An Explanation of Earth Essay.
An Explanation of Earth
GEO/180
An Explanation of Earth
There are many questions that arise when taking about the suns relationship to the earth.
These answers too many questions about where the earth is located to the sun, how are the season controlled by the sun and how this relationship changes as do locations on the planet will be answered. We will also discuss the properties of atmospheric layers, how thick these layers are and how they help sustain life as we know it. You will also be provided with two different map projections and how to locate your position.
Earth Located in Relation to the Sun
Our solar system consists of 8 official planets and 1 which is now what is referred to as a dwarf planet. Earth is the third planet closest to the sun and is roughly 93 million miles from it. Earth is the only planet that just so happens to be the perfect distance from the sun to be able to sustain life as we know it.
Sun Controls the Seasons
The only reason there are season here has to do with the 23.5 degree tilt of the earth on its axis. The movement of the hemispheres towards or away from the sun moves the subpolar point 23.5 degrees either north or south of the equator during different times of the year. This tilt depending on what time of the year it is, allows the earths angles to the sun to be smaller or larger which in turn cools or warms the temperature of the surface.
In the summer the northern hemispheres position of the Earth relative to the Sun will change the subpolar points on the Earth’s surface to 23.5 degrees above the equator and this brings warmer temperatures. . The colder periods happen when the subpolar point is shifted to south of the equatorwhich is around the New Year. This divergence allows the season to occur and the opposite phenomenon occurs for the southern hemisphere.
Properties of Atmospheric Layers
The atmosphere can be divided into three sections which are constant gasses, variable gasses, and particles. What makes up 99% of the atmosphere is both nitrogen and oxygen which are considered the primary constant gasses. Variable gasses included carbon dioxide and water and only make up less than 1% of the atmosphere. The third category is particles which are microscopic in size and existing in both liquid and a solid form. Liquid forms include clouds, rain and water vapor. Solid forms in include hail, salt spray from the ocean, snow, volcanic ash, etc.
Oxygen is a by-product of photosynthesis and is essential to sustain life as it helps convert food to energy. Nitrogen is important as it is transformed into chemical compounds found in the soil. These compounds are absorbed by plants and transformed into proteins.
There are 4 principle layers of the atmosphere and each have their own distinct thickness they represent and are distinguished by what elements they contain as well as by temperature. . They are listed from top to bottom,
- Thermosphere: 50 to 300 miles (80 to 480 km)
- Mesosphere: 30 to 50 miles (50 to 80 km)Stratosphere: 7 to 30 miles (12 to 50 km)
- Troposphere: 0 to 7 miles (0 to 12 km)Arbogast, A.F. (2014).
Conclusion
The Earth is the perfect distance from the sun to allow life as we know it. The tilt of the Earth allows the subsolar point on the planet to range from 23.5 degrees about and below the equator which in turn brings different seasons. Lastly, the atmosphere is layered in categories that either help sustain life and or help protect it.
This azimuthal map requires three points as point B and point C form an angle that someone would have to travel to get to point A. The angles formed are more commonly known as great circle arcs or geodesic arcs. “Types of Map Projections” ()
The Cylindrical map takes on a much different shape. A Cylindrical map has both horizontal parallels and meridians crossing at right angles and are equally spaced. There are different shape rectangles that are formed depending on the location of the map you are referencing. “Types of Map Projection.” ()
References
Arbogast, A.F. (2014). Discovering physical geography (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Types of Map Projections (). Retrieved from https://www.geolounge.com/types-map-projections/