The influence of space on the Earth's biosphere: theories and reality. Abstract: Space and the biosphere of the Earth Cosmic rhythms and cosmic connections of the biosphere briefly

1. Introduction.

2. Living matter is a component of the biosphere.

3. Abiotic (non-living) components of the biosphere.

4. Soil is a unique component of the biosphere.

5. Biosphere and space.

6. Ecological interactions of living matter: who eats what.

7. Biogenic migration of atoms is an ecosystem property of the biosphere.

8. How the biosphere developed: five environmental disasters.

9. Stability of the biosphere.

10. Biosphere and man: environmental danger.

11. Man must preserve the diversity of the biosphere.

12. Conclusion.

1. Introduction

Today, one of the most difficult problems is facing people, regardless of whether they live in Africa or Europe, in big cities or in the jungle. It concerns each of us, and no one can escape it. This is the problem of preserving life on the planet, the survival of man as one of the unique species of living beings.

The solution to this problem depends on how each of us and all of humanity together understand the “forbidden line”, which humanity must not cross under any circumstances. This “forbidden trait” is the laws of life on the planet.

Man is an inhabitant of the biosphere. It is the biosphere that is the shell of the Earth within which the life of humanity as a whole and of each of us takes place.

The term biosphere was coined by the Australian geologist Eduard Suess (1881-1914). The modern concept of the biosphere is associated with the name of Academician V.I. Vernadsky.

Biosphere is the area where living organisms live; the shell of the Earth, the composition, structure and energy of which is determined by the total activity of living organisms. The upper boundary extends to the height of the ozone screen (20-25 km), the lower boundary falls 1-2 km below the ocean floor and an average of 2-3 km on land. The biosphere covers the lower part of the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the pedosphere (soil), and the upper part of the lithosphere (rocks ).

2. Living matter is a component of the biosphere

The biosphere includes all parts of the planet inhabited by life. This includes the atmosphere, the ocean, and all parts of the earth’s surface where life in all its forms has established itself. The main component of the biosphere is its living matter.

“...On the earth’s surface there is no chemical force more constantly active, and therefore more powerful in its final consequences, than living organisms taken as a whole” (V.I. Vernadsky).

In what form is living matter presented in the biosphere? Living matter in the biosphere is presented in the form of separate bodies - individual organisms.

Living matter is represented by organisms of various sizes. The largest of them are whales. The body length of modern whales is from 1.1 to 33 m, weight from 30 kg to 150 tons. The tallest trees include the evergreen sequoia, which reaches a height of 110-112 m and has a diameter of 6-10 m.

According to a rough estimate, during the existence of life on Earth, more than a billion species existed in the biosphere.

Among living beings, insects predominate (there are about a million species). Vertebrates make up only 2%. . The world of life known to us consists of more than 70% animals, 225% are plants and fungi, 5% are single-celled organisms.

Living matter is distributed unevenly in the biosphere; it forms concentrations at the boundaries of the lithosphere-hydrosphere-atmosphere: in reservoirs near the surface, at the bottom of seas and oceans, on the land surface. On the continents, coastal, floodplain, lake, tropical, and subtropical concentrations of life are observed. Plants predominate on land, and animals predominate in the ocean.

The mass of living matter is called biomass. It is expressed in units of mass of dry or wet matter, divided by units of area or volume of the habitat. It is known that the life span of each individual organism has limits; it is mortal. How is the continuity of life in the biosphere maintained? Continuously reproducing, living organisms form a stream of alternating generations: new creatures appear to replace those that die. Thus, a modern living being is related in origin to the living matter of past geological eras.

Myriads of living beings inhabit the biosphere and constitute the living matter of the biosphere. The chemical composition of living matter is similar to the composition of stars and the Sun, which confirms the unity of nature. Modern methods can measure the mass of a living substance, the amount of energy contained in it, and the nature of its corresponding space. Modern living matter is characterized by great chemical diversity.

3. Abiotic (non-living) components of the biosphere

Water, air, soils, their chemical composition, physical properties, primarily temperature, cosmic radiation, gravity, magnetism - these are the abiotic components of the biosphere.

The biosphere primarily includes those areas of the planet where there are conditions not only for survival, but also for the reproduction of living beings - this is the field of existence of life. Adjacent to it are territories in which living beings suffer and only survive, but cannot reproduce - the field of sustainability of life.

Terrestrial abiotic conditions that determine the field of existence of life:

- sufficient amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide,

- a sufficient amount of liquid water, not ice or steam,

- favorable temperatures: not too high so that the protein does not coagulate, and not too low so that enzymes that accelerate biochemical reactions work normally,

- a living creature needs a subsistence minimum of minerals.

4. Soil is a unique component of the biosphere

At the end of the 19th century. the great Russian naturalist V.V. Dokuchaev, through his studies of chernozem and other soils of the Russian Valley and the Caucasus, established that soils are natural bodies and in their external features and properties are very different from the rocks on which they were formed. Their distribution on the Earth's surface is subject to strict geographical patterns.

The variety of soils is enormous. This is due to the variety of combinations of soil formation factors: rocks, surface age, plant and animal populations, and relief.

Soil is a special natural body and living environment that arises as a result of the transformation of rocks on the land surface by the joint activity of living organisms, water and air.

Soil-forming processes on Earth are grandiose in their planetary scale and duration processes of creating soil organic matter, their biological accumulation and the emergence of fertility.

5. Biosphere and space

The Earth is a unique planet; it is located at the only possible distance from the Sun, which determines the temperature of the Earth's surface at which water can be in a liquid state.

The earth receives a huge amount of energy from the sun and at the same time maintains an approximately constant temperature. This means that our planet emits almost the same amount of energy into space as it receives from space: inflow and outflow must be balanced, otherwise the system will one day lose stability. The earth will either heat up or freeze and turn into a lifeless body.

The biosphere is closely connected with space. Streams of energy entering the Earth create conditions that support life. The magnetic field and ozone shield protect the planet from excessive cosmic radiation and intense solar radiation. Cosmic radiation reaching the biosphere provides photosynthesis and affects the activity of living beings.

6. Ecological interactions of living matter: who eats what

Planet Earth differs from other planets in that its biosphere contains a substance sensitive to the flow of solar radiation - chlorophyll. It is chlorophyll that ensures the conversion of electromagnetic energy from solar radiation into chemical energy, with the help of which the process of reduction of carbon and nitrogen oxides occurs in biosynthesis reactions.

In a green plant, photosynthesis occurs - the process of producing carbohydrates from water and oxygen dioxide (which is in the air or water). In this case, oxygen is released as a by-product. Green plants are classified as autotrophs - organisms that take all the chemical elements they need for life from the inert matter surrounding them and do not require ready-made organic compounds of another organism to build their body. The main source of energy used by autotrophs is the Sun. Heterotrophs are organisms that require organic matter formed by other organisms for their nutrition. Heterotrophs gradually transform organic matter formed by autotrophs, bringing it to its original mineral state.

The destructive (destructive) function is performed by representatives of each of the kingdoms of living matter. Decay and decomposition are an integral property of the metabolism of every living organism. Plants form organic matter and are the largest producers of carbohydrates on Earth; but they also release oxygen necessary for life as a by-product of photosynthesis.

During the process of respiration, carbon dioxide is formed in the bodies of all living species, which plants again use for photosynthesis. There are also species of living things for which the destruction of dead organic matter is a method of nutrition. There are organisms with a mixed type of nutrition, they are called mixotrophs.

In the biosphere, processes occur that transform inorganic, inert matter into organic matter and reverse rearrangement of organic matter into mineral matter. The movement and transformation of substances in the biosphere is carried out with the direct participation of living matter, all types of which have specialized in various methods of nutrition.

7. Biogenic migration of atoms-ecosystem property of the biosphere

The finite amount of matter that exists in the biosphere has acquired the property of infinity through the cycle of substances.

The image of the cycle of matter in the biosphere is created by the wheel of a water mill. However, in order for the wheel to turn, a constant flow of water is needed. Similarly, the flow of solar energy coming from space turns the “wheel of life” on our planet. How fast does the wheel spin? During biogeochemical cycles, atoms of most chemical elements passed through a living being countless times. For example, all the oxygen in the atmosphere “turns around” through living matter in 2000 years, carbon dioxide in 200-300 years, and all the water in the biosphere in 2 million years.

