Title: Earth, Moon and Mars: How They Work
1Earth, Moon and Mars How They Work
Professor Michael Wysession Department of Earth
and Planetary Sciences Washington University, St.
Louis, MO Lecture 12 Other Earths?
2Sand Dunes
Earth Mars
3Desert Pavement
Earth Mars
4Dust Devils
Earth
Mars
5Dust Storm
Earth Mars
6Lightning
Earth Saturn
7Aurora
Earth Jupiter
8Crustal Rift
Earth Enceladus
9Slumping
Earth Mars
10Rock Avalanche
Earth Mars
11Water Ice Caps
Earth Mars
12Glacial Moraine
Earth Mars
13Streams
Earth Titan
14Stream Meander
Earth Mars
15Lakes
Titan Earth
16Geyser
Earth Enceladus
17Water Ocean
Earth Europa
18Lava Flow
Earth Venus
19Valley
Earth Mars
20Volcanic Eruption
Earth Io
21Earthquake
Earth Moon
22Meteor Impact Crater
Earth Moon
23Weathering
Earth Titan
24Hurricane
Earth Jupiter
25Storms
Earth Jupiter
26Life
Earth Mars
27Life
Earth Mars???
28No other planet comes close to Earth with respect
to the diversity of its environments, and nowhere
else do we see plate tectonics.
29(No Transcript)
30Natural Selection
Evolution
Reproduction
Mutation
31Fall
Adaptation to environmental change deciduous
trees.
Summer
Winter
32Many pines (e.g., Lodgepole Pine) release seeds
after a fire (heat melts away sealing resin).
33DISPERSAL Seeds, burrs, spores, etc.
Milkweed The densely packed fruits peel away and
are carried away by the wind.
34Locomotion Flying, swimming, crawling, etc.
35INVASION Ex/ Kudzu
36INVASION Ex/ European Starlings
100 European Starlings brought to NY City in late
1800s. Now more than 200 million in North
America.
37Predation teeth, stingers, poison, etc.
38Evasion camouflage, speed, multiple offspring,
etc.
3917-year Cicada (13 and 17 are prime numbers!)
40Prickly Pear brought to Queensland, Australia
in 1839. More than 60,000,000 acres covered by
1925, the arrival of the cactoblastis moth.
41Cactus Moth (Cactoblastis cactorum)
42Opuntia in Australia before (above) and after
(below) release of Cactoblastis moths
43Now, occasional flare-ups of prickly pear and
cactoblastis.
44Parasites
45Symbiosis Ex/ Mitochondria, Chloroplasts in
eukaryotic cells
Mitochondria
Chloroplast
46Symbiosis Ex/ Ants and Acacia trees.
47Symbiosis Ex/ Chempedak trees, choanephora
fungus, gall midges
48Attracting Mates
Bower bird
Peacock
49DNA Very powerful way of encoding traits. gt95
of the genes of mice and men are similar. 80
have identical 1-to-1 counterparts.
50(No Transcript)
51(No Transcript)
52The concestor of all life on Earth
53(No Transcript)
54Where life may have started Deep sea vents
55(No Transcript)
56(No Transcript)
57- The Anthropic Principle, or Goldilocks Enigma
- The very existence of stars and planets requires
very narrow bounds on the fundamental laws of the
Universe. - Four fundamental forces
- Gravity
- Electromagnetism
- Strong nuclear force
- Weak nuclear force
58- If Strong Nuclear Force slightly larger
- All of the hydrogen in the universe would have
converted to helium in the early universe - No water!!
- No long-lived stars.
59- If Strong Nuclear Force slightly smaller
- No elements greater than hydrogen.
60- If Gravity slightly larger
- Stars burn up fast.
- Tendency toward massive stars and black holes.
61- If Gravity slightly smaller
- No stars or planets form.
- Universe is a diffuse cloud of hydrogen and
helium.
62Possible Solutions to the Goldilocks Enigma The
Absurd Universe It just happens to turn out this
way by random chance.
63The Unique Universe There is a deep underlying
principle of physics that requires the universe
to be this way. Some Theory of Everything will
explain why the various features of the Universe
must have exactly the values that we see. We just
havent found it yet.
