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Energy Flows, Material Cycles and Global Development pp 27–51Cite as

Biogeosphere as Environment for Life

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Part of the book series: Environmental Science and Engineering ((ENVENG))

Abstract

The properties of the Earth and especially of the biogeosphere as an environment that has allowed for the development of life and human civilization are discussed in this chapter. The first section describes the position of the Earth in the solar system and the present conditions on Earth as a whole as well in its constituents, e.g. crust, ocean, and atmosphere. The second section deals with the driving forces for changes in the biogeosphere and the resulting developments of the atmospheric composition and the global climate. Finally, the development of life on Earth and of the human civilization are briefly reviewed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Engler-Bunte-Institut, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, Engler-Bunte-Ring 1, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany

    Georg Schaub

  2. Institut für Chemische Verfahrenstechnik, TU Clausthal, Leibnizstraße 17, 38678, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany

    Thomas Turek

Authors
  1. Georg Schaub
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  2. Thomas Turek
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Schaub, G., Turek, T. (2011). Biogeosphere as Environment for Life. In: Energy Flows, Material Cycles and Global Development. Environmental Science and Engineering(). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12736-6_2

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