Living matter is a perfect receiver of solar energy.

The energy absorbed and used in the reaction of photosynthesis, and then stored as the chemical energy of carbohydrates, is very large, it is reported that it is comparable to the energy consumed by 100 thousand large cities over the course of 100 years. Heterotrophs use the organic matter of plants as food: organic matter is oxidized by oxygen, which is delivered to the body by the respiratory organs, with the formation of carbon dioxide; the reaction occurs in the opposite direction. Thus, what makes life “eternal” is the simultaneous existence of autotrophs and heterotrophs.

Facts and discussions about the “wheel of life” in the biosphere give the right to talk about the law of biogenic migration of atoms, which was formulated by V.I. Vernadsky: the migration of chemical elements on the earth’s surface and in the biosphere as a whole is carried out either with the direct participation of living matter, or it occurs in an environment whose geochemical features are determined by living matter, both that which now inhabits the biosphere and that which acted on the Earth throughout geological history.

Speaking about the interaction between man and nature, we operated on the scale of only one planet - the Earth. However, various interactions between space, on the one hand, and living nature and humans, on the other, also take place.

Thanks to the interconnection of everything that exists, space has an active influence on various processes caused by the existence of life on Earth. IN AND. Vernadsky, speaking about the factors influencing the development of the biosphere, pointed, among others, to cosmic influence. So, it is obvious that without cosmic bodies (in particular, without the Sun), life on Earth simply could not exist. Living organisms transform cosmic radiation into earthly energy (thermal, electrical, chemical, mechanical) on a scale that determines the boundaries of the existence of the biosphere.

The Swedish scientist and Nobel Prize laureate S. spoke more radically regarding the role of space in the emergence of life on Earth. Arrhenius(1859-1927). In his opinion, it is quite likely that life will be brought to Earth from space in the form of spores or bacteria with the help of cosmic dust under the influence of solar pressure. The cosmic origin of life was not ruled out by V.I. Vernadsky. In this regard, it is interesting to mention one sensational discovery by scientists. In 1996, the Murchesson meteorite was found in Antarctica. In the composition of the meteorite substance, scientists discovered bacteria (analogs of blue-green algae), whose age is 4.6 billion years, while the emergence of life on Earth dates back to 3.5 billion years.

People noticed the influence of space on processes occurring on Earth (for example, the influence of the Moon on sea tides, the impact of solar eclipses) back in ancient times. However, for many centuries the influence of space and its connection with the Earth were assessed as insignificant, at the level of scientific hypotheses and guesses, or were generally placed outside the framework of science. This was largely due to limited human capabilities, insufficient scientific base and instruments. In the 20th century knowledge about the influence of space on Earth has increased significantly. This is the merit of Russian scientists, primarily representatives Russian cosmism, such as N.F. Fedorov, A.L. Chizhevsky, K.E. Tsiolkovsky, V.I. Vernadsky and others.

The Russian researcher, an outstanding encyclopedist, was largely able to understand, evaluate and identify the scale of the influence of space, primarily the Sun, on life and its manifestations A.L. Chizhevsky(1897-1964). While still a young man, he was one of the first to prove the enormous role of solar processes in the life of the Earth. The titles of his works eloquently testify to this: “Physical Factors of the Historical Process”, “Terrestrial Echo of Solar Storms”, etc.

In 1915, 18-year-old A.L. Chizhevsky, who devotedly studied astronomy, chemistry and physics, drew attention to the synchronicity of the image. calling of sunspots and simultaneous

A.L. Chizhevsky intensification of hostilities on the fronts of the First World War. The accumulated and generalized statistical material made it possible to make this study strictly scientific and evidence-based.

Scientists have long paid attention to manifestations of solar activity (spots, torches on the surface, prominences). This activity, in turn, turned out to be associated with electromagnetic and other vibrations of the world space. A.L. Chizhevsky, having conducted numerous scientific studies in astronomy, biology and history, came to the conclusion that the Sun (especially its activity) has a significant influence on biological and social processes on Earth.

The meaning of A.L.’s concept Chizhevsky was that, using rich factual material, he proved the existence of natural and cosmic rhythms, the dependence of biological and social life on Earth on the pulse of the cosmos. K.E. Tsiolkovsky assessed the work of his young colleague in the following way: “The young scientist is trying to discover the functional relationship between the behavior of humanity and fluctuations in the activity of the Sun and, through calculations, determine the rhythm, cycles and periods of these changes and fluctuations, thus creating a new sphere of human knowledge. All these broad generalizations and bold thoughts are expressed by Chizhevsky for the first time, which gives them great value and arouses interest. This work is an example of the fusion of various sciences together on the monistic basis of physical and mathematical analysis” 1.

Only many years later, the words expressed by A.L. Chizhevsky’s thoughts and conclusions about the influence of the Sun on earthly processes were confirmed in practice.

Numerous observations have shown the undeniable dependence of massive surges of neuropsychic and cardiovascular diseases in people on periodic cycles of solar activity. Predictions of so-called “bad days” for health are commonplace these days. However, few people know that it was our compatriot A.L. who first discovered the existence of these cycles and proved their influence on people. Chizhevsky.

Chizhevsky’s idea is interesting that magnetic disturbances on the Sun, due to the unity of man and space, can seriously affect the health of state leaders. After all, the governments of many countries are headed by elderly people. The rhythms existing on Earth and in space, of course, affect their health and well-being. This is especially dangerous under totalitarian, dictatorial regimes. And if the state is headed by immoral or mentally damaged individuals, then their pathological reactions to cosmic disturbances can lead to unpredictable and tragic consequences both for the peoples of their countries and for all of humanity, especially in conditions when many countries have powerful weapons of mass destruction. destruction.

A special place is occupied by Chizhevsky’s statement that the Sun influences not only biological, but also social processes on Earth. Social conflicts that constantly occur on Earth (wars, riots, revolutions), according to A.L. Chizhevsky, are largely determined by the behavior and activity of our luminary. According to his calculations, during minimal solar activity there is a minimum of mass active social manifestations in society (approximately 5%). During the peak of solar activity, their number reaches 60%.

Many ideas of A.L. Chizhevsky found application in the field of space and biological sciences. They confirm the inextricable unity of man and the cosmos and indicate their close mutual influence.

The cosmic ideas of the first representative of Russian cosmism were original. N.F. Fedorov(1829-1903). He had very high hopes for the future development of science. It is science, according to the thinker, that will help a person, firstly, significantly extend his life, and in the future, make him immortal. The resettlement of people on other planets due to future overpopulation will become a necessary reality. For Fedorov, space is an endless field for human activity. N.F. Fedorov in the middle of the 19th century. proposed his own version of moving people in outer space. According to the thinker, for this it will be necessary to master the electromagnetic energy of the globe. This will make it possible to regulate its movement in outer space and turn the Earth into a spaceship (“terrestrial rover”) for flights into space. In the future, according to Fedorov’s plans, man will unite all worlds and become a “planetary guide.” In this the unity of man and the cosmos will be especially closely manifested.

Ideas N.F. Fedorov’s idea of ​​the settlement of people on other planets was actively developed by a brilliant scientist, the founder of the theory of rocket science K.E. Tsiolkovsky(1857-1935). He also owns a number of original philosophical ideas. Life, according to Tsiolkovsky, is eternal. “After each death, the same thing happens - dispersion... We have always lived and will always live, but each time in a new form and, of course, without memory of the past... A piece of matter is subject to a countless number of lives, although separated by enormous intervals of time..." 1 . Here the thinker is very close to the Hindu - K.E. Tsiolkovsky Chinese teachings about the transmigration of souls and the ideas of Democritus.

Based on this fundamentally dialectical idea of ​​the universality of life, existing everywhere and always through moving and ever-living atoms, Tsiolkovsky tries to build a holistic framework for his “cosmic philosophy.”

