The Formation of the Earth

How did we get here?

The solar system began as a nebula

a cloud of hydrogen gas and dust

4.6 billion years ago, the nebula collapses...
Protostar

...the Sun ignites

...and the Solar System forms
 Accumulation of rocks and dust
Accretion
- fusing together due to gravity
 "The Heavy Late Bombardment"

The early Earth grows in mass

through bombardment of meteors...
...and heat from radioactive decay and
the impacts cause the rocks to melt
Giant Impact Theory - formation of the Moon
Differentiation - dense material (Fe) sinks, lighter rises

Forming the layers of the Earth

Crust Mantle

Inner Core
Outer Core
The Magnetic Field develops

Protecting the Earth from solar radiation

Magnetic field is caused by the spinning
liquid iron outer core
The aurora is a result of the sun's charged particles
interacting with the magnetic field
The magnetic field allows an atmosphere to form

Early atmosphere of nitrogen and

carbon dioxide from volcanoes
4.2 billion years ago, the oceans form from:

1. from rain...
2. from comets
Begins
3.0 billion years ago, simple cell life begins
(prokaryotes)
Cyanobacteria increase the oxygen level in
the atmosphere

!
is
s
he
nt
y
os
ot
Ph
Stromatolites
 2.0 billion years ago, banded iron formations form

Evidence: higher levels of oxygen in the atmosphere

2 billion years ago, complex cell life begins
(eukaryotes)

1 billion years ago, multicellular life begins

 ~650 million years ago, snowball earth

Volcanoes freed the Earth by releasing carbon

dioxide. Greenhouse effect melted the ice.
 600 million years ago,
organisms with hard shells evolve
 Life evolves and diversifies...

Fish - 500 million years ago

Plants on land - 470 million years ago
Insects on land - 400 million years ago
Amphibians - 370 million years ago
Reptiles - 300 million years ago
Mammals - 200 million years ago
Birds - 150 million years ago
The Tree of Life
Mass extinctions change the course of evolution

65 MYA, 50% dead

250 MYA, 95% dead

...0.2 MYA, modern humans evolve
The Spheres of Earth
Geosphere
Biosphere
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Cryosphere

...Anthrosphere?
...0 MYA, now.

What events during the

formation of the Earth
have allowed life to
develop?

How did we get here?

 Now that you have seen National Geographic's
"Before the Flood" answer the following
question in your notebook:

How is the Anthrosphere impacting

each of the other five Earth spheres?

The Spheres of Earth

Geosphere - rocks, Earth layers, resources
Biosphere - life, plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, food chain
Atmosphere - air, gases, green house effect, temperature
Hydrosphere - liquid water, ocean, rivers, lakes
Cryosphere - solid water, ice, snow, Arctic, Antarctic

Anthrosphere - humans, cities, transportation, energy