Knowra Earth Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only world known to support life. Its surface has liquid water, a nitrogen-rich atmosphere, and active geology.
Earth's interior : Earth’s internal structure, including its crust, mantle, and core. Its layered interior drives magnetic-field generation and reshapes the surface.
Rock cycle : The set of processes that transform igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Weathering, burial, melting, and uplift continually renew Earth’s crust.
Pacific Ring of Fire : A belt of frequent earthquakes and volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean. Its subduction zones make plate tectonics visible through concentrated hazards.
Mars : The fourth planet from the Sun, a cold terrestrial world with a thin atmosphere. Its ancient river evidence contrasts with Earth’s persistent surface liquid water.
Origin of life : The transition from nonliving chemistry to the first living systems. Earth preserves evidence of life, but the pathway to its beginning remains unresolved.
Atmosphere of Earth : The layer of gases surrounding Earth, held by gravity. Its composition regulates temperature and shields the surface from radiation.
Carbon cycle : The movement of carbon among living things, rocks, oceans, soil, and atmosphere. Carbon exchange links life, oceans, and rocks to atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Mid-Atlantic Ridge : A submarine mountain range formed where tectonic plates move apart. New oceanic crust forms along this spreading boundary.
Venus : The second planet from the Sun, with a dense carbon-dioxide atmosphere and extreme surface heat. Its runaway greenhouse climate shows how different a terrestrial planet can become.
Deep biosphere : The communities of microorganisms living beneath Earth’s surface. Their extent and energy sources reveal how far life reaches below the surface.
Show all 27