Editing Earth (section)

{{Short description|Third planet from the Sun}}
{{Redirect|Planet Earth|other uses|Earth (disambiguation)|and|Planet Earth (disambiguation)}}
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{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox planet
<!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This infobox has been formatted in the same way as those for other planets and bodies in the Solar System, so please do not change it without discussion on the talk page. Scroll down to get beyond this long template and edit the main body text.
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->| background = LightSteelBlue
| name = Earth
| alt_names = {{Hlist|The [[world]]|The [[globe]]|[[Terra (mythology)|Terra]]|[[Terra (mythology)|Tellus]]|[[Gaia]]|[[Mother Nature|Mother Earth]]|[[wikt:Sol III|Sol III]]}}
| adjectives = {{Hlist|Earthly|Terrestrial|Terran|Tellurian}}
| symbol = [[File:Earth symbol (bold).svg|24px|class=skin-invert|🜨]] and [[File:Globus cruciger (bold).svg|class=skin-invert|24px|♁]]
| image = The Earth seen from Apollo 17.jpg
| image_alt = Photograph of Earth taken by the Apollo 17 mission. The Arabian peninsula, Africa and Madagascar lie in the upper half of the disc, whereas Antarctica is at the bottom.
| caption = ''[[The Blue Marble]]'', [[Apollo 17]], December 1972
| epoch = [[J2000.0|J2000]]<ref group="n" name="epoch" />
| aphelion = {{val|152,097,597|u=km}}
| perihelion = {{val|147,098,450|u=km}}<ref group="n" name="apsis" />
| time_periastron = 2023-Jan-04<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons_batch.cgi?batch=1&COMMAND=%27399%27&START_TIME=%272023-01-01%27&STOP_TIME=%272023-01-10%27&STEP_SIZE=%271%20hour%27&QUANTITIES=%2720%27&CENTER=%27@Sun%27|title=Horizons Batch Call for 2023 Perihelion|last1=Park|first1=Ryan|date=9 May 2022|publisher=[[NASA]]/[[JPL]]|access-date=3 July 2022|archive-date=3 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703175825/https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons_batch.cgi?batch=1&COMMAND=%27399%27&START_TIME=%272023-01-01%27&STOP_TIME=%272023-01-10%27&STEP_SIZE=%271%20hour%27&QUANTITIES=%2720%27&CENTER=%27%40Sun%27|url-status=live}}</ref>
| semimajor = {{val|149,598,023|u=km}}<ref name="VSOP87" />
| eccentricity = {{val|0.0167086}}<ref name="VSOP87" />
| period = {{convert|365.256363004|d|yr|comma=gaps|abbr=on|lk=out|disp=x|<ref name="IERS" /><br />(|[[julian year (astronomy)|<sub>j</sub>]])}}
| avg_speed = {{val|29.7827|u=km/s}}<ref name="earth_fact_sheet" />
| mean_anomaly = {{val|358.617|u=°}}
| inclination = {{ublist |{{val|7.155|u=°}} – [[Sun]]'s equator; |{{val|1.57869|u=°}} – [[invariable plane]];<ref name="Allen294" /> |{{val|0.00005|u=°}} – J2000 [[ecliptic]]}}
| asc_node = {{val|-11.26064|u=°}} – J2000 ecliptic<ref name="earth_fact_sheet" />
| arg_peri = {{val|114.20783|u=°}}<ref name="earth_fact_sheet" />
| satellites = 1, the [[Moon]]
| allsatellites = yes
| mean_radius = {{val|6371.0|u=km}}<ref name="hbcp2000" />
| equatorial_radius = {{val|6378.137|u=km}}<ref name=usno /><ref name="WGS-84" />
| polar_radius = {{val|6356.752|u=km}}<ref name="cazenave_ahrens1995" />
| flattening = 1/{{val|298.257222101}} ([[ETRS89]])<ref name="IERS2004" />
| circumference = {{unbulleted list
 | {{val|40075.017|u=km}} [[equator]]ial<ref name="WGS-84">[[World Geodetic System]] (''WGS-84''). [http://earth-info.nga.mil/GandG/wgs84/ Available online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311023739/https://earth-info.nga.mil/GandG/wgs84/ |date=11 March 2020}} from [[National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency]].</ref>
 | {{val|40007.86|u=km}} [[Meridian (geography)|meridional]]<ref name="WGS-84-2" /><ref group="n" name="circ">Earth's [[circumference]] is almost exactly 40,000&nbsp;km because the meter was calibrated on this measurement—more specifically, 1/10-millionth of the distance between the poles and the equator.</ref>
 }}
| surface_area = {{unbulleted list
|{{val|510,072,000|u=km2}}<ref name="Pidwirny 2006_8" /><ref group="n" name="surfacecover" />
|Land: {{val|148,940,000|u=km2}}
|Water: {{val|361,132,000|u=km2}}
}}
| volume = {{val|1.08321|e=12|u=km3}}<ref name="earth_fact_sheet" />
| mass = {{val|5.972168|e=24|u=kg}}<ref name="earthmass" />