64The Life Principle There is an underlying
principle that constrains the universe to evolve
towards life and mind. Again, we havent found
what it is yet.
65The Fake Universe We are living in a virtual
reality simulation as in the movie The Matrix.
The real world could have rules that are much
simpler and more obvious.
66The Designed Universe An intelligent Creator
designed the Universe specifically to support
complexity and the emergence of
Intelligence. Though in this case, we still have
the question of what created the creator, and we
have to go through this whole analysis again on
the creation of a god.
67- The Multiverse
- Multiple Universes exist, maybe an infinite
number. - They have all possible combinations of
characteristics. - We, of course, find ourselves within the one that
supports our existence. - Is an outcome of string theory
- Solves time-traveler paradox
68Rare Earth Situation Conditions required for
intelligent life to evolve on a planet are
exceedingly rare. Another Goldilocks Enigma!
69We are at the right location in the right kind of
galaxy About 5-10 of stars are in a narrow
middle zone in spiral galaxies
70Our Sun isnt too small For small stars, the
habitable zone is close to sun Danger of solar
flares Planets usually tidally locked (one side
is burning, one side freezing) Small stars
90 of all stars
Small Star
71Our Sun isnt too large Large stars Burn out
quickly Give off too much UV (Many stars
have highly variable energy output --- changes
habitable zone location!!)
Massive Star
72Our Sun is just the right size Stars like our
sun 5 of stars
Medium-sized Star
73We are the right distance from our Sun The Suns
habitable zone is 0.95 to 1.15 AU (5 closer
than Earth to 15 farther)
74- We are the right distance from our Sun
- The Suns EM output is increasing by 1 every 100
Ma - But, Earths internal radiogenic heat production
is decreasing over time!
75Jupiter is (currently) just the right kind of
shepherd Protects Earth from bombardment Not
too big or orbit too elliptical
76Jupiter is just the right kind of shepherd
Extrasolar Jupiters have been bad Jupiters
77Earth is the right-sized planet Too small, no
atmosphere too large --gt all HHe
78Earth is the right-sized planet Large planets
Attract too many impactors Big g might level
lands (single ocean would mean no land-feedback
mechanism for regulating CO2)
79Earth has the right composition Good balance of
rock metals volatiles life uses lots of
different elements
80Earth has the right composition Good good amount
of radiogenic isotopes Keeps Earth geologically
alive, powers mantle convection, drives plate
tectonics --gt land, air, water! Creates many
different ecological niches microclimates --gt
promotes biodiversity!
81Earth has a nearly circular orbit Keeps it in
the habitable zone with liquid water Ocean
absorbs CO2, prevents runaway Greenhouse
82Earth has a large Moon Moon acts like a large
gyroscope minimizes changes in tilt of Earths
axis -- maintains climate stability
Milankovitch cycles are small compared to other
planets
83Earth has a large Moon Protomoon impact gave
Earth its large iron core Large, strong
geodynamo produces large magnetic field --
protective magnetosphere!
