The Earth's Biosphere

We are surrounded by living organisms. In fact, Earth's biosphere exists as a thin surface layer of life forms blanketing the planet's land and oceans. This thin layer has its own life cycle, energy generation system and chemical cycles. This book tells the story of Earth's biosphere from its origins to its near and long-term future. By combining an introduction to basic physical principles with discussions of complex interactions between various levels of nature, this innovative book explains how the biosphere operates as a whole—from the smallest microbes up to animals and plants, from minerals and fluid to atmospheric conditions on Earth or on other planets elsewhere in the universe that might harbor life.