Lsgi1d03 Living on a Dynamic Earth

LSGI1D03: Living on a Dynamic Earth

with English Writing Requirements

[First] Draft Submission:

[Essay on Origin and Evolution of Earth]

Word count:  [Number of words in the draft] words

LSGI1D03 Living on a Dynamic Earth

Introduction

This book is called Origin and Evolution of Earth: Research Questions for a Changing Planet written by Committee on Grand Research Questions in the Solid-Earth Sciences of National Research Council in 2008. It is a non-fiction about Geology and Landforms of Earth Science, which comprise 152 pages.

This book raises a series of questions about the origin and nature of Earth, the reasons why it is suitable to live and how the disasters and resources related to lives. These questions provide clear and detailed information, which can clarify ambiguities thoroughly.

In this essay, I am going to divide it into three parts. First, I will briefly introduce this book. Then, I will elaborate all ten research questions. Finally, I will choose of one them to further evaluate and search updated information from reliable sources to support it.

Research Questions

Question 1

Earth is the only planet in the solar system that is habitable and with abundant liquid water at its surface. The formation of some giant planets commenced with the condensation and coalescence of rocks and icy materials to form the solid objects as large as Earth. The outer planets like Jupiter and Saturn consist of all mass held in the planetary system while the inner planets such as Mercury and Mars comprise mainly rock and metal and a few amounts of gaseous materials. Astronomical observations from developed telescopes and advanced computing capabilities provided the new insights to the exploration of solar system.

Question 2

There was a Mars-sized planet collided with Earth during its later formation and displace a massive cloud of debris, which finally became our Moon. We only have little clue about planetary evolution since no rocks of “dark age” were preserved on Earth. Moon formed due to a huge impact, it removed the record of existing rocks. Nevertheless, information is accumulating and collecting during “dark age” to explore more about meteorites and other planets. Furthermore, the abilities and capabilities of the analysis of geological materials are improving by extracting information from the tiny samples of old rocks, which can provide extra breakthroughs.

Question 3

The origin of life in the Solar System arouse billions of years before. It is really challenging to identify the Earth condition in the past because they are not insufficient and poorly preserved. By combining

Question 4

The primary mean is that heat moves from the interior to the surface of Earth, but now the magnetic field of Earth can be produced by core convection, which affects the surface condition. In addition, since mantle can be in solid or liquid form to produce magnetic field, it can be said that the primary mechanism for transporting heat is convection. The outer core of Earth is liquid, which heat has to flow from outer core to lower mantle and then the core cools it down in order to solidify by convection. Therefore, it influences surface conditions and magnetic fields result in volcanicity.