The scientist was convinced that life and intelligence on Earth are not the only ones in the Universe. As proof of this statement, he considers it sufficient that the Universe is limitless. Otherwise, “what meaning would the Universe have if it were not filled with an organic, intelligent, sentient world?” Based on the relative youth of the Earth compared to other planets, he concludes that on other, “older planets, life is much more perfect.” Moreover, it actively influences other levels of life, including the earthly one.

In his philosophical ethics, K.E. Tsiolkovsky is purely rationalistic and consistent. Raising the idea of ​​constant improvement of matter to the absolute, he sees this process as follows. The outer space, which has no boundaries, according to the thinker, is inhabited by intelligent beings of various levels of development. There are planets that have reached the highest level in the development of intelligence and power and are ahead of all other planets. “Perfect” beings, having gone through all the torments of evolution, knowing their sad past and past imperfections, have the moral right to regulate life on other, more primitive planets, including saving their population from the torments of development.

Tsiolkovsky presents the technology of this “humanitarian” assistance as follows. “Perfect World” takes all worries upon itself. On other, lower level of development planets, he supports and encourages “only the good.” “Any deviation towards evil or suffering is carefully corrected. Which way? Yes, by selection: the bad, or those who deviate towards the bad, are left without offspring... The power of the perfect penetrates all planets, all possible places of life and everywhere. These places are populated by their own mature race. Isn’t this similar to how a gardener destroys all unsuitable plants on his land and leaves only the best vegetables!.. If intervention does not help, and nothing but suffering is foreseen, then the entire living world is painlessly destroyed...” .

Fortunately, people from planet Earth, according to Tsiolkovsky, fall into the category of “those who give hope” in their future development to become closer to the perfect beings of the Universe. Therefore, they are not threatened by the selection work of the cosmic mind in the form of destruction (deliverance from torment).

K.E. Tsiolkovsky most deeply studied and illuminated among his contemporaries philosophical problems of space exploration. He believed that the Earth has a special role in the Universe. She belongs to the later planets that “give hope.” Only a small number of such planets will be given the right to independent development and torment.

In the course of evolution, over time, a union of all intelligent higher beings of the cosmos will be formed: first - in the form of a union inhabiting the nearest suns, then a union of unions, and so on, ad infinitum, since the Universe itself is infinite.

The moral, cosmic task of the Earth is to contribute to the improvement of the Cosmos. People will be able to justify their high destiny in improving the world only by leaving the Earth and going into space. Therefore, Tsiolkovsky sees his personal task in helping people organize resettlement to other planets and their resettlement throughout the Universe. He emphasized that the essence of his cosmic philosophy lies “in relocation from

Earth and in the settlement of space." That is why the invention of the rocket for Tsiolkovsky was by no means an end in itself (as some believe, seeing in him only a rocket scientist), but only a way to penetrate into the depths of space.

The scientist believed that many millions of years would gradually improve human nature and his social organization. During evolution, the human body will undergo significant changes that will turn a person, essentially, into an intelligent “plant-animal” capable of artificially processing solar energy. Thus, the full scope of his will and independence from his environment will be achieved. In the end, humanity will be able to exploit all the circumsolar space and solar energy for its needs and benefits. And over time, the earth's population will spread throughout the entire solar space.

Ideas by K.E. Tsiolkovsky about the unity of the diverse worlds of the Cosmos, its constant improvement, including man himself, the idea of ​​humanity entering the Cosmos - all of them have an important ideological and humanistic meaning.

Following the futuristic thoughts of K.E. Tsiolkovsky, today practical problems of the influence of life and man on space arise. Thus, in connection with regular space flights, there is a possibility of unintentional introduction of living organisms into space, in particular to other planets. It is known that a number of terrestrial bacteria are able to withstand extreme temperature, radiation and other living conditions for a long time. The temperature range of existence in some species of unicellular organisms reaches 600°C. It is impossible to predict how they might behave in a different, unearthly environment and what the consequences will be for space.

People are increasingly beginning to use space as a means to solve specific technological problems, be it growing rare crystals, welding, etc. Space satellites have gained recognition as a means of collecting and transmitting a variety of information.

• Chizhevsky A.L. Physical factors of the historical process. - Kaluga, 1924 (reprint, edition 1994).
• Tsiolkovsky K.E. Dreams of Earth and Sky. - Tula: Priokskoye Book Publishing House, 1986. - P. 380, 381.
• Right there. pp. 378, 379.
• Tsiolkovsky K.E. Decree. op. pp. 378, 379.

Considering the question of the origin of life on Earth, we briefly mentioned the biosphere, living matter and its biogeochemical functions discovered by V.I. Vernadsky. This topic involves a more detailed study of these issues.

For many hundreds of human generations, human interaction with the environment did not cause noticeable changes in the biosphere, but all this time there was an accumulation of knowledge and strength. Gradually, using his intellectual superiority over other representatives of the animal world, man covered with his activities the entire upper shell of the planet - the entire biosphere. This activity led to the domestication of animals and the breeding of cultivated plants. Man began to change the world around him and create for himself a new living nature that had never existed on the planet.

Under the influence of human labor, since the advent of humanity, the process of modification of the biosphere and its transition to a new qualitative state began and continues to occur at an increasing pace. Natural science knows of earlier transitions of the biosphere into qualitatively new states, accompanied by its almost complete restructuring. But this transition is something special, an incomparable phenomenon.

In the system of modern scientific worldview, the concept of the biosphere occupies a key place in many sciences. The development of the doctrine of the biosphere is inextricably linked with the name of V.I. Vernadsky, although it has a rather long backstory, starting with the book of J.-B. Lamarck “Hydrogeology” (1802), which contains one of the first substantiations of the idea of ​​​​the influence of living organisms on geological processes. Then there was A. Humboldt’s grandiose multi-volume work “Cosmos” (the first book was published in 1845), which collected many facts confirming the thesis about the interaction of living organisms with the earth’s shells into which they penetrate. The term “biosphere” itself was first introduced into science by the German geologist and paleontologist Eduard Suess, who meant by it an independent sphere intersecting with others in which life exists on Earth. He defined the biosphere as a collection of organisms limited in space and time and living on the surface of the Earth.

But nothing has yet been said about the geological role of the biosphere, about its dependence on the planetary factors of the Earth. For the first time, the idea of ​​the geological functions of living matter, the idea of ​​the totality of the entire organic world in the form of a single indivisible whole, was expressed by V.I. Vernadsky. His concept developed gradually, from the first student work “On the change of the soil of the steppes by rodents” (1884) to “Living Matter” (manuscript at the turn of the 20s), “Biosphere” (1926), “Biogeochemical Sketches” (1940), as well as “The Chemical Structure of the Earth’s Biosphere” and “Philosophical Thoughts of a Naturalist,” on which he worked in the last decades of his life, are the theoretical result of the work of a scientist and thinker.

Introducing the concept living matter as the totality of all living organisms on the planet, including humans, Vernadsky thereby reached a qualitatively new level of analysis of life and living things - the biosphere. This made it possible to understand life as a powerful geological force on our planet, effectively shaping the very appearance of the Earth. In functional terms, living matter became the link that connected the history of chemical elements with the evolution of the biosphere. The introduction of this concept also made it possible to pose and resolve the question of the mechanisms of geological activity of living matter and the energy sources for this.

The geological role of living matter is based on its geochemical functions, which modern science classifies into five categories: energy, concentration, destructive, environment-forming, transport. They are based on the fact that living organisms, with their breathing, their nutrition, their metabolism, and the continuous change of generations, give rise to the most ambitious planetary phenomenon - the migration of chemical elements in the biosphere. This predetermined the decisive role of living matter and the biosphere in the formation of the modern appearance of the Earth - its atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.

Such grandiose transformations of the geosphere require gigantic expenditures of energy. Its source is the biogeochemical energy of the living matter of the biosphere, discovered by Vernadsky.

Biosphere - this is the living substance of the planet and the inert substance transformed by it (formed without the participation of life). Thus, it is not a biological, geological or geographical concept. This is a fundamental concept of biogeochemistry, one of the main structural components of the organization of our planet and near-Earth space, the sphere in which bioenergetic processes and metabolism occur due to the activities of life.