84Earth has a fast rotation Keeps day/night ?T
small Helps power magnetogeodynamo
85This was not always viewed to be the case Frank
Drake Carl Sagan SETI
86Drake Equation N (R) (fs) (fp) (ne) (fl) (fi)
(fc) (L) (Finds the number of intelligent
civilizations able to communicate within our
galaxy)
87Drake Equation N (R) (fs) (fp) (ne) (fl) (fi)
(fc) (L) (Finds the number of intelligent
civilizations able to communicate within our
galaxy) NAME
DESCRIPTION
R Average rate of Star formation (per year)
88Drake Equation N (R) (fs) (fp) (ne) (fl) (fi)
(fc) (L) (Finds the number of intelligent
civilizations able to communicate within our
galaxy) NAME
DESCRIPTION
R Average rate of Star formation (per year)
fs Fraction of
stars that are suitable "suns" for planetary
systems
89Drake Equation N (R) (fs) (fp) (ne) (fl) (fi)
(fc) (L) (Finds the number of intelligent
civilizations able to communicate within our
galaxy) NAME
DESCRIPTION
R Average rate of Star formation (per year)
fs Fraction of
stars that are suitable "suns" for planetary
systems fp Fraction of suitable suns
with planetary systems
90Drake Equation N (R) (fs) (fp) (ne) (fl) (fi)
(fc) (L) (Finds the number of intelligent
civilizations able to communicate within our
galaxy) NAME
DESCRIPTION
R Average rate of Star formation (per year)
fs Fraction of
stars that are suitable "suns" for planetary
systems fp Fraction of suitable suns
with planetary systems ne
Number of planets in the Continuously Habitable
Zone
91Drake Equation N (R) (fs) (fp) (ne) (fl) (fi)
(fc) (L) (Finds the number of intelligent
civilizations able to communicate within our
galaxy) NAME
DESCRIPTION
R Average rate of Star formation (per year)
fs Fraction of
stars that are suitable "suns" for planetary
systems fp Fraction of suitable suns
with planetary systems ne
Number of planets in the Continuously Habitable
Zone fl Fraction of these
planets on which life actually originates
92Drake Equation N (R) (fs) (fp) (ne) (fl) (fi)
(fc) (L) (Finds the number of intelligent
civilizations able to communicate within our
galaxy) NAME
DESCRIPTION
R Average rate of Star formation (per year)
fs Fraction of
stars that are suitable "suns" for planetary
systems fp Fraction of suitable suns with
planetary systems ne
Number of planets in the Continuously Habitable
Zone fl Fraction of these
planets on which life actually originates fi
Fraction of these planets on which life
eventually becomes "intelligent"
93Drake Equation N (R) (fs) (fp) (ne) (fl) (fi)
(fc) (L) (Finds the number of intelligent
civilizations able to communicate within our
galaxy) NAME
DESCRIPTION
R Average rate of Star formation (per year)
fs Fraction of
stars that are suitable "suns" for planetary
systems fp Fraction of suitable suns with
planetary systems ne
Number of planets in the Continuously Habitable
Zone fl Fraction of these
planets on which life actually originates fi
Fraction of these planets on which life
eventually becomes "intelligent" fe
Fraction of intelligent species of these planets
that develop a desire to communicate w/
others
94Drake Equation N (R) (fs) (fp) (ne) (fl) (fi)
(fc) (L) (Finds the number of intelligent
civilizations able to communicate within our
galaxy) NAME
DESCRIPTION
R Average rate of Star formation (per year)
fs Fraction of
stars that are suitable "suns" for planetary
systems fp Fraction of suitable suns with
planetary systems ne
Number of planets in the Continuously Habitable
Zone fl Fraction of these
planets on which life actually originates fi
Fraction of these planets on which life
eventually becomes "intelligent" fe
Fraction of intelligent species of these planets
that develop a desire to communicate w/
others L Average or mean lifetime (in
years) of a communicative civilization
95Drake Equation N (R) (fs) (fp) (ne) (fl) (fi)
(fc) (L) (Finds the number of intelligent
civilizations able to communicate within our
galaxy) NAME
DESCRIPTION
R Average rate of Star formation (per year)
fs Fraction of
stars that are suitable "suns" for planetary
systems fp Fraction of suitable suns with
planetary systems ne
Number of planets in the Continuously Habitable
Zone fl Fraction of these
planets on which life actually originates fi
Fraction of these planets on which life
eventually becomes "intelligent" fe
Fraction of intelligent species of these planets
that develop a desire to communicate w/
others L Average or mean lifetime (in
years) of a communicative civilization
N Number of intelligent civilizations within our
