The basis of life on our planet
The sun holds us in place. Despite the fact that our planet is located 140 million kilometers from the star, without its gravity, we would simply fly into deep space, away from heat and light, into the cold of black space.
Influence of the Sun on the Earth
Our star, like the Moon, creates tides. While most of the daily ocean tides are due to the influence of the Moon, the highest and lowest tides occur when the Sun, Earth, and Moon line up. It gives the Earth the energy it needs. Each square meter The earth receives an average of 342 watts of energy. This is an average that includes day and night.
Most of this energy is reflected off the Earth and back into space, but our atmosphere acts like a blanket, keeping some of that heat in.
Thanks to him, we enjoy average temperature at 15 ° C. The sun affects our weather. As you know, it constantly heats up the planet, and the differences in heating create the weather. When one warm air above the ground and cold air above the ocean moves from one region to another, winds are formed.
When the sun heats up the water, it evaporates, becomes clouds, and eventually falls out as rain.
Instructions
The sun affects the Earth's climate and all living organisms - this is indisputable. Everyone knows that in autumn, when the Earth's surface receives less heat and light from the sun, nature "falls asleep" - trees lose their leaves, animals reduce their activity, some even go into hibernation, waiting out the winter cold. In the spring, with the onset of warmth, nature comes to life. Leaves reappear on trees, animals wake up after hibernation. These are the annual seasonal changes in conditions middle lane.
However, the circumpolar and polar regions of the planet receive much less solar heat and light, which is due to the tilt of the earth's axis to the plane of the ecliptic. For many millennia, in the circumpolar regions it has formed with a characteristic sparse vegetation and not very diverse fauna, and in the polar regions - a permafrost zone. The reason is the position of the Sun relative to the horizon. In the polar and circumpolar regions the globe, The sun stands low above the horizon, and its rays seem to glide over the surface, while heating it weakly.
On the contrary, in the equatorial regions of the planet, where the sun's rays all year round fall on the planet's surface almost vertically, summer and winter temperatures differ slightly. Life abounds". Flora and fauna are varied and abundant.
Many people probably know the expression: "Forests are the lungs of the Earth." It's right. The green leaves of plants contain grains of chlorophyll, with the help of which photosynthesis takes place. As a result, oxygen is released, so necessary for all living things. A possible reaction photosynthesis only becomes in the presence of sunlight.
Plants play an important role in the nutritional supply of both humans and animals. For herbivores, they are the only source of food. Plants accumulate the energy of solar radiation, and then it is received by people and animals that feed on these plants.
People use resources extracted from the bowels of the Earth - coal, oil, gas. All these are the remains of plants that grew on the earth many millions of years ago. Now they give up the energy they once accumulated.
Many natural phenomena such as cloud formation, rain, snow, fog, etc. occur due to the water cycle. The heat from the sun greatly speeds up evaporation. Without a global process called the water cycle in nature, life on Earth would be impossible.
Thanks to the heat of the sun, the wind blows on the planet, ocean currents move huge masses of water, waves are formed. The sun, like the moon, affects tidal oceanic processes.
The Earth's atmosphere is affected by the solar wind - a stream of helium-hydrogen plasma escaping from the solar corona. The solar wind is the cause of the aurora borealis and magnetic storms.
17. Influence of the Sun and Moon on earth processes
Factors determining the solar influence on the Earth of the Sun and the Moon can be divided into two types. The first is constantly acting factors, which include the shape of the Earth, the gravitational and magnetic forces that determine the retention in orbit and the movement of the Earth around the Sun, the second is solar radiation, which is the main source of energy on the Earth, the relative position of the Earth, the Moon and the Sun.
The shape and size of the Earth are of great importance for the development of all geographic phenomena and processes on Earth. For example, the sphericity of the Earth causes uneven heating by the Sun. The greatest heating of the earth's surface occurs in the area between the tropics, where the angle of incidence of sunlight on the planet's surface during the year is highest. In the direction of the poles, there is a gradual decrease in heat. This determines the general geographic zoning of the Earth and the formation of various natural zones.