| density = {{convert|5513|kg/m3|g/cm3|comma=gaps|abbr=on|disp=out}}<ref name="earth_fact_sheet" /> <!--- Planetary densities are conventionally given in g/cm3 instead of kg/m3 --->
| surface_grav = {{val|9.80665|u=m/s2|}}<ref name="NIST2008" /><br />(exactly 1 [[Standard gravity|g<sub>0</sub>]])
| moment_of_inertia_factor = 0.3307<ref name="Williams1994" />
| escape_velocity = {{val|11.186|u=km/s}}<ref name="earth_fact_sheet" />
| rotation = {{longitem|{{val|1.0|u=d}} <br /> (24h 00&nbsp;m 00s)}}
| sidereal_day = {{longitem|{{val|0.99726968|u=d}}<ref name="Allen296" /> <br /> (23h 56&nbsp;m 4.100s)}}
| rot_velocity = {{cvt|1674.4|km/h|km/s|disp=out}}<ref name="Cox2000" />
| axial_tilt = {{val|23.4392811|u=°}}<ref name="IERS" />
| albedo = {{ublist|class=nowrap |0.434 [[Geometric albedo|geometric]]<ref name="earth_fact_sheet" /> |0.294 [[Bond albedo|Bond]]<ref name="earth_fact_sheet" />}}
| single_temperature = {{cvt|255|K|C|0}}<br />([[Effective temperature|blackbody temperature]])<ref name="American Chemical Society 2013">{{cite web | title=Atmospheres and Planetary Temperatures | website=American Chemical Society | date=18 July 2013 | url=https://www.acs.org/climatescience/energybalance/planetarytemperatures.html | access-date=3 January 2023| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127144936/https://www.acs.org/climatescience/energybalance/planetarytemperatures.html |archivedate=27 January 2023}}</ref>
| atmosphere = yes
| temp_name1 = &nbsp;{{refn|group=n|Source for minimum,<ref name=asu_lowest_temp /> mean,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jones |first1=P. D. |author-link1=Phil Jones (climatologist)|last2=Harpham |first2=C. |title=Estimation of the absolute surface air temperature of the Earth |journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres |date=2013 |volume=118 |issue=8 |pages=3213–3217 |doi=10.1002/jgrd.50359 |bibcode=2013JGRD..118.3213J |language=en |issn=2169-8996 |doi-access=free}}</ref> and maximum<ref name=asu_highest_temp /> surface temperature<!--Moved here to avoid stretching the infobox border-->}}
| min_temp_1 = −89.2&nbsp;°C
| mean_temp_1 = 14.76&nbsp;°C
| max_temp_1 = 56.7&nbsp;°C
| surface_equivalent_dose_rate = {{convert|2.40 |mSv/yr |μSv/h |disp=out}}<ref>{{cite book |author=United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation |title=Sources and effects of ionizing radiation |date=2008 |publication-date=2010 |publisher=United Nations |location=New York |isbn=978-92-1-142274-0 |url=http://www.unscear.org/unscear/en/publications/2008_1.html |access-date=9 November 2012 |at=Table 1 |archive-date=16 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716210835/http://www.unscear.org/unscear/en/publications/2008_1.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| abs_magnitude = −3.99
| surface_pressure = {{val|101.325|ul=kPa}} (at sea level)
| atmosphere_composition = {{unbulleted list
 | 78.08% [[nitrogen]] (dry air)
 | 20.95% [[oxygen]] (dry air)
 | ≤1% [[water vapor]] (variable)
 | 0.9340% [[argon]]
 | 0.0415% [[carbon dioxide]]
 | 0.00182% [[neon]]
 | 0.00052% [[helium]]
 | 0.00017% [[methane]]
 | 0.00011% [[krypton]]
 | 0.00006% [[hydrogen]]
}}
Source:<ref name="earth_fact_sheet" />
| note = no
}}
'''Earth''' is the third [[planet]] from the [[Sun]] and the only [[astronomical object]] known to [[Planetary habitability|harbor life]]. This is enabled by Earth being an [[ocean world]], the only one in the [[Solar System]] sustaining liquid [[surface water]]. Almost all of Earth's water is contained in its global ocean, covering [[Water distribution on Earth|70.8%]] of [[Earth's crust]]. The remaining 29.2% of Earth's crust is land, most of which is located in the form of [[continent]]al [[landmass]]es within Earth's [[land hemisphere]]. Most of Earth's land is at least somewhat [[humid]] and covered by vegetation, while large [[Ice sheet|sheets of ice]] at [[Polar regions of Earth|Earth's polar]] [[polar desert|desert]]s retain more water than Earth's [[groundwater]], lakes, rivers, and [[Water vapor#In Earth's atmosphere|atmospheric water]] combined. Earth's crust consists of slowly moving [[tectonic plates]], which interact to produce mountain ranges, [[volcano]]es, and earthquakes. [[Earth's outer core|Earth has a liquid outer core]] that generates a [[magnetosphere]] capable of deflecting most of the destructive [[solar wind]]s and [[cosmic radiation]].

