Goal: To understand life in our universe.

Goal: To understand life in our universe. Objectives: To understand the Basic building blocks for life in general 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) • 2nd Block: Temperature range for liquid water

Pressure range • 3rd block • The pressure at which boiling pt is 0 C (freezing pt) is 0.007 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.

Goal: To understand life in our universe.