The film of the biosphere that envelops the Earth is very thin. Today it is generally accepted that microbial life in the atmosphere occurs up to approximately 20 - 22 km above the earth's surface, and the presence of life in deep ocean basins lowers this limit to 8 - 11 km below sea level. The penetration of life into the earth's crust is much less, and microorganisms were discovered during deep drilling and in formation waters no deeper than 2 - 3 km. But this thinnest film covers absolutely the entire Earth, leaving not a single place on our planet (including deserts and icy areas of the Arctic and Antarctic) where there is no life. Of course, the amount of living matter in different areas of the biosphere is different. Its largest amount is located in the upper layers of the lithosphere (soil), hydrosphere and lower layers of the atmosphere. As one goes deeper into the earth's crust, the ocean, and higher into the atmosphere, the amount of living matter decreases, but there is no sharp boundary between the biosphere and the surrounding earth's shells. And first of all, there is no such boundary in the atmosphere that would make the biosphere closed to all cosmic radiation, as well as solar energy. Thus, the biosphere is open to space, bathed in streams of cosmic energy. By processing this energy, living matter transforms our planet. The very formation of the biosphere, including the origin of life on Earth, is the result of the action of these cosmic forces, the most important factor in the functioning of the biosphere.

Cosmic radiation and, above all, the energy of the Sun have a constant effect on all phenomena on Earth. Founder of heliobiology A.L. Chizhevsky was especially involved in the study of solar-terrestrial connections. He noted that the most diverse and diverse phenomena on Earth - both the chemical transformations of the earth's crust, and the dynamics of the planet itself and its constituent parts, the atmosphere, hydro- and lithosphere - occur under the direct influence of the Sun. The Sun is the main (along with cosmic radiation and the energy of radioactive decay in the bowels of the Earth) source of energy, the cause of everything on Earth - from a light breeze and the growth of plants to tornadoes and hurricanes and human mental activity.

The connection between solar activity cycles and processes in the biosphere was noticed back in the 18th century. Then the English astronomer W. Herschel drew attention to the connection between wheat yields and the number of sunspots. At the end XIX century, professor at Odessa University F.N. Shvedov, studying a section of the trunk of a hundred-year-old acacia, discovered that the thickness of the growth rings changes every 11 years, as if repeating the cyclicity of solar activity.

Summarizing the experience of his predecessors, A.L. Chizhevsky provided a solid scientific basis for these empirical data. He believed that the Sun dictates the rhythm of most biological processes on Earth; when many spots form on it, chromospheric flares appear and the brightness of the corona increases, epidemics break out on our planet, tree growth increases, agricultural pests and microorganisms - the causative agents of various diseases - multiply especially strongly.

Of particular interest is Chizhevsky’s statement that the Sun significantly influences not only biological, but also social processes on Earth. Social conflicts (wars, riots, revolutions), according to Chizhevsky, are largely predetermined by the behavior and activity of our luminary. According to his calculations, during minimal solar activity there is a minimum of mass active social manifestations in society (approximately 5%). During the peak of solar activity, their number reaches 60%. These conclusions of Chizhevsky only confirm the inextricable unity of man and the cosmos and indicate their close mutual influence.

In the system of modern scientific worldview, the concept of the biosphere occupies a key place in many sciences. The development of the doctrine of the biosphere is inextricably linked with the name of V.I. Vernadsky, although it has a rather long background, starting with the book of J.-B. Lamarck “Hydrogeology” (1802), which contains one of the first substantiations of the idea of ​​​​the influence of living organisms on geological processes. Then there was A. Humboldt’s grandiose multi-volume work “Cosmos” (the first book was published in 1845), which collected many facts confirming the thesis about the interaction of living organisms with the earth’s shells into which they penetrate. The term “biosphere” was first introduced into science by the German geologist and paleontologist E. Suess, who meant by it an independent sphere intersecting with others in which life exists on Earth. He defined the biosphere as a collection of organisms limited in space and time and living on the surface of the Earth.

For the first time, the idea of ​​​​the geological functions of living matter, the idea of ​​​​the totality of the entire organic world in the form of a single indivisible whole, was expressed by V. I. Vernadsky. His concept developed gradually, from the first student work “On the change of the soil of the steppes by rodents” (1884) to “Living Matter” (manuscript at the turn of the 20s), “Biosphere” (1926), “Biogeochemical Sketches” (1940), as well as “The Chemical Structure of the Earth’s Biosphere” and “Philosophical Thoughts of a Naturalist,” on which he worked in the last decades of his life.

By introducing the concept of living matter as the totality of all living organisms on the planet, including humans, Vernadsky thereby reached a qualitatively new level of understanding of life - the biosphere. This made it possible to understand life as a powerful geological force on our planet, shaping the appearance of the Earth. The introduction of this concept also made it possible to pose and resolve the question of the mechanisms of geological activity of living matter and the energy sources for this.

The geological role of living matter is based on its geochemical functions, which modern science classifies into five categories:

1...energy,

2...concentration,

3...destructive,

4...environment-forming,

5...transport.

They are based on the fact that living organisms, with their breathing, their nutrition, their metabolism, and the continuous change of generations, give rise to a grandiose planetary phenomenon - the migration of chemical elements in the biosphere. This predetermined the decisive role of living matter and the biosphere in the formation of the modern appearance of the Earth, its atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.

The biosphere is the living matter of the planet and the inert matter transformed by it (formed without the participation of life). This is a fundamental concept of biogeochemistry, one of the main structural components of the organization of our planet and near-Earth space, the sphere in which bioenergetic processes and metabolism occur due to the activities of life.

Today it is generally accepted that the boundaries of the biosphere are as follows: in the atmosphere, microbial life occurs up to approximately 20 - 22 km above the earth's surface, and the presence of life in deep ocean basins is up to 8 - 11 km below sea level. The penetration of life into the earth's crust is much less, and microorganisms were discovered during deep drilling and in formation waters no deeper than 2-3 km. But this thinnest film covers absolutely the entire Earth, leaving not a single place on our planet (including deserts and icy areas of the Arctic and Antarctic) where there is no life. The amount of living matter in different areas of the biosphere is different. Its highest content is in the upper layers of the lithosphere (soil), hydrosphere and lower layers of the atmosphere. As one goes deeper into the earth's crust, into the ocean, and higher into the atmosphere, the amount of living matter decreases, but there is no sharp boundary between the biosphere and the surrounding earth's shells.

The biosphere is open to space, receiving flows of cosmic energy from it. Using it, living matter transforms our planet. The very formation of the biosphere, including the origin of life on Earth, is the result of the action of these cosmic forces, the most important factor in the functioning of the biosphere.

Cosmic radiation and, above all, the energy of the Sun have a constant effect on all phenomena on Earth. The founder of heliobiology, A.L. Chizhevsky, was especially involved in the study of solar-terrestrial connections. He noted that a wide variety of processes and phenomena on Earth occur under the direct influence of the Sun. The Sun is the main (along with cosmic radiation and the energy of radioactive decay in the bowels of the Earth) source of energy, the cause of everything on Earth from atmospheric phenomena, plant growth to human mental activity.

The connection between solar activity cycles and processes in the biosphere was noticed back in the 18th century. Then the English astronomer W. Herschel drew attention to the connection between wheat yields and the number of sunspots. At the end of the 19th century, Odessa University professor F.N. Shvedov, studying a section of the trunk of a hundred-year-old acacia, discovered that the thickness of tree rings changes every 11 years, as if repeating the cyclicity of solar activity.

Having summarized the experience of his predecessors, A.L. Chizhevsky brought a scientific basis to these empirical data. In his opinion, the Sun determines the rhythm of most biological processes on Earth. When many spots form on it, chromospheric flares appear and the brightness of the corona increases, epidemics develop on our planet, tree growth increases, and agricultural pests and microorganisms multiply especially strongly.

All living nature reacts sensitively to seasonal changes in ambient temperature, the intensity of solar radiation - in the spring trees become covered with leaves, in the fall the foliage falls, metabolic processes die out, many animals hibernate, etc. Humans are no exception. Over the course of a year, the intensity of metabolism, the composition of cells and tissues changes.