Earth has [[Atmosphere of Earth|a dynamic atmosphere]], which sustains Earth's surface conditions and protects it from most [[meteoroid]]s and [[Ozone layer|UV-light at entry]]. It has a composition of primarily [[nitrogen]] and [[oxygen]]. [[Water vapor]] is widely present in the atmosphere, [[Cloud#Formation|forming clouds]] that cover most of the planet. The water vapor acts as a [[greenhouse gas]] and, together with other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, particularly [[carbon dioxide]] (CO<sub>2</sub>), creates the conditions for both liquid surface water and water vapor to persist via the capturing of [[Solar irradiance|energy from the Sun's light]]. This process maintains the current average surface temperature of {{convert|14.76|C|F}}, at which water is liquid under normal atmospheric pressure. Differences in the amount of captured energy between geographic regions (as with the [[equatorial region]] receiving more sunlight than the polar regions) drive [[Atmospheric circulation|atmospheric]] and [[ocean current]]s, producing a global [[climate system]] with different [[climate region]]s, and a range of weather phenomena such as [[precipitation]], allowing components such as [[Nitrogen cycle|nitrogen]] to [[Biogeochemical cycle|cycle]].

Earth is [[Hydrostatic equilibrium|rounded]] into [[Earth ellipsoid|an ellipsoid]] with [[Earth's circumference|a circumference]] of about {{convert|40,000|km|mi|abbr=off}}. It is the [[List of Solar System objects by size|densest planet in the Solar System]]. Of the four [[rocky planets]], it is the largest and most massive. Earth is about eight [[light-minute]]s (1 [[Astronomical Unit|AU]]) away from the Sun and [[Earth's orbit|orbits it]], taking a year (about 365.25 days) to complete one revolution. [[Earth's rotation|Earth rotates]] around its own axis in slightly less than a day (in about 23 hours and 56 minutes). [[Earth#Axial tilt and seasons|Earth's axis of rotation]] is tilted with respect to the perpendicular to its orbital plane around the Sun, producing seasons. Earth is [[orbit]]ed by one permanent [[natural satellite]], the [[Moon]], which orbits Earth at {{convert|384,400|km|mi|abbr=on}}—1.28 light seconds—and is roughly a quarter as wide as Earth. The Moon's gravity helps stabilize Earth's axis, causes [[tide]]s and [[Tidal acceleration|gradually slows Earth's rotation]]. Likewise Earth's gravitational pull has already made the Moon's rotation [[tidally locked]], keeping the same [[near side of the Moon|near side]] facing Earth.

Earth, like most other bodies in the Solar System, [[Age of Earth|formed about 4.5&nbsp;billion years ago]] from gas and dust in the [[Formation and evolution of the Solar System|early Solar System]]. During the first billion years of [[Earth's history]], the ocean formed and then [[Abiogenesis|life developed]] within it. Life spread globally and has been altering Earth's atmosphere and surface, leading to the [[Great Oxidation Event]] two billion years ago. Humans emerged 300,000 years ago in Africa and have spread across every continent on Earth. Humans depend on Earth's [[biosphere]] and natural resources for their survival, but have [[Human impact on the environment|increasingly impacted the planet's environment]]. Humanity's current impact on Earth's climate and biosphere is unsustainable, threatening the livelihood of humans and many other forms of life, and [[Holocene extinction|causing widespread extinctions]].