The Earth The Earth as a as a

PlanetPlanetWhat makes Earth unique?What makes Earth unique?

What characteristics does What characteristics does Earth share with the other Earth share with the other

planets of the Solar System?planets of the Solar System?

““There’s no place like There’s no place like home…”home…”

Earth is the 3rd planet (i.e. “Rock”) Earth is the 3rd planet (i.e. “Rock”) from the Sun.from the Sun.

Earth is the 5th largest planet in the Earth is the 5th largest planet in the Solar System.Solar System.

Earth has one satellite, The Moon.Earth has one satellite, The Moon. Earth orbits the Sun every 365.245 Earth orbits the Sun every 365.245

days, which is why there is a Leap days, which is why there is a Leap Year every fourth year.Year every fourth year.

““As the World As the World Turns…”Turns…”

• Earth is over 70% water.

• Earth is the only planet that has all three phases of water…solid, liquid, and gas.

• Earth has a Nickel-Iron core, which produces its magnetic field and affects compass directions.

FactoidsFactoidsPictures of Earth did not Pictures of Earth did not

come into existence until the come into existence until the last 100 years.last 100 years.

The tectonic plates of Earth The tectonic plates of Earth move at a pace of 5 cm per move at a pace of 5 cm per year.year.

Due to the Earth’s rotation and tilted axis, Due to the Earth’s rotation and tilted axis, the Northern Hemisphere has the opposite the Northern Hemisphere has the opposite season of the Southern Hemisphere.season of the Southern Hemisphere.(Summer in N.H.)(Summer in N.H.) (Winter in S.H.)(Winter in S.H.)

Also the wind patterns are different in Also the wind patterns are different in each hemispheres, which is due to the each hemispheres, which is due to the Coriolis Effect. Coriolis Effect.

The winds move in a counterclockwise The winds move in a counterclockwise manner in the Northern Hemisphere manner in the Northern Hemisphere and a clockwise manner in the and a clockwise manner in the Southern Hemisphere.Southern Hemisphere.

Reference: Reference: http://www.usatoday.com/weather/resources/bahttp://www.usatoday.com/weather/resources/basics/coriolis-understanding.htmsics/coriolis-understanding.htm

““The Atmosphere: Layer by The Atmosphere: Layer by Layer”Layer”

The The ExosphereExosphere is the is the outermost layer that fades outermost layer that fades into space. Color #10 into space. Color #10 graygray!!

The The ThermosphereThermosphere is the is the outermost layer and makes outermost layer and makes up .001% of the total up .001% of the total atmosphere. Please color atmosphere. Please color #9 #9 redred!!

The The IonosphereIonosphere is the next layer. is the next layer. It is where the Aurora Borealis and It is where the Aurora Borealis and the Aurora Australis take place. The the Aurora Australis take place. The solar wind’s charged particles collide solar wind’s charged particles collide with the free electrons in this layer to with the free electrons in this layer to produce the auroras. Color this layer produce the auroras. Color this layer greengreen!!

The The MesosphereMesosphere is the layer that is the layer that follows,and it is the coldest layer of the follows,and it is the coldest layer of the atmosphere. atmosphere. BlueBlue is the color you is the color you need to proceed.need to proceed.

The The StratosphereStratosphere is the next is the next layer, and this is the area layer, and this is the area where high–flying aircraft can where high–flying aircraft can fly well, due to horizontal fly well, due to horizontal winds. The Ozone layer is winds. The Ozone layer is also contained in this layer. also contained in this layer. Let this layer be Let this layer be yellowyellow..

The layer of the atmosphere The layer of the atmosphere that we live in is the that we live in is the TroposphereTroposphere. Almost all of the . Almost all of the Earth’s atmospheric gases (75% Earth’s atmospheric gases (75% to be exact) are found in this to be exact) are found in this layer. It runs from sea level to layer. It runs from sea level to 7 miles up, which means that 7 miles up, which means that Mount Everest is even in this Mount Everest is even in this layer of the atmosphere. layer of the atmosphere. PurplePurple is a nice color to use is a nice color to use now.now.

Diameter: 12.756.3 km

Mass:5.976 x 1024 kg

More Factoids…More Factoids… Gravity: 1 gGravity: 1 g Avg. Temps.:Avg. Temps.: 00ooF – 100F – 100ooFF Pressure: 1 atmPressure: 1 atm Atmosphere make-Atmosphere make-

up: up: 77% N77% N22,, 21% O21% O22, and , and 2% traces of Ar, 2% traces of Ar,

CO CO22, and , and H H22O vaporO vapor

Length of Day: Length of Day: 24 hours (approx.)24 hours (approx.)

Length of Year: Length of Year: 365-366 days365-366 days

Soil (if any): firm, Soil (if any): firm, good for cropsgood for crops

Wind speed: Wind speed: 0-50 mph, some 0-50 mph, some stormsstorms

Features:Features:polar ice caps, polar ice caps, oceans and lakes of oceans and lakes of liquid water, trees liquid water, trees mountains, plants, mountains, plants, volcanoes, humans, volcanoes, humans, animals, and natural animals, and natural resources (oil, coal, resources (oil, coal, metals, etc.)metals, etc.) Hazards: Hazards:

Earthquakes, volcanic Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, eruptions, hurricanes, tsunamis, typhoons, tsunamis, typhoons, mudslides, tornadoes, mudslides, tornadoes, avalanches, electrical avalanches, electrical stormsstorms