Conditions for life on earth
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What are the key conditions that allowed early life to develop and survive on earth
• presence of an atmosphere • a magnetosphere • distance from the sun • presence of liquid water
How has the position in the solar system allowed for the development of life on earth
• controls temperature • causes presence of liquid water • temperature is perfect for photosynthesis
Where is the magnetosphere
region around a planet dominated by the planet’s magnetic field
Why is the magnetosphere important for the development for life on earth
• deflects solar winds • protects us from cosmic radiation, which can be dangerous to our health (cause cancer)
What is the importance of water for the development of life
• it is a transporter of nutrients • used in photosynthesis • provides habitats • universal solvent
What was the composition of the early atmosphere
• CO2 - 95% • Nitrogen - 3% • O2 - 0.05%
What is the current composition of the atmosphere
• Nitrogen - 78% • O2 - 21% • Other gases - 0.1%
How does the earths orbit around the sun allow for development of life on earth
• controls year length • frequency of seasons
How does the earths rotation on the axis allow for development of life on earth
• controls day length
How does the earths tilt on the axis allow for development of life on earth
• controls seasons
What is the importance of cyanobacteria
• they break down CO2 into C and O2, to produce sugars and give off O2 as a waste product
How have CO2 levels changed and what has caused it
• low levels of CO2 in atmosphere • due to photosynthesis • due to C being locked up in living things as carbohydrates
How do living organisms affect the cycling of water
• transpiration • interception • photosynthesis
What other ways have living things changed conditions on earth
• combustion • competition • photosynthesis • respiration • food chains