The state of solar activity affects the spread of many diseases. Thus, in 1957, despite the vaccination of the population, as in previous years, the number of diseases of tick-borne encephalitis and tularemia unexpectedly increased. In the 30s of our century, Chizhevsky predicted that in 1960 - 1962 there would be an epidemic outbreak of cholera, which actually happened in the countries of Southeast Asia. All life cycles: diseases, mass migrations, periods of rapid reproduction of mammals, insects, viruses - proceed synchronously with the 11-year cycles of solar activity.

Humans are also exposed to cosmic energies and solar radiation. Thus, the human body, like the organisms of other animals, adapts to the rhythms of the biogeosphere, primarily daily (circadian) and seasonal, associated with the change of seasons.

Human metabolism proceeds in a circadian rhythm inherited from generation to generation. It is currently believed that about forty processes in the human body are subject to a strict circadian rhythm. For example, back in 1931, cyclicality was established in the functioning of the human liver, the content of hemoglobin, potassium, sodium, and calcium in the blood. The autonomic nervous system also works according to a daily schedule. Statistics say that even birth and death occur more often in the dark part of the day, around midnight.

Hematologists have come to the conclusion that during the years of maximum solar activity, the rate of blood clotting in healthy people doubles, therefore, with an increase in sunspots, heart attacks and strokes become more frequent.

Chizhevsky tried to establish the relationship between eleven-year solar cycles and the saturation of historical events in different periods of human history. As a result of his analysis, he concluded that the maximum of social activity coincides with the maximum of solar activity. The midpoints of the cycle give the maximum mass activity of mankind, expressed in revolutions, uprisings, wars, campaigns, resettlement, and are the beginnings of new historical eras in the history of mankind. At the extreme points of the cycle, the tension of universal human activity of a military or political nature is reduced to a minimum limit, giving way to creative activity and accompanied by a general decline in political and military enthusiasm, peace and calm creative work in the field of state building, science and art.

Social conflicts (wars, riots, revolutions), according to Chizhevsky, are largely predetermined by the behavior and activity of the Sun. According to the scientist’s calculations, during minimal solar activity there is a minimum of mass active social manifestations in society (approximately 5%). During the peak of solar activity, their number reaches 60%. Chizhevsky’s conclusions confirm the inextricable unity of man and space and indicate their close mutual influence.

These ideas about the connection between space, man and the biosphere, presented by the concepts of Vernadsky and Chizhevsky, formed the basis of the popular hypothesis of L.N. Gumilyov about the passionary impulse that gives birth to new ethnic groups. The key concept of Gumilyov’s concept of ethnogenesis is the concept of passionarity, which he defines as an increased desire for action. The appearance of this trait in an individual is a mutation affecting the energy mechanisms of the human body. The passionary (the bearer of passionarity) becomes capable of absorbing more energy from the environment than is necessary for his normal life activity. The excess energy received is directed by him to any area of ​​human activity, the choice of which is determined by specific historical conditions and the inclinations of the person himself. A passionary can become a great conqueror (for example, Alexander the Great, Napoleon) or a traveler (Marco Polo, A. Przhevalsky), a great scientist (A. Einstein, I. Goethe) or a religious figure (Buddha, Christ). The appearance of the property of passionarity is initiated by some specific rare cosmic radiation (passionary shocks occur 2-3 times per millennium). Carriers of passionarity appear in the zone of the trace of this radiation - a strip 200 - 300 km wide, but up to half the circumference of the planet. If several peoples living in different landscapes find themselves in the zone of this radiation, they may become the embryo of a new ethnic group. The change of ethnic groups is the process of world history, the reason for progressive changes in it.

Gradually, ideas about the connection between the biosphere and space, man and space, society and space entered into scientific circulation, becoming an important part of the modern scientific worldview, a characteristic feature of modern culture. These views are usually called cosmism, and the process of forming such a worldview is called the cosmization of science and philosophy. The main features of the cosmic worldview are:

·...introducing ideas about the connection between Earth and Space into the mass consciousness;

·...the transition from anthropocentrism to biospherecentrism, which makes the interests of man and humanity dependent on the needs of the entire planet and all life on it.

Part of the new cosmic worldview is the expansion of the subject of many old classical sciences, taking them beyond the study of purely terrestrial phenomena and processes, the emergence of a cosmic aspect in scientific research (astrochemistry, ecobiology, radiation genetics, etc.). In connection with man's entry into space, astronautics appeared as a response to the theoretical and practical problems of this step. At the same time, people are increasingly putting natural forces of the cosmic order into their service (for example, the use of nuclear energy).

A new worldview requires the introduction of a new system of values, a new solution to “eternal” human questions about the meaning of life, death and immortality, good and evil, which should be oriented towards a person’s awareness of the cosmic significance of his activities.

The formation of a new worldview has been especially active in recent decades, although the first ideas of cosmism arose at the dawn of human history. It can be defined as a unique orientation of thinking, a state of mind, in the atmosphere of which new approaches to the development of a holistic concept of the universe, ideas about the organic unity of the whole world and its closest connection with the Universe and the cosmos were formed. Cosmism understood in this way was initially inherent in the cultural self-consciousness of humanity - the mythological consciousness of our ancestors was completely based on the paradigm of cosmism. This is evidenced by their intuitive ideas about the close connection between the world and man, the revitalization of the world, as well as attempts to discover behind the formidable natural elements some universal laws that harmonize these relations, which is reflected in the cosmological myths of different peoples. Then there was Plato’s picture of the world based on the recognition of the primacy of the world of ideas inherent in material existence. Periodically, cosmism also came to life in Christianized Platonism and in the natural philosophical developments of the Renaissance.

Cosmism experienced a serious crisis in modern times in connection with the development of science, which schematized reality and consigned the ideas of holistic knowledge to oblivion. And, although in the natural sciences of modern times the ideas of the unity of the world, man and space were periodically revived (D. Bruno, G. Galileo, N. Copernicus, etc.), they could not reverse the dominant trends in the development of European science, its desire for strict rationalism and analyticism .

Only in the second half of the 19th century did European science and philosophy show tendencies towards a synthesis of knowledge, although this was perceived with great difficulty by European culture.

Russia was in a completely different situation in the second half of the 19th century. Our country was somewhat isolated from the ideas that dominated Europe. Russian science, born in the 18th century, and Russian philosophy, existing since the 11th century, were based on the deep archetypes of Russian consciousness, among which was cosmism. This is due to the fact that in Russia the pagan holistic worldview was not destroyed by Christianity. Moreover, Russian Orthodoxy also imagined the cosmos as a living organism in constant interaction with the Creator.

These ideas, latently stored in the Russian consciousness, combined with the awareness of the crisis of the scientific worldview at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries and gave the world the phenomenon of Russian cosmism - a characteristic feature of Russian culture of the second half of the 19th century - the first half of the 20th century. In Russia, it has become a whole layer of culture, represented in the works of a remarkable galaxy of scientists, philosophers and artists. The ideas of cosmism in Russia found their expression in the works of V. V. Dokuchaev, V. I. Vernadsky, K. E. Tsiolkovsky, A. L. Chizhevsky, L. N. Gumilev, N. G. Kholodny, S. P. Korolev , N. A. Morozova, N. F. Fedorov, V. S. Solovyov, A. Bely, A. V. Sukhovo-Kobylin, etc.

Of particular interest today are the ideas of N. F. Fedorov, who was one of the first to create his concept of cosmism. He believed that population growth on Earth would lead to the development of other planets where people would be settled. In this regard, he proposed his own version of moving people in outer space. To do this, in his opinion, it will be necessary to master the electromagnetic energy of the globe, which will allow regulating its movement in space and turn the Earth into a kind of spaceship. In the future, man, according to Fedorov, will unite all the worlds and become a “planetary guide.”

Fedorov’s ideas about the settlement of people on other planets were supported by his student, one of the founders of rocket science and the theory of space flight, K. E. Tsiolkovsky. Based on his idea of ​​the universality of life, existing everywhere in the form of eternally living atoms, Tsiolkovsky built his “cosmic philosophy”.

