Northwestern Australia, Essay Example

In northwestern Australia, arid basalt outcropping, one of Earth’s oldest rocks lies exposed to the sun. The volcanic material, which was formed at the bottom of an ancient ocean, shelters the “oldest robust evidence” of life. According to Roger Buick, 3.5 billion-year-old rocks have traces of carbon that was made up of living organisms at one point. Creationists believe that God created man, but scientists believe that a natural explanation of life exists. Scientists acknowledge that life began when chemistry begat biology. This means that simple molecules are assembled into complex molecules and began to self-replicate. In 1970, researchers from Oregon University discovered the whole ecosystem unexpectedly thrives around hot vent on the seafloor of the Pacific. These vents could have provided the basic molecular organisms and energy necessary to spark life. Moreover, other scientists claim that life was sparked in the ice.

Grain was made the yeast of life through multiplication of a variety of number and helped adapt them to climates and soils. Water scarcity and soils less generosity deploys the prodigious efforts of land to extract enough food for Earth species to survive and live on. Earth demands were able to shape the human land with devotion and patience in sacrificial rituals. The most widespread human occupation on Earth is agriculture handed down in graft, sweat and toil, since it is a prerequisite for the survival of humanity (n.p. 3).

The water on earth is always in movement and the water cycle (hydrological cycle) describes its continuous Earth’s surface movement on, above and below. Throughout the cycle, water takes three forms: solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (water vapor). The three basic steps in the water cycle are evaporation, condensation and precipitation. In the water cycle the first step is evaporation (Hammersmith 6). This is where the sun heats liquid water, which changes into gas state called water vapor. This vapor then rises into the air and there it meets the cold air (Hammersmith 8), which cools it and is turned to liquid water droplets and in some instances it freezes into ice crystals (condensation). The third step is precipitation (Hammersmith 12) where the water is released from the clouds in the form of rain, snow, freezing rain, hail or sleet. This process is the primary connection in the water cycle since it provides the earth with atmospheric water. The water that has fallen as rain and snow is then infiltrated into the subsurface rock and soil. Salt and fresh water are the kinds of water found in the water cycle. Salty water consists of oceans whereas fresh water consists of streams, rivers and lakes. The vast majority of all Earth’s water, about 96.5 percent, are in the oceans. This water is then taken up by plants, but is lost from their surfaces, as vapor, into the atmosphere. River runoff water flows into lakes, ponds, or oceans and evaporates back into the atmosphere. This continuous process enables the cycle to have constant renewal. The cycle has no end or beginning, therefore; the water can skip, stop a step or even go backward. However, with all these processes, the water on Earth never changes. The same amount that was when dinosaurs existed is the same amount there is today (Zappa 5).

In essence, it is noted that life relies on a balance. This is because human beings survive by feeding on plants and animals. Moreover, animals depend on plants for their survival. Therefore, all these elements need to balance to minimize the chances of the species being extinct. As a result, water is a commodity that is important for the survival of all species on Earth. Algae and shells marriage brought about the birth of corals. These reefs cover less than 1 percent of the ocean’s floor. However, they have managed to provide fish, algae and mollusks among other species habitat. Therefore, every ocean’s equilibrium depends on them.

Through generations, families of animal form are united by their rituals and customs. For some, they adapt to their pasture’s nature, and vice versa applies (n.p. 1). Therefore, both of them gain since animal sates its hunger and trees are able to blossom again. Life of Earth is an adventure that shows how every species has roles to play and its place. It is true to assert that none of the species on Earth is futile or harmful. They all balance out.

After the Earth’ formation, that was four billion years ago, life on the planet was not hospitable. However, about 3.8 billion years ago, the crust of the Earth had cooled, and the formation of the ocean was made possible thereby; necessitating the formation of life. Through this inheritance, humans were given the power to reproduce and grow (n.p. 2). Trees were made after more than 4 billion years. These trees are pinnacles because they defy gravity hence are perfect living sculpture. They exist as the only natural element on Earth with a perpetual movement toward the sky. Toward the sun, they are able to grow unhurriedly and are able to nourish their foliage. They have the power to capture the energy from the light, which is inherited from the miniscule cyanobacteria. Later, they store, feed from it by turning the trees into wood. Leaves, on the other hand, decompose and mix into water, vegetable, mineral and living matter. Gradually, soils are formed and will teem with incessant activity of digging, transforming, micro-organisms and aerating. All these makes up the humus where a link exists of all Earth’s life on land.

The natural resources include climate, soil, air, landscape and water (Elcome 5). The air is being polluted by factory emissions that have affected the climate and have led to the occurrence of global warming. Industrialization has also affected urbanization shifting patterns, and this has increased the consumption of resources (Peacock 15). Land degradation is on the rise due to human greed, the rapid growth of the human population and the desire for economic gain that are short-term. For example, Hurricane Katrina is a good example of how population growth leads to urbanization. This has negative impacts on the natural resources since the wetlands are destroyed, as a result, of urbanization. Therefore, the city has limited ability to sustain all the residents when faced with a natural disaster.

In addition, fresh water bodies have decreased due to global warming activities due to the changes in weather patterns. This has been caused by the sporadic rainfall leading to fresh water bodies not being replenished. From this, it is evident that the water is being overused by humans due to the growing population demands. The use of chemicals in farming practices has affected the quality of soils for farming. This has led to augmented food shortage and many of the lands are becoming arid. Lastly, humans are overexploiting the natural minerals like oil, gold and diamond, which are scarce commodities. For example, oil generation takes millions of years to form. However, man has continued to mine the resource at a faster rate due to urbanization.

Works Cited

Hammersmith, Craig. The Water Cycle. Bloomington: Capstone, 2011. Print.

N.p. Home Movie Transcript. Apronus.com, n.d. Web. 25 March 2014.

Peacock, Wilson. Natural Resources and Sustainable Development. New York: InfoBase Publishing, 2008. Print.

Zappa, Marcia. The Water Cycle. Edina: ABDO, 2010. Print.