In addition to the shape of the Earth, its mass, volume, and density are of great geographic importance. These parameters are associated with such properties of the Earth as the force of gravity, magnetic and thermal fields. Gravitational, magnetic and electric fields The earth is determined by its shape, size and material composition and, in turn, determine the properties and processes of the geographic envelope.
The mass of the Earth is 5.976 10 27 g, the volume is 1.083 10 12 m 3, and the average density is 5.518 kg / m 3. The composition of the Earth is dominated by iron: (34.6%), oxygen (29.5%), silicon (15.2%) and magnesium (12.7%).
The density of the earth varies with composition and properties rocks and depth from the surface. The average density of the Earth is 5.52 g / cm 3. In the center of the Earth, the density reaches 12-17g / cm 3 (12-17 thousand tons / m 3). Density upper layers The earth depends on the composition of their constituent rocks.
These parameters are associated with such properties of the Earth as the force of gravity, magnetic and thermal fields.
Gravity is the mutual attraction of two physical bodies that have mass. The forces of gravity hold the planets around the Sun, determine the spherical shape of the Earth and hold its atmosphere.
The Earth's magnetic field is similar to the magnetic field of a conventional rod, the ends of which have opposite magnetic poles, i.e. magnetic dipole. The points of intersection of a magnetic dipole with the earth's surface are called geomagnetic poles (north and south). Magnetic poles do not coincide with geographical, their position is constantly changing over time. The zone of near-earth space, the physical properties of which are determined by the earth's magnetic field, is called the magnetosphere. It has an internal (at an altitude of 3-4 thousand km) and an external (22 thousand km) radiation belts.
As you know, the Earth rotates on its axis in the direction from west to east and at the same time around the Sun. The Earth makes a full revolution around its axis in 23 hours 56 minutes 4 seconds. This period of time is called a sidereal day. However, due to the fact that the Earth simultaneously revolves around the Sun, the actual length of the day is somewhat longer. For convenience in practical use, it was decided to consider the average duration of a sunny day - 24 hours. The rotation of the Earth around its axis is associated with the change of day and night and many earthly processes.
The linear speed of the Earth's rotation is the distance traveled by any point on the surface of the Earth per unit of time. Depending on the geographic latitude, it varies from 0 (at the poles) to 464 m / s (at the equator). In addition to the linear velocity, the axial rotation of the Earth also determines the angular velocity, which shows the angle of rotation of any point on the earth's surface per unit of time. It is the same for all latitudes of the Earth and is equal to 1 o in 4 minutes (15 o in one hour.). The angular velocity determines the magnitude of the Coriolis force, which affects the movement of water and air masses, undermining river banks, the direction of sea currents, etc.
Associated with the shape of the Earth and its rotation around its axis are such concepts as standard and local time, as well as date changes and the calendar. (Remember what time zones are, local time and standard time?).
Depending on the position of the Earth relative to the Sun, light belts are distinguished on the globe (Remember how many and what light belts are allocated on the Earth?)
The Earth has one natural satellite - the Moon. The moon has a braking effect on the speed of rotation of the Earth, which affects the magnitude of the Coriolis force and, first of all, on mobile media (water, air masses). Under the influence of the Moon and partly the Sun, the intensity of the Earth's processes changes, including tectonic processes (mountain building, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions), and the magnitude of its polar compression decreases. The moon has been proven to affect biological rhythms on Earth, and through them on the state of human and animal health.