He believed that life and intelligence on earth are not the only ones in the Universe. Outer space is inhabited by intelligent beings of various levels of development. There are planets in the Universe that have reached the highest level in the development of intelligence and power and are ahead of others. These “perfect” planets have the moral right to regulate life on other, more primitive planets.

Tsiolkovsky believed that our planet plays a special role in the Universe. Earth belongs to the category of young planets, “promising planets.” Only a small number of such planets will be given the right to independent development. The Earth is one of them. In the evolution of the planets, a union of all intelligent higher beings of the cosmos will gradually be formed. The Earth's task in this union is to contribute to the improvement of space. To do this, earthlings need to start space flights and begin to settle on other planets of the Universe. This is the main idea of ​​his “cosmic philosophy”: relocation from Earth and settlement of Space.

This is a new understanding of the place and role of man in the world. From now on, it began to be understood as the pinnacle of the development of matter on Earth, in the Solar System, and perhaps in the Universe. It becomes a force capable of mastering and transforming nature in the future on a cosmic scale. The result of these reflections on the role of man was the formulation of the anthropic principle in modern science.

Science has encountered a large group of facts, the separate consideration of which creates the impression of inexplicable random coincidences bordering on a miracle. The probability of each such coincidence is very small, and their joint existence is completely incredible. Then it seems quite reasonable to pose the question of the existence of as yet unknown patterns that are capable of organizing the Universe in a certain way and the consequences of which we are faced with.

In this situation, the anthropic principle was put forward and is currently widely discussed. In the 70s, it was formulated in two versions by the English scientist Carter. The first of these is called the weak anthropic principle: “What we propose to observe must satisfy the conditions necessary for the presence of a person as an observer.” The second option is called the strong anthropic principle: “The Universe must be such that an observer could exist in it at some stage of evolution.”

The weak anthropic principle is interpreted in such a way that during the evolution of the Universe a variety of conditions could exist, but a human observer sees the world only at the stage at which the conditions necessary for its existence were realized. In particular, for the emergence of man, it was necessary for the Universe to go through all the necessary stages during the expansion of matter. It is clear that a person could not observe them, since the physical conditions then did not ensure his appearance. Once a person exists, he will see a world structured in a very definite way, because he is not given anything else to see.

More serious content lies in the strong anthropic principle. Essentially, we are talking about the random or natural origin of the “fine tuning” of the Universe. Recognition of the natural structure of the Universe entails recognition of the principle that organizes it. If we consider the “fine tuning” to be random, then we have to postulate the multiple birth of universes, in each of which random values ​​of physical constants are randomly realized. In some of them, a “fine adjustment” will randomly arise, ensuring the appearance of an observer at a certain stage of development, and he will see a completely comfortable world, the random occurrence of which he will initially not suspect. True, the likelihood of this is very low.

If we recognize the “fine adjustment” initially inherent in the Universe, then the line of its subsequent development is predetermined, and the appearance of an observer at the appropriate stage is inevitable. It follows from this that in the newly born Universe its future was potentially laid down, and the development process takes on a purposeful character. The emergence of the mind is not only “planned” in advance, but also has a specific purpose, which will manifest itself in the subsequent process of development.

We still know too little about the Universe, because earthly life is only a small part of a gigantic whole. But we can make any guesses if they do not contradict the known laws of nature. And it is quite possible that if humanity continues to exist, if its ability to understand itself and the world around it continues, then one of the main tasks of the future scientific search of humanity will be the awareness of its purpose in the Universe.

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KEMEROVO 2004

1 TO OSMOSIS AND THE EARTH'S BIOSPHERE

1.1. General fundamental principles and law s............ …..page 3

1.2 The connection between life on Earth and physical conditions. About origin of life………………………………………………………. …page 5

1.3. The influence of the Sun on the ecological processes of the Earth . … … ….page 8

1.4. Earth…………………………………… . …………………… …page 9

1.5 . Bi Earth's sphere………………………………………………………………… ...10page

1.6. .Causes and nature of pollution biosphere….. …………page 13

Bibliography …………….. …………………1 7 page

1 . SPACE AND EARTH'S BIOSPHERE.

1.1. General fundamental principles and laws

To understand the laws of ecology and imagine the possible consequences of the unsuccessful coexistence of man with nature, it is necessary to understand what life is, how it arose, what its purpose is, and whether there are general principles and laws of the Cosmos, in particular in relation to life.

A few words about the general principles and laws of the universe. Physics knows a large number of fields: acoustic, aerodynamic, gravitational, ion, radiation, temperature, electromagnetic, etc. Modern data indicate that all physical fields have a single electrodynamic nature. From a more general, natural science, position of the teachings of V.I. Vernadsky, we can talk about the unity of living and inanimate nature, about a single field that connects extremely small objects (microworld), extremely large ones (the Universe) and the most complex ones (life) into a common whole.

In the microcosm, the role of fundamental particles of the Universe is played by: “neutrino”, electron, proton, as well as a biological cell. In nature, the following quantities are conserved and quantized: energy, momentum, angular momentum, electric charge, life.

For us, the Universe in rank order is the planets of the Solar System, stars, open clusters, intergalactic space, galaxies. Processes in the microcosm are measured in seconds, processes in the Universe (for example, the evolution of a galaxy) - in tens and hundreds of billions of years. But the physical processes in these systems are the same. There are three fundamental principles of the Universe. The first cosmological principle states that the Universe is spatially homogeneous and isotropic.

The second cosmological principle of Giordano Bruno states: the constants characterizing the Universe (for example, the radius of gravitational interaction, the average density of matter) do not depend on time.

Lyell's third principle of actualism states that the laws of nature do not change with the passage of time.

The statement should be considered as a certain postulate: every interaction has a material carrier of physical interactions.

Another fundamental principle of the Universe is the law of conservation of energy (the first law of thermodynamics).

As a consequence of the second law of thermodynamics, there is another important postulate: isolated systems do not exist.

The analogy between interaction in the physical world and living nature (this division is conditional, but, as we will see later, fundamentally) can be traced using the example of the famous environmental laws of B. Commoner:

*nothing is given for free (principle of conservation);

*everything has to go somewhere (principle of conservation);

*everything is connected to everything (no isolated systems);

*nature knows best (nature's primacy).

In biology, the ability of living systems to respond to changes in external and internal conditions and dynamically renew the structure, electrochemical composition, properties (homeostasis phenomena) is observed. On the scale of space and time, there is an equilibrium between the processes of increase and decrease of vital forces.

The famous German biologist Virchow substantiated the fundamental position of biology: every cell comes from a cell. Spatial classification in biology is the division of living beings into unicellular and multicellular organisms, each cell appears as a result of the division of the mother cell into two. For their vital functions, organisms use matter, energy, and information (both hereditary and received during their life).

Life in its most simplified form can be considered as a process of reproduction of particle-cells. The dominant principle in biology is the Pasteur-Redi principle - living from living. Not a single attempt at “self-birth” of a biological cell has been successful.

1.2. The connection between life on Earth and physical conditions. Origin of life

Life on Earth is of the same type in the sense that the genetic code of any organism, any biological species consists of similar organic compounds. Despite these similarities, life on Earth is surprisingly diverse. Scientists know today about 2 million biological species, of which 20% are plants, 80% are animals.

In living systems, dynamic control is carried out, associated with the processes of obtaining and using information about the environment and internal environment, storing and transmitting information. This is the fundamental difference between living systems and cybernetic analogues. The first have genetic information that has come from the endless past and is directed to the endless future, designed for eternal life in the eternal Universe. The latter have neither an eternal goal nor genetic information. Life in this way can neither be understood nor described within the framework of purely physical concepts.

But given the universality of the genetic code, the diversity of life on Earth is associated with the diversity of physical conditions in which life exists (temperature, pressure, etc.). Many processes in living nature are affected by such physical conditions as the rotation of the Earth around its axis, the rotation of the Earth around the Sun, and cycles of solar activity. The last discovery belongs to our outstanding compatriot A.L. Chizhevsky: for example, in the 20th century. maximum solar activity was observed in 1905, 1917, 1928, 1937, 1989-1991. Factors of variability in living organisms are mutations caused by radiation, chemical and temperature effects on cells carrying genetic information. The vast majority of mutations have a detrimental effect on the organism.