galaxy able to communicate
96Drake Equation N (R) (fs) (fp) (ne) (fl) (fi)
(fc) (L) (Finds the number of intelligent
civilizations able to communicate within our
galaxy) NAME
DESCRIPTION
Estimate R Average rate of Star formation (per
year) 6 fs
Fraction of stars that are suitable "suns" for
planetary systems fp Fraction of suitable
suns with planetary systems ne
Number of planets in the Continuously
Habitable Zone fl Fraction of
these planets on which life actually originates
fi Fraction of these planets on which life
eventually becomes "intelligent" fe
Fraction of intelligent species of these planets
that develop a desire to communicate w/
others L Average or mean lifetime (in
years) of a communicative civilization
N Number of intelligent civilizations within our
galaxy able to communicate
97Drake Equation N (R) (fs) (fp) (ne) (fl) (fi)
(fc) (L) (Finds the number of intelligent
civilizations able to communicate within our
galaxy) NAME
DESCRIPTION
Estimate R Average rate of Star formation (per
year) 6 fs
Fraction of stars that are suitable "suns" for
planetary systems 1/20 fp Fraction of
suitable suns with planetary systems
ne Number of planets in the
Continuously Habitable Zone fl
Fraction of these planets on which life actually
originates fi Fraction of these planets
on which life eventually becomes "intelligent"
fe Fraction of intelligent species of
these planets that develop a desire to
communicate w/ others L Average or mean
lifetime (in years) of a communicative civiliza
tion N Number of intelligent civilizations
within our galaxy able to communicate
98Drake Equation N (R) (fs) (fp) (ne) (fl) (fi)
(fc) (L) (Finds the number of intelligent
civilizations able to communicate within our
galaxy) NAME
DESCRIPTION
Estimate R Average rate of Star formation (per
year) 6 fs
Fraction of stars that are suitable "suns" for
planetary systems 1/20 fp Fraction of
suitable suns with planetary systems
1/2 ne Number of planets in the
Continuously Habitable Zone fl
Fraction of these planets on which life actually
originates fi Fraction of these planets
on which life eventually becomes "intelligent"
fe Fraction of intelligent species of
these planets that develop a desire to
communicate w/ others L Average or mean
lifetime (in years) of a communicative civiliza
tion N Number of intelligent civilizations
within our galaxy able to communicate
99Drake Equation N (R) (fs) (fp) (ne) (fl) (fi)
(fc) (L) (Finds the number of intelligent
civilizations able to communicate within our
galaxy) NAME
DESCRIPTION
Estimate R Average rate of Star formation (per
year) 6 fs
Fraction of stars that are suitable "suns" for
planetary systems 1/20 fp Fraction of
suitable suns with planetary systems
1/2 ne Number of planets in the
Continuously Habitable Zone 1/150 fl
Fraction of these planets on which life
actually originates fi Fraction of these
planets on which life eventually
becomes "intelligent" fe Fraction of
intelligent species of these planets that develop
a desire to communicate w/ others L
Average or mean lifetime (in years) of a
communicative civilization N Number of
intelligent civilizations within our galaxy able
to communicate
100Drake Equation N (R) (fs) (fp) (ne) (fl) (fi)
(fc) (L) (Finds the number of intelligent
civilizations able to communicate within our
galaxy) NAME
DESCRIPTION
Estimate R Average rate of Star formation (per
year) 6 fs
Fraction of stars that are suitable "suns" for
planetary systems 1/20 fp Fraction of
suitable suns with planetary systems
1/2 ne Number of planets in the
Continuously Habitable Zone 1/150 fl
Fraction of these planets on which life
actually originates 1 fi Fraction of these
planets on which life eventually
becomes "intelligent" fe Fraction of
intelligent species of these planets that develop
a desire to communicate w/ others L
Average or mean lifetime (in years) of a
communicative civilization N Number of
intelligent civilizations within our galaxy able
to communicate
101Drake Equation N (R) (fs) (fp) (ne) (fl) (fi)
(fc) (L) (Finds the number of intelligent
civilizations able to communicate within our
galaxy) NAME
DESCRIPTION
Estimate R Average rate of Star formation (per
year) 6 fs
Fraction of stars that are suitable "suns" for
planetary systems 1/20 fp Fraction of
suitable suns with planetary systems
1/2 ne Number of planets in the
Continuously Habitable Zone 1/150 fl
Fraction of these planets on which life
actually originates 1 fi Fraction of these
planets on which life eventually
