Astronomy 2021A/B Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Plate Tectonics, Solar Wind, Lunar Mare

• School: Western University
• Department: Astronomy
• Course: Astronomy 2021A/B
• Professor: Chris Racknor

Document Summary

**geological processes are responsible for the current habitability of the earth: through the creation and preservation of an atmosphere, and by maintaining climate stability. The ve terrestrial worlds of the solar system consist of mercury, venus, earth, earth"s. Earth is different bc of its distance from the sun (habitable zone) and its size. There are 3 main factors of habitability (geology and life are deeply connected over long time scales: volcanism. Releases gasses trapped in earth"s interior: the original source of the earth"s atmosphere and oceans. Releases heat and creates chemical environments that may have helped originate life: plate tectonics. Motion and recycling of rock bw the surface and the interior. Largely responsible for long-term climate stability *: magnetic eld. Generated in earth"s deep interior (a lot of metallic particles in the core, and as the earth turns it creates a magnetic eld around the earth) Shields and preserves atmosphere from the solar wind.