It is generally accepted that life on Earth arose as a result of a favorable combination of circumstances. Today the prevailing point of view is that life is not an earthly, but a cosmic phenomenon. This idea back in the 17th century. The famous Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens said: “Life is a cosmic phenomenon, in some ways sharply different from inert matter.” Speaking about a cosmic phenomenon, one should not think (as was very often imagined) that life in the form of embryos was brought from Space. The question is much deeper. It is possible that the germs of life, its potential, its carriers, the possibilities of its emergence are contained in a certain substance that permeates the Universe. In that part of the Universe where the necessary physical and chemical conditions exist, life flares up like a fire from dry branches. But this substance, which contains the program of life, is the same for the entire Universe.

We are accustomed to thinking that life somehow developed from the simplest to the complex. But the scenario for the emergence of life was different. This idea is contained in the brilliant works of V.I. Vernadsky. He wrote: “It is inevitable to admit that, perhaps less complex in its basic features than the present one, but still a very complex living environment, it was immediately created on our planet as a whole in its pre-geological period. An entire monolith of life (living environment) has been created, and not a separate species of animal organisms, to which extrapolation based on the evolutionary process falsely leads us.” Here he adds something very significant: “...all living things represent an inextricable whole, naturally connected not only with each other, but also with the environment of the biosphere. But our modern knowledge is not sufficient to obtain a clear, unified picture. This is a matter for the future...”

We should not look for the beginning of life in the Universe, just as we do not look for the beginning of energy or matter. Together with the Pasteur-Redi principle V.I. Vernadsky added a very important principle of the immutability of life: “Life remains constant in its main features throughout geological time, only its form changes... Living matter itself is not a random creation... We are beginning to see in the biosphere not a single planetary or terrestrial phenomenon, but a manifestation of the structure of atoms and their position in space, their changes in cosmic history.”

Thus, V.I. Vernadsky, like many other scientists, expresses the idea that the Earth is not the only center of life in the Universe. According to the famous scientist V.I. Shklovsky, who devoted his research to the search for life in the Universe, the possible number of centers of life in our Galaxy is

N 1 =10 5±5.

While other civilizations are being discovered, other life is not possible. But the existence of a single source of life contradicts the first cosmological principle. The existence of life only in a certain time period, the “stage of development” of the Universe (on Earth), contradicts the second cosmological principle. There are chances of meeting a highly developed civilization.

But what about the future of man, about life on Earth? Man is just one of 2 million species of animal organisms on Earth, and life on Earth is just life on one of billions of inhabited worlds.

The death of man on Earth and even the death of life as a result of an environmental disaster does not contradict any of the previously expressed deep scientific principles.

1. 3. The influence of the Sun on environmental Earth processes.

Of all the elements of electromagnetic radiation, ultraviolet radiation is the most dangerous for the biosphere, since, affecting living things on Earth, it exposes them to the danger of destruction. The biological effect of ultraviolet radiation, caused by chemical changes in the molecules of nucleic acids and proteins that absorb it, is expressed in division disorders, the occurrence of mutations and cell death. Ultraviolet radiation is blocked by a layer of ozone. In the stratosphere, ozone (triatomic oxygen) is formed from oxygen. The distribution of ozone over the Earth's surface is uneven. Ozone is destroyed by nitrogen oxides formed in the combustion chambers of solid fuel rockets (SRR), as well as by freons, which in the stratosphere release active chlorine, which reacts with ozone. The removal of each ton of rocket cargo is accompanied by a loss of 8 million tons of ozone.

In addition to wave radiation, the Earth receives corpuscular (corpuscle - particle) radiation from the Sun. If electromagnetic radiation is stable, then corpuscular radiation is very changeable, its energy is less than electromagnetic radiation. But processes in the biosphere greatly depend on corpuscular radiation. The energy of these particles increases with increasing area of ​​sunspots. The number of sunspots changes cyclically, the cycle length is 11 years.

Chronicles report that when huge spots were visible on the Sun, colossal disasters occurred on Earth: droughts, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other disasters. They were accompanied by gigantic epidemics and pandemics, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. Sunspots are a phenomenon that affects the Earth's biosphere

The Earth is protected from the effects of corpuscular radiation by its electromagnetic field. If a planet does not have an electromagnetic field, then the existence of an atmosphere and life there is impossible. The magnetic field protects the Earth's biosphere from flows of charged particles, i.e. corpuscular radiation. If radiation reached the surface of the Earth, it would decompose all the atoms and molecules of the atmosphere into ions and electrons, i.e. would destroy her. In ecological terms, for the existence of the biosphere, the Earth's magnetic field is quite stable and unchanging.

The most important physical and biological process on Earth that supports living things is photosynthesis - the conversion of the radiant energy of the Sun by green plants and photosynthetic organisms into the energy of chemical bonds of organic substances. Light energy absorbed by the green pigment (chlorophyll) of plants supports the process of their carbon nutrition. During the process of photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, and also absorb heat. Reactions in which light energy is absorbed are called endothermic (endo - inward). The energy of Sunlight is accumulated in the form of the energy of chemical bonds. Thanks to the process of photosynthesis, 150 billion tons of organic matter are produced on Earth annually, 300 billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO 2) are absorbed, and about 200 billion tons of free oxygen are released.

The word “ecology” is derived from the Greek “oikos” - house. Ecology is the science of the home. Our home is the Earth, and its walls are, figuratively speaking, the electromagnetic field of the Earth, the ceiling is the atmosphere, and the roof is the ozone layer.

1. 4. Earth

There is an idea that the Earth consists of a core, mantle and crust, which are characterized by different thicknesses, physical properties of rocks, energy and thermal regimes, petrochemical composition of matter, etc.

Geophysical data show that the Earth's core is made of iron or iron and nickel. The temperature in the center is about 10,000 K, density 15 g/cm 3, pressure 4-10 5 dynes/cm 2. Under such conditions, nuclear fusion reactions of heavy elements from iron and nickel should occur. Over billions of years, meteorite iron travels from the Earth’s surface to the core, and heavy elements and their decay products move from the core to the Earth’s surface, forming the solid, liquid and gaseous shells of the planet, affecting the characteristics of the mantle. Living creatures actively participate in the processes of formation of shells, which, together with the non-living component, form the Earth’s biosphere. Apparently, part of the mantle substance was also formed as a result of the decay of heavy radioactive elements. Modern determinations of the age of the Earth give about 5 billion years, but this value can only be considered as a minimum estimate.

1. 5. Biosphere of the Earth

The biosphere, as defined by V.I. Vernadsky, is the outer shell (sphere) of the Earth, the area of ​​distribution of life ( bios-life). According to the latest data, the thickness of the biosphere is 40...50 km. It includes the lower part of the atmosphere (up to a height of 25...30 km, up to the ozone layer), almost the entire hydrosphere (rivers, seas and oceans) and the upper part of the earth's crust - the lithosphere (up to a depth of 3 km). The most important components of the biosphere are: living matter (plants, animals and microorganisms); biogenic substance (organic and organomineral products created by living organisms throughout geological history - coal, oil, peat, etc.); inert matter (rocks of inorganic origin and water); bioinert substance (a product of the synthesis of living and nonliving things, i.e. sedimentary rocks, soils, silts).

The distinctive and defining feature of the biosphere is its integrity and population of life. The living matter of the Earth is the most powerful force in the biosphere, materially and energetically determining its functions. As a result of continuous interaction (exchange) between the components of the biosphere, under the influence of living matter, both the organisms inhabiting the biosphere and the environment in which they live change. Thanks to living matter, the interconnection and interdependence of all components in the biosphere are maintained. This multilateral and diverse connection defines the biosphere as a gigantic ecological system in which man is, on the one hand, a biological particle of the entire system, and on the other, an active transformer of it.

The uncontrollably increasing technological and energy resources of humans negatively affect the balance of processes in the biosphere. Therefore, today the global task of humanity is to determine and implement permissible limits of impact on the biosphere in order to prevent an environmental disaster.

