11 Facts About Planet Earth: Explore The Less Known

Planet Earth Space (Credit: Pixabay)

Our own planet, Earth, could be seen familiar in the sense that we live, work, and play there. However, the Earth is full with secrets and extraordinary phenomena both above and below its surface. Eleven lesser-known facts about our planet that will undoubtedly amaze you will be covered in this blog post article whereby these facts highlight how dynamic and complicated our globe is, from Earth's oddball "second moon" to its enigmatic lowest point.

1. Earth Has a “Second Moon”: Although you may have be aware that Earth has one moon, did you also realize that there is a "second moon"? Presenting 2020 CD₃, a tiny asteroid momentarily ensnared by Earth's gravitational pull and although it is not a permanent fixture, this asteroid, which is only 1 to 3 meters in diameter, goes round Earth in a steady rhythm. In contrast to the actual moon, which has been orbiting us for billions of years, the orbit of 2020 CD₃ is only temporary in the sense that it is expected to depart Earth's orbit in the coming years, according to scientists. This quasi-satellite serves as an excellent reminder of the constant interactions between our planet and the universe making it an intriguing addition to our cosmic neighborhood, despite the fact that it is difficult for us to view with the naked eye.

2. Earth’s Oceans Contain More Gold Than on Land: Unbelievably, there are about 20 million tons of gold in the world's waters and it is crucial to remember that this gold is extremely diluted (just 13 billionths of a gram per liter of seawater) before you begin organizing an ocean expedition. The gold would still be dispersed over the waters and the extraction process would be unaffordable even if it were possible to extract it all. However, the sheer amount of gold in Earth's oceans is astounding, particularly when compared to the amount on land.

3. The Earth’s Crust is “Floating” on The Mantle: Consider how you discovered that the crust of the Earth is solid, resembling a large, hard shell. The twist, though, is this: In reality, the semi-fluid mantle beneath the Earth's crust allows it to float whereby the crust above it shifts as a result of the sluggish motion of the molten rock that makes up the mantle with natural events like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and even the creation of mountain ranges being caused by these shifting tectonic plates. The fact that Earth is the only planet in our solar system known to have plate tectonics makes it even more amazing and adds to its uniqueness whereby over millions of years, the movement of tectonic plates has also played a significant role in controlling Earth's temperature, hence you can give credit to the dynamic interaction between the crust and the mantle the next time you experience a tremor beneath your feet.

4. Earth’s Rotation Affects Its Shape: The Earth's shape is influenced by its rotation. It is likely that you have seen globe models of Earth and have noted that they are not entirely spherical but rather, Earth is an oblate spheroid, which means that its equator bulges and its poles are slightly flattened, which occurs because material is pushed outward near the equator by the centrifugal force of Earth's rotation, making it somewhat wider there with the bulging effect contributing significantly to Earth's gravity even if it is not immediately apparent. In reality, the equatorial bulge produces a small gravitational pull difference between the poles and the equator, which influences everything from satellite behavior to ocean currents.

5. Earth is The Only Planet With Active Plate Tectonics: Earth is the only planet in the solar system known to have active plate tectonics, while other planets may also have geological events whereby in addition to being the cause of many natural occurrences like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, these shifting plates are also crucial to the gradual recycling of the Earth's crust and by forming new habitats and ecosystems, the movement of tectonic plates affects life itself in addition to changing the planet's surface. The fact that Earth is the only planet in the solar system with this dynamic structure makes it all the more amazing with the Earth having been shaped for billions of years and will continue to be shaped for millions more due to the ongoing contact between the plates.

6. Most of Earth’s Ocean Water is Ancient: An intriguing idea is that a significant amount of the ocean water on Earth is very old. There may be some that is billions of years old where according to studies, the oceans' water may have existed since the planet's formation or may have been a component of an earlier water cycle and because of this, the oceans are not only massive but also intricately linked to the early history of the planet, thus, you might be swimming in water molecules that existed when the earliest life forms appeared on Earth the next time you go for a swim.

7. Earth’s Atmosphere is Surprisingly Thin: The atmosphere surrounding Earth initially appears to be a thick, protecting layer but in reality though, it is quite thin in relation to the planet's size. The atmosphere would be little thicker than a coat of paint if Earth were the size of a basketball and because it shields us from dangerous solar radiation and contains the oxygen we breathe, this thin layer is what keeps us alive, hence the Earth's atmosphere is vital to the survival of life, despite its thinness and no matter how lovely the scenery, without it, Earth would be a isolated and hostile place.

8. Earth Has More Carbon Below Than Above: As everyone knows, carbon plays a crucial role in the atmosphere, particularly when it comes to carbon dioxide, but compared to the atmosphere, the carbon content of the Earth's mantle is far higher whereby deep within the Earth, the majority of this carbon is found as carbonates and diamonds and in order to maintain life on Earth over geological timescales, the carbon cycle between the planet's surface, atmosphere, and deep mantle is crucial in controlling the planet's long-term temperature, thus, carbon, which is kept deep below the Earth's crust and gradually cycles back up to the surface in ways that support life, is sort of the planet's method of preserving sustainability.

9. Earth’s Deepest Point is The Challenger Deep: The deepest known point in Earth's waters is the Challenger Deep, which is situated in the Mariana Trench, and to make you understand better, Mount Everest would still be more than a mile underwater if its peak were at the bottom of this abyss, which is an astounding 11,000 meters (36,000 feet) below sea level not forgetting that crushing pressures and freezing temperatures can be found in this enigmatic region of the ocean, which is still vastly not explored, serving as a reminder of how much of our planet is still unknown and how far we have to travel in order to learn more about it.

10. Earth's Atmospheric Green Flash: Rarely, Earth's atmosphere can produce a breathtaking display called the "green flash" which is an instantaneous burst of green light at the Sun's upper or lower edge, shortly after sunset or before sunrise with the reason for this being atmospheric refraction, which breaks down sunlight into its many color combinations and even if this phenomenon is most frequently seen in clear skies at sea level or at high elevations, it is nevertheless an uncommon and magnificent sight, thus, when we look closely at the environment around us, we can see many hidden spectacles, like the green flash.

11. Earth’s Magnetic Poles Are on The Move: Earth's magnetic poles are always changing, in contrast to a globe's poles whereby at a rate of roughly 10 kilometers per year, the North Magnetic Pole has been moving in the direction of Siberia with navigation systems being impacted by this roving magnetic field, and in recent decades, the rising velocity of movement has become very apparent. Although it has no direct effect on how we live our daily lives, this pole shift is crucial to the Earth's protective magnetic field, which protects us from solar radiation.

Summary: The Wonders of Earth Never Stop Impressing

Our world contains a wealth of amazing occurrences that never continue to impress, from the strange movements of the Earth's magnetic poles to the hidden gold in the oceans wit the complexity and vibrancy that characterize our globe being only partially revealed by the above 11 facts about the planet Earth. Earth continues to be an endless supply of undiscovered secrets, ever changing and unveiling new surprises, whether it is the geological action reshaping the ground beneath our feet or the cosmic extraordinary events taking place above us.

We not only learn more about this amazing planet but also get a deeper appreciation for the special environment that sustains life when we take the time to investigate the lesser-known facts about it becoming increasingly aware of how much more there is to learn, therefore, keep in mind that there are still a ton of undiscovered treasures the next time you glance up at the sky or go diving into the water and despite its familiarity, Earth is a place full of surprises and untapped amazement.