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A Brief Physical History of Planet Earth
A jewel in the universe
What do we really know of Planet Earth? Science tells us a great deal
about the expansion of our universe
and the formation of the solar system and planets. It tells us the earth
consists of a molten iron core and layers of molten rock over which sits a
relatively thin crust.
Image
We live on this thin crust, actually about 60 miles thick, which has split
into sections called tectonic plates. These are constantly moving a few
centimetres per year,
Image and over millions of years the surface of the earth not only
changes beyond recognition, but the land surface (that we live on) is
recycled as the tectonic plates slide under each other.
As the earth slides back under another plate, it often causes earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions and tsunamis before being super heated, mixed up with
other molten material and eventually moved back up to the surface to form
part of another tectonic plate and provide a home for residents like us.
The movement of the tectonic plates affects us less than the changes in the
weather as the atmosphere is far more volatile; the atmosphere can be very
still, or move at hundreds of miles per hour as in the jet streams of the
upper atmosphere, is in the gales of tornadoes, cyclones and hurricanes.
The oceans are affected by the atmosphere and the atmosphere is affected by
the oceans and this exchange of energy gives us our climate because as the
oceans warm up, the atmosphere becomes more volatile and we get greater
disruption of our weather patterns referred to today as global warming.
We know that global warming and global cooling have occurred in the past, it
seems these phenomenon are cyclical and in the past have been bought on by
volcanic activity, but today are occurring because we are turning the earths
recourses (principally oils and coal) into energy or heat and creating green
house gasses which are warming the planet.
This may eventually mean disaster for humanity and life on earth.
References:
Reference books
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