nature nature sense natural physical material world universe nature refer phenomena physical world life general study nature large science humans nature human activity understood separate category natural phenomena word nature derived latin word essential qualities innate disposition ancient times literally meant birth latin translation greek word originally related characteristics plants animals features world develop accord concept nature physical universe expansions original notion began certain core applications word pre philosophers steadily gained currency usage continued advent modern scientific method centuries uses word today nature refers geology wildlife nature refer general realm living plants animals cases processes associated objects way particular types things exist change accord weather geology earth taken mean natural environment wilderness wild animals rocks forest general things substantially altered human intervention persist despite human intervention example manufactured objects human interaction generally considered nature qualified example human nature nature traditional concept natural things found today implies distinction natural artificial artificial understood brought human consciousness human mind depending particular context term natural distinguished unnatural supernatural earth earth planet known support life natural features subject fields scientific research solar system closest sun largest terrestrial planet fifth largest overall prominent climatic features large polar regions relatively narrow temperate zones wide tropical subtropical region precipitation varies widely location metres water year millimetre percent earth surface covered salt water oceans remainder consists continents islands inhabited land earth evolved geological biological processes left traces original conditions outer surface divided gradually migrating plates interior remains active thick layer plastic mantle iron filled core generates magnetic field iron core composed solid inner phase fluid outer phase convective motion core generates electric currents action turn generate field atmospheric conditions significantly altered original conditions presence life forms create ecological balance surface conditions despite wide regional variations climate latitude geographic factors long term average global climate stable periods variations degree average global temperature historically major effects ecological balance actual geography earth geology geology science study solid liquid matter constitutes earth field geology encompasses study composition structure physical properties dynamics history earth materials processes formed moved changed field major academic discipline important mineral extraction knowledge natural hazards engineering fields understanding past climates environments geological evolution geology area time rock units deposited inserted processes change shapes locations rock units deposition surface rock deposition occur sediments settle surface earth later rock volcanic material volcanic ash lava flows blanket surface push upwards rock initial sequence rocks deposited rock units deformed typically occurs result horizontal shortening horizontal extension strike slip motion structural regimes broadly relate boundaries boundaries transform boundaries respectively plates historical perspective earth estimated formed billion years ago solar sun planets moon formed roughly million years later initially outer layer earth cooled resulting solid crust volcanic activity produced atmosphere water came ice delivered produced oceans water sources highly energetic chemistry believed produced self billion years ago continents formed broke reformed surface earth hundreds millions years occasionally combining roughly million years ago earliest known began break apart continents later form broke apart million years ago finally broke apart million years ago era covered earth glaciers ice sheets hypothesis termed earth particular interest explosion life forms began million years ago explosion distinctly identifiable mass mass extinction occurred million years ago collision probably triggered extinction non large reptiles spared small animals mammals past million years life million years ago species small african gained ability stand upright subsequent advent human life development agriculture civilization allowed humans affect earth rapidly previous life form affecting nature quantity organisms global climate comparison produced algae period required million years present era classified mass extinction event extinction event fastest occurred harvard_university predict human destruction cause extinction half species years extent current extinction event researched debated calculated atmosphere climate weather earth atmosphere key factor sustaining ecosystem thin layer gases earth held place gravity air nitrogen oxygen water smaller amounts carbon dioxide etc atmospheric pressure declines steadily altitude layer plays important role radiation reaches surface dna readily damaged light serves protect life surface atmosphere retains heat night reducing daily temperature extremes terrestrial weather occurs exclusively lower atmosphere serves convective system heat ocean currents important factor determining climate particularly major underwater circulation heat energy oceans polar regions currents help moderate differences temperature winter summer temperate zones heat energy ocean currents atmosphere tropics polar regions colder weather beneficial harmful effects extremes weather tornadoes hurricanes cyclones large amounts energy paths produce devastation surface vegetation evolved dependence seasonal variation weather sudden changes lasting years dramatic effect vegetation animals depend growth food climate measure long term trends weather factors known influence climate including ocean currents surface greenhouse gases variations solar changes earth orbit based historical records earth known undergone drastic climate changes past including ice ages climate region depends number factors especially latitude band surface similar climatic attributes forms climate region number regions ranging tropical climate equator polar climate northern southern extremes weather influenced seasons result earth axis relative plane given time summer winter earth directly exposed rays sun exposure earth revolves orbit given time regardless season northern southern experience opposite seasons weather chaotic system readily modified small changes environment accurate weather limited days overall things