becomes 1/500 "intelligent" fe Fraction
of intelligent species of these planets that
develop a desire to communicate w/
others L Average or mean lifetime (in
years) of a communicative civilization
N Number of intelligent civilizations within our
galaxy able to communicate
102Drake Equation N (R) (fs) (fp) (ne) (fl) (fi)
(fc) (L) (Finds the number of intelligent
civilizations able to communicate within our
galaxy) NAME
DESCRIPTION
Estimate R Average rate of Star formation (per
year) 6 fs
Fraction of stars that are suitable "suns" for
planetary systems 1/20 fp Fraction of
suitable suns with planetary systems
1/2 ne Number of planets in the
Continuously Habitable Zone 1/150 fl
Fraction of these planets on which life
actually originates 1 fi Fraction of these
planets on which life eventually
becomes 1/500 "intelligent" fe Fraction
of intelligent species of these planets that
develop 1/2 a desire to communicate w/
others L Average or mean lifetime (in
years) of a communicative civilization
N Number of intelligent civilizations within our
galaxy able to communicate
103Drake Equation N (R) (fs) (fp) (ne) (fl) (fi)
(fc) (L) (Finds the number of intelligent
civilizations able to communicate within our
galaxy) NAME
DESCRIPTION
Estimate R Average rate of Star formation (per
year) 6 fs
Fraction of stars that are suitable "suns" for
planetary systems 1/20 fp Fraction of
suitable suns with planetary systems
1/2 ne Number of planets in the
Continuously Habitable Zone 1/150 fl
Fraction of these planets on which life
actually originates 1 fi Fraction of these
planets on which life eventually
becomes 1/500 "intelligent" fe Fraction
of intelligent species of these planets that
develop 1/2 a desire to communicate w/
others L Average or mean lifetime (in
years) of a communicative 1,000,000 civilization
N Number of intelligent civilizations within
our galaxy able to communicate
104Drake Equation N (R) (fs) (fp) (ne) (fl) (fi)
(fc) (L) (Finds the number of intelligent
civilizations able to communicate within our
galaxy) NAME
DESCRIPTION
Estimate R Average rate of Star formation (per
year) 6 fs
Fraction of stars that are suitable "suns" for
planetary systems 1/20 fp Fraction of
suitable suns with planetary systems
1/2 ne Number of planets in the
Continuously Habitable Zone 1/150 fl
Fraction of these planets on which life
actually originates 1 fi Fraction of these
planets on which life eventually
becomes 1/500 "intelligent" fe Fraction
of intelligent species of these planets that
develop 1/2 a desire to communicate w/
others L Average or mean lifetime (in
years) of a communicative 1,000,000 civilization
N Number of intelligent civilizations within
our galaxy able to 1 (Us!) communicate
105Arthur Clarke Sometimes I think were alone in
the universe, and sometimes I think were not. In
either case, the idea is quite staggering. Fermi
s Paradox Where is everybody?
106Fermis Paradox Where is everybody? Maybe
these civilizations have tried to contact us, but
we dont recognize the signs? Maybe its harder
to get a message across space than we
think? Maybe we arent looking in the right
places, or at the right things? Maybe the
creatures are too alien to be able to communicate
with us? Maybe they all eventually choose to be
non-technical? Maybe they run out of
resources? Maybe civilizations dont last long?
Maybe it is the nature of intelligent life to
destroy itself? Or to destroy others? Maybe
everyone is quiet because everyone is
quiet? Maybe they are intentionally avoiding
contacting us? the zoo hypothesis. Maybe ---
theyre not there?
107(No Transcript)
108(No Transcript)
109(No Transcript)
110(No Transcript)
111(No Transcript)
112(No Transcript)
113(No Transcript)
114(No Transcript)
115(No Transcript)
116(No Transcript)
117(No Transcript)
118(No Transcript)
119(No Transcript)
120(No Transcript)
121(No Transcript)
122(No Transcript)
123(No Transcript)
124(No Transcript)
125(No Transcript)
126(No Transcript)
127(No Transcript)
128(No Transcript)
129(No Transcript)
130(No Transcript)
131(No Transcript)
132(No Transcript)
133(No Transcript)
134(No Transcript)
135(No Transcript)
136(No Transcript)
137(No Transcript)
138(No Transcript)
139(No Transcript)
140(No Transcript)
141(No Transcript)
142(No Transcript)
143(No Transcript)
144(No Transcript)
145(No Transcript)
146(No Transcript)
147(No Transcript)
148(No Transcript)
149(No Transcript)
150(No Transcript)
151(No Transcript)
152Travertine-like deposits?
Earth Mars