The idea of ​​life as a continuous “film” of living matter covering the Earth was formed in the 18th century. Lamarck, and in the 1920s the Soviet biochemist V.I. Vernadsky proposed a scientific basis for the biosphere. He proved that all three shells of the Earth are connected with living matter, which continuously influences inanimate nature.

Biosphere- a gigantic ecological system in which man acts both as its particle and as its transformer. The ultimate goal of man is to control all processes in the biosphere, transforming it into the noosphere - the sphere of reason.

The main feature of a living being is, in addition to cellular activity and information transfer, the way it uses energy. Living beings capture the energy of space in the form of sunlight, retain it in the form of the energy of complex organic compounds (biomass), transfer it to each other and transform it into other types of energy (mechanical, electrical, thermal). Nonliving substances primarily dissipate energy.

Living matter, the biosphere, converts the energy of the Sun into free energy capable of doing work. The work done by life is the transfer and redistribution of chemical elements in the biosphere.

All soils and surface minerals (chernozem, clay, limestone, ore, coal and oil deposits) were formed under the influence of life.

Energy conversion in organisms is based on temperature differences and other principles. Living beings should be considered as chemical machines, where chemical energy is converted into other types of energy.

Another feature of living organisms is their ability to reproduce themselves. So, the features of the functioning of living beings include:

* ability for self-reproduction;

* the ability to form polymer shells that protect living matter from an inert environment;

* the ability to accumulate and transmit chemical energy, as well as carry out chemical reactions under normal conditions of temperature and pressure without the formation of by-products. Life on Earth is ideally environmentally friendly.

In conclusion, let us dwell on the evolution of the biosphere - the largest ecosystem on Earth. At the first stage (about 3 billion years ago), organic matter was formed as a result of synthesis in abiotic processes. The Earth's atmosphere consisted of hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, methane; contained chlorine, harmful to life, etc., did not contain oxygen. Ultraviolet radiation (there was no ozone then) caused a chemical reaction, as a result of which amino acids appeared - complex molecules of organic substances. Anaerobic organisms were formed that were under water.

Due to their activity, oxygen appeared a billion years later, which partially turned into ozone and protected the Earth from ultraviolet radiation. Probably, life, changing only its form, created the necessary conditions for itself (in particular, the presence of oxygen). The biosphere is a single organism. In the life of nature, in the Cosmos, it is not man who is the main goal of the universe. In the world there is no man and nature, no man and the Cosmos, no man and the Universe. There is nature, Space, the Universe, and man is only a small part of them; the only way for man to survive is to obey the laws of the Universe. As the famous English philosopher of the 17th century wrote. Francis Bacon, “We cannot govern nature except by submitting to it.” This is the purpose of man in the 21st century.

1. 6. Causes and nature of biosphere pollution

Pollution of the biosphere is one of the oldest problems of human civilization.

The danger to the biosphere is as follows:

* human use of energy sources predominantly internal to the biosphere (organic fuel);

* use of irrational business cycles leading to waste;

* use of synthetic substances harmful to nature;

* destruction by humans of the structural diversity of the biosphere, which destroys ecosystems.

The emergence of new diseases is the reaction of the biosphere to human intervention.

Based on the nature of occurrence, pollution is divided into natural and anthropogenic. Natural pollution occurs as a result of natural, usually catastrophic processes (for example, a powerful volcanic eruption, mudflow, etc.), without any human influence on these processes, anthropogenic- as a result of human economic activity. The intensity of anthropogenic pollution is directly related to the growth of the world's population and, first of all, to the development of large industrial centers.

Anthropogenic pollution is divided into industrial, agricultural and military. Industrial Pollution is caused by a single enterprise or a combination of them, as well as transport. Agricultural Pollution is caused by the use of pesticides, defoliants and other agents, the application of fertilizers in quantities that are not absorbed by crop plants, the dumping of livestock waste and other actions related to agricultural production. Military pollution arises as a result of the operation of military industry enterprises, transportation of military materials and equipment, testing of weapons, the functioning of military facilities and the entire complex of military equipment in the event of military operations. The consequences of a war with the use of atomic weapons can lead to an apocalypse - “nuclear winter”.

Air pollution- the introduction into the air or the formation in it of chemicals or organisms of physical agents that adversely affect the living environment or cause damage to material values, as well as the formation of anthropogenic physical fields.

Hydrosphere pollution- entry of pollutants into water in quantities and concentrations capable of disrupting normal environmental conditions in large water bodies.

Soil pollution- the introduction and appearance in the soil of new, usually not characteristic of it, physical, chemical or biological agents that change the course of the soil-forming process (inhibit it), sharply reduce productivity, cause the accumulation of pollutants in plants (for example, heavy metals ), from which these contaminants directly or indirectly (through plant or animal foods) enter the human body.

Space pollution - general contamination of near-Earth and near outer space by space objects. The most dangerous is radioactive contamination due to the launch into orbit and destruction of nuclear reactors, in addition to “space debris” that interferes with the normal functioning of ground-based radio engineering and astronomical instruments. Based on the nature of the impact, pollution is divided into primary and secondary.

Primary pollution - entry into the environment directly of pollutants formed during natural, anthropogenic and purely anthropogenic processes.

Secondary pollution- formation (synthesis) of hazardous pollutants during physical and chemical processes occurring directly in the environment. Thus, from non-toxic components in some conditions poisonous gases are formed - phosgene; freons, chemically inert at the surface of the Earth, enter into photochemical reactions in the stratosphere, producing chlorine ions, which serve as a catalyst in the destruction of the ozone layer (screen) of the planet. Some reagents for such interactions may be harmless.

According to the mechanism of influence, pollution is divided into mechanical, physical (thermal, light, acoustic, electromagnetic), chemical, radiation, biological.

Mechanical pollution - clogging of the environment with agents that mainly have an unfavorable mechanical effect on natural and artificial objects.

Physical pollution are associated with changes in the physical parameters of the environment: temperature and energy (thermal), wave (light, acoustic, electromagnetic), radiation (radiation, radioactive).

Thermal (thermal) pollution are caused by an increase in environmental temperature, mainly due to industrial emissions of heated air, waste gases (combustion products emitted into the chimney) and water. They can also arise as a secondary result of changes in the chemical composition of the environment (for example, the greenhouse effect - constant warming of the planet’s climate as a result of the accumulation in the atmosphere of carbon dioxide and other gases (methane, fluorine and chlorocarbons), which are similar to the covering of a greenhouse, allowing the sun to pass through rays that prevent long-wave thermal radiation from leaving the Earth’s surface).

Light pollution are caused by disruption of the natural illumination of the area as a result of the action of artificial light sources and can lead to anomalies in the life of plants and animals.

Acoustic pollution associated with exceeding the natural noise level and abnormal changes in sound characteristics in populated areas and other places due to the operation of transport, industrial installations, household appliances, human behavior or other reasons.

Electromagnetic pollution arise as a result of changes in the electromagnetic properties of the environment (from power lines, radio and television, the operation of some industrial installations, etc.), lead to changes in fine cellular and molecular biological structures.

Radioactive contamination are caused by an excess of the natural level of radioactive substances in the environment. Their consequence is radiation pollution caused by the action of ionizing radiation.

Biological contaminants caused by the penetration (natural or due to human activity) into exploited ecosystems and technological installations of species of organisms that are alien to these communities and installations and are usually absent there. There are biotic and microbiological contaminants.

Microbiological (microbial) contamination arise due to the appearance in the environment of an unusually large number of microorganisms associated with their mass reproduction in environments changed during human economic activity.

Literature

1) Engineering ecology and environmental management: Textbook/ed. N.I.Ivanova and I.M. Fadina. M.: “Logos”, 2002.

2) Kedrov B.M. "The subject and relationship of the natural sciences." M.: Nauka, 1967.436 pp..

3) Mizun Yu G.Ecology known and unknown. M.: Scientific and practical. center 1994. 240 s

4) Ecology: Textbook for universities/L.I. Tsvetkova, M.I. Alekseev, B.P. Usanov and others; Ed. SI. Tsvetkova. St. Petersburg: Khimizdat, 1999. 488 p.

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