Facts About Our Beautiful Home
You probably rarely stop to think about this fascinating planet we call home. The Earth is just another planet in the Solar System, but it's full of remarkable features that you've likely never even learned. Today, we're changing that by sharing five incredibly engaging facts that highlight how interesting Earth truly is.
1) Earth Isn’t a Perfect Sphere
Don't be fooled by globes; the Earth actually isn't a perfect sphere like many believe it to be! Our beloved home planet actually has a slight bulge around the equator due to its rotation. The difference is subtle, but it's measurable and well understood.
2) Most of Earth’s Water Is Saltwater
You likely know that a lot of the planet is taken up by our oceans, but did you know that around 97% of all of Earth's water is salt water? Despite the billions of people around the world, only a small fraction is freshwater that we can drink and that ecosystems can readily use.
3) Earth’s Tectonic Plates Are Always Moving
Ever wondered how earthquakes come to be? Or how volcanoes erupt? Well, the Earth's outer shell is actually divided into large plates that slowly shift over time. Their interactions and movement can do incredible things, like form mountains, open new ocean basins, and reshape continents.
4) Earth Has a Protective Magnetic Field
It sounds a bit like a super power, but all it is is that the Earth generates a magnetic field through the motion of molten metal in its outer core. This field helps deflect many charged particles from the Sun and it also influences phenomena such as auroras near the polar regions.
5) A Day on Earth Is Getting Longer Over Time
Though it's very subtle, Earth’s rotation is gradually slowing, largely due to tidal interactions with the Moon. As a result, this means the length of a day increases by a tiny amount over very long periods. You likely won't live to see the changes, but it is happening!