The intensity of the influence of the Moon on Earth processes depends on the relative position of the Earth, the Sun and the Moon and the phase of the Moon. Different shapes the parts of the Moon illuminated by the Sun that we see from the Earth are called the phases of the Moon. There are four of them: the new moon, when the moon is between the earth and the sun; the first and last quarter, when the Moon is visible from the Earth at an angle of 90 ° from the east and west of the Sun; full moon when the moon is in the opposite direction to the sun. (Remember from astronomy the duration of the lunar phases)
The influence of the Sun on terrestrial processes is determined by the phenomena occurring in the interior of the Sun, i.e. from solar activity. The huge amount of energy that the Sun emits into outer space is formed in its bowels as a result of the thermonuclear reaction of converting hydrogen into helium. Despite the fact that only one two-billionth part of this energy falls on the Earth, the Sun is the main source of energy for all processes taking place in the geographic envelope.
Signs of solar activity are sunspots, areas of increased brightness (torches) and explosive emissions of energy (flashes) on the surface of the Sun (Remember the reasons for their formation from astronomy). The increase in solar activity is reflected in the geophysical processes of the Earth. There are 11-year, 33-year and 98-year cycles of increased solar activity. During these periods, the influence of the Sun on the Earth increases.
Solar activity has a great influence on such terrestrial processes as auroras, magnetic storms, earthquakes, plant growth and productivity, reproduction and migration of insects, epidemics of human diseases (influenza, typhoid, cholera, etc.).
The influence of solar activity on the Earth's climate is extremely great. The streams of solar radiation intensifying during solar storms affect the ozone content in the upper atmosphere. This, in turn, changes the intensity of heat and moisture exchange on Earth.
One of the factors solar influence the “solar wind” - flows of protons and electrons that spread from the Sun in all directions - comes to the Earth. A very small part of the matter of the "solar wind" gets to the Earth, but its influence on the magnetic properties of our planet is enormous.
As you know from astronomy, all the planets of the solar system are in a state of gravitational interaction. The interaction of the Sun, Moon and Earth is seen in the example of the formation of tidal processes in the Earth's hydrosphere. The Moon plays the main role in the formation of tides. The influence of the Sun, despite its enormous mass, due to its great distance (149.5 million km), is 2.71 times less than the influence of the Moon. Highest height The tide in the oceans is observed when the Earth, the Moon, the Sun are on the same line and their tidal forces are summed up. Such a tide is called syzygium (from the Greek syzygia - connection, conjugation). The smallest tide is quadrature (from the Latin guadratura - square shape), when the Moon and the Sun are at right angles to the Earth.
The sun can be both a friend and an enemy to us. With the right approach, you can use it to strengthen your health, increase immunity and improve your mood. Conversely, the unwise use of its capabilities can cause serious health problems. In this short article we will look at the positive and negative effects of the sun on the human body.
The benefits of the sun for human health
Regular adoption sunbathing has a positive effect on our body. They help to improve metabolism and blood composition, increase overall tone.
The positive influence of the Sun on the human body was noticed already in ancient times. Sick and weakened people were prescribed walks on outdoors and sunbathing... This helped to improve their health.
It has long been proven that sunlight can kill pathogens of many diseases, including such serious ones as skin tuberculosis. In addition, under the influence ultraviolet rays in the human body, vitamin D is produced, on which the strength of our bones and teeth depends. With a deficiency of this vitamin, rickets occurs in children.
An overdose of even the most useful medicine is harmful. The same can be said for the sun's rays. Excessive sun exposure entails mass unpleasant consequences... This is definitely worth knowing for those who like to sunbathe on the beaches for hours.
Ultraviolet light can have a destructive effect on the skin. Excessive sunbathing can cause premature aging of the skin and early appearance wrinkles. In addition, excessive sun exposure increases the risk of melanoma and other dangerous diseases... In order to avoid these consequences, you should sunbathe during the periods from 9 to 11 and from 16 to 19 hours, when the UV rays are at their weakest. Going outdoors, be sure to use protective products for skin and hair to reduce Negative influence Sun on the human body.
It is necessary to protect not only the head and body, but also the eyes, since ultraviolet light destroys the retina. To avoid this, you should wear sunglasses. Their choice should be approached very responsibly. Poor quality glasses can only increase the destructive power of UV rays. So this important accessory should be bought only in optics, and not in underground passages and other questionable places.
