Goal: To understand life in our universe. Objectives: 1)To understand the Basic building blocks for life in general 2)To learn about the basics of climate

Brainstorm! Try to find 6 characteristics of the most basic life (note this is life in general – so if you can think of a life form that does not need it, it is not a basic building block). Note also this is not for human life, just the most basic life (like bacteria). Finally, this is for life as we know it.

Liquid Water Most basic building block of life A few other blocks exist to allow this Our bodies are about 70% water Plentiful in the universe

What temperatures is water liquid? In this room, 0 C to 100 C. Goldilocks zone HOWEVER (long speech here) 2 nd Block: Temperature range for liquid water

Pressure range 3 rd block The pressure at which boiling pt is 0 C (freezing pt) is bars Triple point of water

Energy Source #4 Does not have to come from a star Needed for: 1) Temperature range 2) Function (move, perceive, ect) 3) Take raw ingredients and turn them into DNA and cells.

Ingrediants #5-8 Cells are made of proteins which are made of the elements: 1) Hydrogen 2) Nitrogen 3) Carbon 4) Oxygen

Not on the list: Atmosphere –Needed for life on surface, but not in general. Magnetic Field same Proximity to star Needed for life on surface, but not under

Climate: Brainstorm, what factors affect climate? Come up with at least 4.

Climate is about energy To understand climate you only need to understand where the energy is going. More energy in means higher temperatures until energy in = energy out Higher temperature means you radiate more energy If energy in is greater than out, temperature goes up

#1 The sun For the Earth the sun is the #1 most important influence on climate Further from the sun (all else equal) then temperatures are colder.

#2 Greenhouse effect The Earth has 2 main sources of energy, the sun, and the atmosphere. Sun emits optical light (it is hot) Earth emits infrared light (it is cooler)

Greenhouse gasses Are gasses that absorb infrared heat (so they are powered by the planet’s heat) These gasses then re-emit that heat and half of that goes back to the Earth. No trapping.

What is the most abundant greenhouse gas in Earth’s atmosphere? 1) Carbon Dioxide 2) Nitrogen 3) Methane 4) Water Vapor

#3 Albedo Albedo is a measure of the fraction of light that gets reflected. More reflected light means cooler temperatures.

Ice Albedo Feedback If warming changes something to change the warming that is feedback Warming melts ice. This allows the ground/sea to absorb more light. This raises temperatures further.

#4 Circulation Patterns Atmospheric/Ocean patterns Move energy to poles. Can spread out the temperature.

Not on list: Interior heat - < 0.1 Watt per square meter Ozone Layer – only indirect affects surface

Conclusion We have found what a planet needs in order to be capable of supporting life. We explored the basics of climate.