happening worldwide temperature increasing average regional climates undergoing noticeable changes water earth water chemical substance composed hydrogen oxygen vital known forms life typical usage water refers liquid form state substance solid state ice state water steam water covers earth surface earth found oceans large water bodies water ground air clouds precipitation oceans hold surface water glaciers polar ice caps land surface water rivers lakes ponds additionally minute earth water contained biological bodies manufactured products oceans ocean major body water principal component approximately earth surface area million square kilometers covered ocean continuous body water divided principal oceans smaller seas half area meters feet deep average oceanic parts thousand nearly range generally recognized separate oceans waters comprise global body salt water referred global ocean concept global ocean continuous body water relatively free interchange parts fundamental importance major oceanic divisions defined continents criteria divisions descending order size pacific_ocean atlantic_ocean indian_ocean smaller regions oceans called seas bays names salt lakes smaller bodies notable examples salt lakes great salt lake lakes lake latin terrain feature physical feature body liquid surface world localized basin type terrain feature global moves slowly moves earth body water considered lake inland ocean larger deeper pond fed river world earth known harbor lakes saturn largest moon lakes likely mixed known lakes fed rivers surface carved numerous river beds natural lakes earth generally found mountainous areas rift zones areas ongoing recent lakes found basins courses mature rivers parts world lakes chaotic drainage patterns left ice age lakes temporary time scales slowly fill sediments spill basin containing ponds pond body standing water natural man usually smaller lake wide variety man bodies water classified ponds including water gardens designed aesthetic ornamentation fish ponds designed commercial fish breeding solar ponds designed store thermal energy ponds lakes distinguished streams current speed currents streams easily observed ponds lakes possess driven micro currents moderate wind driven currents features distinguish pond aquatic terrain features stream pools tide pools rivers river natural usually freshwater flowing ocean lake sea river cases river simply flows ground completely reaching body water small rivers called names including stream creek brook general rule defines called river names small rivers specific geographic location example burn scotland england river said larger creek case language river cycle water river generally collected precipitation surface runoff springs release stored water natural ice glaciers streams stream flowing body water current confined bed stream banks united_states stream classified feet metres wide streams important water cycle instruments serve corridors fish wildlife migration biological habitat immediate vicinity stream called zone given status ongoing extinction streams play important corridor role connecting fragmented habitats biodiversity study streams waterways general involves branches inter disciplinary natural science engineering including aquatic ecology fish biology ecology ecosystems ecosystems composed variety components function way structure composition determined environmental factors variations factors initiate dynamic modifications ecosystem important components soil atmosphere radiation sun water living organisms central ecosystem concept idea living organisms interact element local environment founder ecology stated unit includes organisms community given area interacting physical environment flow energy leads clearly defined structure diversity material cycles exchange materials living parts system ecosystem ecosystem species connected dependent food chain exchange energy matter environment human ecosystem concept grounded human nature premise species integrated constituents smaller unit size called example stone life involve drainage basin wilderness wilderness generally defined areas significantly modified human activity wilderness areas found preserves estates farms conservation preserves national forests national parks urban areas rivers undeveloped areas wilderness areas protected parks considered important survival certain species ecological studies conservation recreation nature writers believe wilderness areas vital human spirit creativity consider wilderness areas integral earth self sustaining natural ecosystem preserve historic genetic traits provide habitat wild flora fauna difficult recreate laboratories life universal agreement definition life scientists generally accept biological manifestation life characterized organization growth adaptation response reproduction life said simply characteristic state organisms properties common terrestrial organisms plants animals fungi bacteria cellular carbon water based complex organization having capacity grow respond reproduce entity properties generally considered life definition life considers properties essential human life considered life earth outer shell including land surface rocks water air atmosphere life occurs processes turn alter transform point view global ecological system integrating living beings relationships including interaction elements rocks water atmosphere air entire earth contains billion tons pounds kilograms life lives environments tenths total earth plant life animal life depends heavily existence million species plant animal life identified date estimates actual number existing species range million million number individual species life constantly degree new species appearing exist continual basis total number species rapid decline evolution origin life earth understood known occurred billion years ago earth substantially different environment found present life forms possessed basic traits self traits life appeared process evolution natural selection resulted development diverse life forms species unable adapt changing environment competition life forms extinct fossil record retains evidence older species current fossil dna evidence shows existing species trace continual ancestry primitive life forms advent basic forms plant life worldwide allowed sun energy harvested create conditions allowing complex life resultant oxygen accumulated atmosphere gave rise layer incorporation smaller cells larger ones resulted development complex cells called cells colonies increasingly specialized resulting true organisms layer absorbing