“... At night, only my body rests, my thoughts are everywhere. I see so many things. In the silence of the night, I can see and hear especially well the heavenly bells ringing every hour. All living things obey this rhythm ... " Grandma Wang is a healer and clairvoyant.
The influence of the Moon and the Sun on the physiological activity and physical state of man, plants, animals has been known for a long time, although long time remained outside the scope of genuine scientific analysis.
Since ancient times, in the idea of \ u200b \ u200bthe influence of the Sun and the Moon on all living things, fictions and guesses have dominated, although there have been observations that are of some value to science.
Planets, plants, man and his health are all one whole. The radiation sent by space determines the living conditions of all life on Earth. Ancient healers took this as an axiom. They, as a rule, were astrologers and, starting to treat a patient, made up his horoscope. When astral phenomena were considered unfavorable, the treatment of even the most serious diseases was postponed until the moment when the celestial bodies were successfully correlated with the patient's horoscope.
Such ideas of the ancients did not find support among scientists for a long time. The setting changed significantly in the thirties of the twentieth century, when new science- biorhythmology.
One of the first scientists to draw attention to the dependence of the course of various life processes in organisms inhabiting the Earth on cosmic factors was A.L. Chizhevsky. In their scientific works he convincingly proved the existence of a direct connection between solar activity and the occurrence of various epidemics.
The accuracy of the biological rhythms by which flowers and birds, plants and mammals live, occupied the minds of scientists long before the twentieth century. Biorhythms were studied by K. Linnaeus, C. Darwin, K. Timiryazev and other famous naturalists.
It was found that in the life of all biological individuals, two daily rhythms are clearly manifested - solar and lunar. One depends on the rotation of the Earth around its axis and is associated with the Sun; its frequency is 24 hours. Another is associated with lunar days, the duration of which is 24 hours 50 minutes.
As the study of human biorhythms has shown, most people are "sleepwalkers" who prefer rhythm lunar days solar rhythm. It turned out that human body has several biological rhythms (including approximately 23- and 28-day), periodically repeating throughout life.
It turned out that these rhythms are influenced by the position of the Sun, Moon, other planets, and possibly the nearest constellations. Overlapping on each other, biological rhythms form a harmonious symphony of our life, "which we sometimes break ourselves, turning night into day and vice versa." A drop in performance at night and at noon occurs not only at the level of the entire organism as a whole, but also at the level of the cell.
"V recent times in medicine, a new independent direction is actively being formed - chronotherapy, which is based on the search for the most optimal schemes treatment, taking into account the daily period of the body and its sensitivity to therapeutic measures.
It is quite obvious that both therapeutic and by-effect any medication is determined by the moment it is taken. Therefore, it is very important to consider not only "what" and "how" should be taken with a given disease, but also "when", that is, at what time of day it should be done and when it should not.
The above applies not only to drug therapy, but also to physiotherapeutic, balneological effects - baths, therapeutic massage procedures, etc. " (Alyaktrinsky BS, Stepanova SI According to the law of rhythm. M .: "Science", 1985).
All body functions are associated with the expenditure of energy. And every day, at strictly defined hours, each organ replenishes it. The transfer of energy to the internal organs occurs during those two hours when their maximum activity occurs during the daily cycle.
The most important biorhythm is the circadian rhythm. It is noticed that in the circadian biorhythm at 5-6 o'clock in the morning there is the most significant physiological rise and the highest working capacity, but, unfortunately, modern man usually sleeps at this time.
Observations also revealed the intraday rhythm of human nutrition with periods of about 4-6 hours, when the feeling of hunger constantly occurs at certain hours: at 5-6, 11-12, 16-17, 20-21, and for those who work late hours, also at 24 - 1 hour.
The daily rhythm of the human body is determined by various physiological functions, of which there are more than a hundred, and these functions show their activity at one time maximum, at another - minimum.