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understand how Earth’s internal processes shape the planet’s surface, how life can be sustained over billions of years, and how geological, biological, atmospheric, and oceanic
This exploration of Planet Earth is concerned with how science sees, measures, and senses the unknown. We can’t go to the stars, but we know their chemical composition. We can’t drill to the center of the Earth, but we know its density. Figure 1-1. Contrast the surface of Earth to that of Europa, a moon of Jupiter, that is the only other object
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- Keeping our balance
- Planet Earth in our hands
- The changing world of Earth science
- Humans in the landscape
- knowledge we desperately need
- Spheres within spheres
- Amazing GRACE
- Building high, building deep
- Aims & objectives
- Through the International Year of Planet Earth 2007-2009
Earth scientists are today’s key players in managing and building a sustainable world. For our children’s sake we must be able to use the wealth of Earth’s resources without wasting what cannot be replenished, and maintaining the dynamic equilibrium of the Earth System that sustains life.
The human race needs its planet. We depend upon it completely, because we evolved from it, remain forever part of it, and we continue to exist courtesy of the self-sustaining Earth System. The Earth is unique not only in our Solar System but, as far as we know, in the accessible universe. It is not just the only living planet – it is the only plan...
Traditionally, Earth scientists study the rocks and soils of Planet Earth, and try to understand the planet’s history and structure. We try to decipher from the record of the rocks all the things that have happened since its origin, with the rest of the Solar System, 4.6 billion years ago. We try to understand processes that created minerals, hyd...
Throughout Earth’s history plants and then animals have become geological forces – think of the Great Barrier Reef, or worldwide deposits of coal.
Humans are now perhaps the most geologically significant species ever, certainly from an environmental impact point of view. As a species too we have dramatically altered our environment to the point where in many corners of the world we can no longer observe ‘natural’ landscapes. For example, we now move more material around the Earth’s surface...
In the past, scientists tended to split the Earth System into “spheres”. But we have now reached the point where - having mentally taken the world apart - we must put it back together, to see how it actually works as a whole. To solve global environmental problems we need multidisciplinary research. To take just one pressing example; we cannot w...
Several recent developments will improve our ability to observe the dynamic Earth. For instance, high precision gravity measurements by satellites such as GRACE (Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment) will improve our understanding of mass flows on Earth – such as magma in its crust, water in oceans and melting icecaps on the poles. GRACE w...
Apart from finding riches in the Earth’s crust, Earth scientists also make it possible to build great structures on or in its surface. About 70% of the world’s population lives in coastal areas - on sandy, clayey and muddy soils at sea level. The geotechnical knowledge of Earth scientists is essential in establishing cities, building industries and...
The International Year of Planet Earth aims to “demonstrate the unique and exciting ways in which Earth sciences can help future generations meet the challenge of ensuring a safer, healthier and more prosperous world”. Implementation of these aims will be realized in the first place through a massive outreach programme on raising public and polit...
Earth scientists of the world will demonstrate how they are working to: Understand and keep intact for future generations the rich record of our planet’s history, knowledge of its structure and function and of its self-sustaining dynamic equilibrium. Make sustainable use of Earth’s richness and diversity for the benefit and prosperity of all peo...
Summary. Although Earth is an ordinary planet, it is the only place known to have supported the evolution of life. Formed about 4.5 billion years ago, it has developed a unique dynamic system that couples the behavior of slow rock convection in its interior with the growth of continents, oceans, and the atmosphere.
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Earth sciences for society. Introduction The biosphere is the “living sphere” of planet Earth. It is the most remarkable characteristic of our planet, and makes Earth unique within the planetary system. The evolution of life and biosphere began perhaps as early as 4.2 billion years ago, but by 2.7 billion years ago life had started to have
Life on Planet Earth can thrive in environments previously thought too hostile and inhospitable, such as miles beneath the ocean in cracks and fractures in volcanic rock. Just 30 years ago, scientists discovered life thriving in the most extreme of terrestrial
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write a general and understandable overview of the planet Earth. It should initiate interest and excitement about both the basic ideas and the fast development of earth sciences.
