|
|
Article: Biosphere
- Article from:
- Space Sciences
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Biosphere
Earth's biosphere is the sphere of life around the planet. Its organisms interact with their environment and each other, maintaining conditions on the planet conducive to life. Light from the Sun causes plants and
algae
to
photosynthesize
and thereby produce the oxygen that animals and microbes need. As a by-product of their respiration, animals and microbes in turn provide carbon dioxide, which plants require to grow. The oxygen atoms are used over and over again within the biosphere's oxygen cycle. There are many such cycles in a biosphere, with many creatures depending on other creatures for their survival.
Why Build a Biosphere for People?
At current estimates, it ...