as one of history's most remarkable civilizations, leaving an indelible imprint on the world. It emerged from the Roman Republic, transitioning into an imperial powerhouse under the leadership of Augustus Caesar in 27 BCE. This transformation marked the beginning of an era defined by unprecedented territorial expansion, architectural marvels, and profound cultural influence.
The empire's roots lie in the city of Rome, founded, according to legend, by Romulus in 753 BCE. Over centuries, Rome evolved from a small settlement to a formidable republic, characterized by a complex political system with elected officials and checks on power. However, internal strife, class conflicts, and military ambitions paved the way for the end of the Republic. Julius Caesar’s dictatorship and subsequent assassination in 44 BCE created a power vacuum, leading to a civil war. Octavian, later Augustus, emerged victorious, heralding the Roman Empire’s birth.
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2. Our Home Planet
About 4.5 billion years ago
Only planet presently known to sustain life
Has well-defined oceans and basins
Very dynamic both internally and externally
3. Advances in technology have allowed scientists to study
the Earth in variety of different ways.
Submersible
Seismometer
Satellite
4. Satellites and space craft allow us to view, photograph
and map Earth from space.
7. Buoys and other monitoring devices provide us with data
related to events such as tsunamis and earthquakes.
8. Powerful computer programs called GIS (Geographic
Information Systems) help scientists organize, layer and
interpret huge amounts of data in order to study how the
Earth changes over time.
9. Earth Systems studies the flow of matter and
energy in and out of the Earth’s open systems,
or spheres.
11. Systems
- Open System
- Matter and energy can
flow into and out of the
system.
-uncovered pan of
boiling water
-Vegetable garden
-Natural environment
12. Systems
- Closed System
- Matter cannot enter or
leave, energy can.
-covered pan of
boiling water
-Terrarium
-Greenhouse
17. What is the Earth’s Geosphere?
• Geosphere
- mostly solid, rocky part of the
Earth
- divided into 3 layers
- physical features
18. crust
mantle
core
mesosphere
outer core
inner core
Composition Mechanical Characteristics
liquid
solid
solid
brittle solid
solid (but
nearly
liquid)
Earth’s Layers: Composition and Mechanical Characteristics
Primarily iron
and nickel
Primarily silica
plus iron and
magnesium
Primarily silica
plus light
metallic
elements
lithosphere
asthenosphere
19. Important Roles of Geosphere
1.Contributor of particulate matter (e.g. volcanic ash) to
atmosphere
2.Ultimate contributor of salts to ocean (due to released ions
from weathered rock)
3.Ultimate source of nutrients for all living things
4.Movement of plates produces barriers that aid in the
isolation of population of organisms (therefore influencing
evolution)
21. What is the Earth’s Hydrosphere?
• Hydrosphere
- liquid, water
- moving through all spheres
-97% of Earth’s water is in the
oceans; 3% is fresh water
23. Important Roles of Hydrosphere
1.Moderate climate
2.Transfers heat
3.Organisms need water to transport waste and
nutrients
4.Essential in many of Earth’s processes
24. What is the Earth’s Atmosphere?
• Atmosphere
- mostly made of invisible
gases that surround the Earth
- traps heat energy form the
sun
25. What is the Earth’s Biosphere?
• Biosphere
- made up of living things and
their habitats
26. Human Activity in the Biosphere
Major centers of human population
Fire from slash and burn farming
Natural gas burning in major oil fields
Satellite photos of human activity at night.
27. What is the Earth’s Cryosphere?
• Cryosphere
- made up of all frozen water
on Earth
ice
glaciers
ice bergs
snow
etc.
28. Matter and Energy move back and forth
between the different spheres, they interact
everyday, all around you.
35. How do Earth’s Sphere Interact?
• Matter and Energy
1. By exchange of matter
• Water Cycle
• Nitrogen Cycle
• Carbon Cycle
36. How do Earth’s Sphere Interact?
• Matter and Energy
2. By exchange of energy
• moves back and forth
between spheres
• Plants use solar energy to
make food
• Animals eat plants for
energy
37. What is the Source of Earth’s Energy?
• Most come from Sun
• A fraction from ocean tides,
geothermal
• Nor created nor destroyed
• Transferred between spheres
38. What is the Source of Earth’s Energy?
• Energy Budget
- energy that comes in must
equal the energy that comes
out, why?
39. What is the Source of Earth’s Energy?
• What can disturb the Earth’s
Energy budget?
40. What can disturb the Earth’s Energy Budget?
Aside from Negative Global Effects
Gaia Hypothesis – James Lovelock (1979), he claims
“… life, or the biosphere, regulates or maintains the climate and the
atmospheric composition at an optimum for itself…”
The Gaia Concept views the Earth as super organism.
All spheres are in homeostatic condition.
They believe that the Earth is aware of the adjustments needed in its
system to make its balance- the Earth is a living, breathing and thinking
entity.
41. What can disturb the Earth’s Energy Budget?
Aside from Negative Global Effects
The Gaia Hypothesis is particularly relevant in today’s world. We are
getting worried about how are activities affects the Earth.
After all how can we expect to fix something if we don’t know how it
works?
The bottom line is… each spheres are interconnected.
System a group of interacting parts that work together to do a job to form a whole.
Earth system, a complex system made up of matter (living and nonliving), energy and processes within the Earth’s
Crust, mantle, core (outer and inner). Geo means Earth. The geosphere is ever changing slowly.
These phenomenon are linked to the movement of tectonic plates that in turn, is driven by Earth’s internal processes
The presence of liquid surface water makes our planet unique.
Atmo means vapor. Greenhouse Effect keeps the planet warm.
Bio means life. From micro to protozoans. Must have O2, CO2, H20, moderate temp., source of energy
Cycle-series of steps that repeats. To appreciate how these systems are really interconnected, we need to think about what happened to substances within the systems.
Unbalanced budget can lead to: increase or decrease Earth’s temperature
b. Melting of polar ice caps
Gaia- greek goddess of Earth; she was gentle, feminine and nurturing but also ruthlessly cruel to any who crossed her.
