The Earth, Life, and Energy Cycles

Abstract

Life has many rhythms and cycles. Many patterns are imposed upon life by the physical order of the planets. The cycles of the planets are numerous and complicated and contribute the dimension of time to the Earth’s physical processes. These rhythms result from the orbital motions of the planets. They tend to create an orderly pattern of energy flow on the Earth. The patterns of day and night, flood and ebb tides, seasons, the revolution of the Moon around the Earth and of the Earth around the Sun, are events that influence organisms in important ways. In contrast to the relatively chaotic physical processes discussed in the last chapter, this chapter examines another basic condition of the Earth — the systematic patterns of cycles that are an inherent aspect of our planet.