harmful radiation life surface earth form life develop earth remained form life billion years ago multi cellular organisms began appear single organisms generally microscopic smaller human eye include bacteria life forms found location earth liquid water including earth interior reproduction rapid combination high rate horizontal gene transfer ability makes highly able survive new environments including outer space form essential ecosystem post health risk organisms plants animals originally aristotle divided living things plants generally fast humans notice animals system kingdoms later clear originally defined included unrelated groups fungi groups algae removed new kingdoms considered plants contexts life included flora classifications use term flora separately plant flora ways classifying plants regional depending purpose study include fossil flora remnants plant life previous era people regions countries great pride individual characteristic flora vary widely globe differences climate terrain regional commonly divided categories native flora agricultural garden flora lastly mentioned intentionally grown cultivated types native flora actually introduced centuries ago people migrating region continent integral native natural flora place introduced example human interaction nature boundary considered nature category plant historically carved term fallen formal way useless plants informal use word describe plants deemed worthy elimination general tendency people societies seek alter shape course nature similarly animals categorized ways domestic farm animals wild animals etc according relationship human life animals category characteristics generally set apart living things animals usually separates bacteria generally food internal chamber separates plants algae distinguished plants algae fungi lacking cell walls exceptions notably animals bodies differentiated separate tissues include muscles able contract control nervous system sends processes signals typically internal digestive chamber cells possessed animals surrounded characteristic matrix composed elastic form structures like shells bones framework cells reorganized development maturation supports complex anatomy required mobility human humans comprise proportion total living earth human effect nature large extent human influence boundaries humans regard nature environments clear cut extremes extremes natural environment free human influence diminishing increasingly rapid pace development technology human race allowed greater exploitation natural resources helped alleviate risk natural hazards spite progress fate human civilization remains closely linked changes environment exists highly complex feedback loop use advanced technology changes environment slowly understood man threats earth natural environment include pollution disasters oil humans contributed extinction plants animals humans employ nature leisure economic activities acquisition natural resources industrial use remains primary component world economic system activities hunting fishing leisure different people agriculture adopted 9th millennium bce ranging food production energy nature influences economic wealth early humans gathered plant materials food employed medicinal properties vegetation healing modern human use plants agriculture clearance large tracts land crop growth led significant reduction available wetlands resulting loss habitat plant animal species increased erosion aesthetics beauty beauty nature historically prevalent theme art books filling large sections libraries nature depicted celebrated art photography poetry literature shows strength people associate nature beauty reasons association exists association consists studied branch philosophy called aesthetics certain basic characteristics philosophers agree explain seen beautiful opinions virtually endless nature important subjects eras world history early tradition landscape art began china dynasty tradition representing nature aims chinese painting significant influence asian art natural wonders celebrated book job wilderness portrayals art prevalent 1800s especially works romantic movement british artists turned attention capturing beauty natural world paintings paintings primarily religious scenes human beings poetry described wonder natural world viewed threatening place increasingly nature aspect western culture artistic movement coincided movement western world common classical idea beautiful art involves word imitation nature realm ideas beauty nature perfect implied perfect mathematical forms generally patterns nature writes beautiful root science goal art highest possibility humanity hope matter energy fields science nature matter motion certain laws nature science seeks understand reason fundamental science generally understood physics recognizable meaning study nature matter commonly defined substance physical objects composed constitutes universe visible components universe believed compose percent total mass remainder believed consist percent cold dark matter percent dark energy exact arrangement components unknown intensive investigation behavior matter energy universe appears follow defined physical laws laws employed produce models successfully explain structure evolution universe observe mathematical expressions laws physics employ set physical appear static universe values carefully measured reason specific values remains mystery earth outer space simply called space refers relatively regions universe outside bodies outer space distinguish terrestrial locations boundary earth atmosphere space atmosphere gradually increasing altitude outer space solar system called space passes space known outer space sparsely filled dozen types organic molecules discovered date microwave radiation left big bang origin universe cosmic rays include atomic particles gas dust small additionally signs human life outer space today material left previous manned launches potential hazard spacecraft debris enters atmosphere periodically earth body solar system known support life evidence suggests distant past planet mars possessed bodies liquid water surface brief period mars history capable forming life present water remaining mars frozen life exists mars likely located underground liquid water exist conditions terrestrial planets mercury venus appear harsh support life know fourth largest moon possess sub surface ocean liquid water potentially host life started discover earth planets lie zone space surrounding star possibly host life know
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