Water, which consists of hydrogen and oxygen, accounts for about 7/10ths of our planet’s area above ground (some of it frozen). It also exists underground, where it is a major source of drinking water. Most life cannot survive without adequate water, which makes up a major portion of the body weight in many living things.

As water evaporates from the surface of the Earth it releases moisture into the air, increases humidity, and adds to the formation of clouds. Evaporation is mostly caused by the heat of the sun, sometimes with the help of the wind. It may produce rain in the same area or send it elsewhere, depending upon the current wind speed and how much humidity has already accumulated. 

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Oxygen and nitrogen make up much of the Earth’s air, which is vital for the existence of life. Even animals that live underwater need air; they obtain it by removing oxygen from the water. Air also contains minor quantities of helium, xenon, neon, and other gases. The level of water vapor within the air determines how much humidity is present.

Weather forecasters sometimes issue advisories regarding air quality, usually based upon the levels of particulate matter, ozone, carbon monoxide, and other types of air pollution. Health problems may occur while poor air quality persists. Although some people have the option to stay indoors under these conditions, most animals do not.

Humans have the ability to extract individual gases from the air. Factories use these gases in the process of manufacturing steel, computer chips, and fertilizer products. Air is also used for inflation purposes, making neon signs, and running compressed air power tools, among other uses.

WIND
Wind is air in rapid motion. Excluding man-made “wind” created by machines like fans and automobiles, wind is produced by differences in temperature on Earth. Thus it is indirectly generated from the sun’s heat, and often increases when cold or warm fronts arrive.

Wind causes many changes in weather necessary to the natural environment. This makes it possible for plants to receive the mix of sun and rain they need to survive. Along with certain animals, wind helps to spread the seeds and pollen of many plants.

People have long used the wind as an inexhaustible source of energy for sailboat travel, windmills, and wind-based electricity generation. Flat, exposed areas like fields, lakes, and oceans tend to receive more wind than other parts of the Earth.

PHOTOSYNTHESIS
The most significant contributor to the environment outside of planet Earth is the sun. In addition to providing light and warmth, the sun produces photosynthesis in numerous plants and bacteria. This gives them energy needed to grow and reproduce. It also creates oxygen in the air, which adds to the many benefits gained by preserving Earth’s forested areas.

DECOMPOSITION
After plants and animals die, bacteria and fungi help decompose their remains. They become part of the soil, and living plants gain nutrition from them. Other animals benefit from this by using the plants for food or shelter. Thus even the natural death of wildlife and plants eventually benefits the Earth, if it is not in excess.

OZONE LAYER
Although plants and animals cannot survive on Earth without the sun, its light can also be damaging. The ozone layer, part of the atmosphere, protects the planet from ultraviolet solar rays – somewhat like a glass window filters out various elements of sunlight but allows the rest to pass through.

Certain types of pollution eat away at the planet’s ozone layer. Without its protection, humans and animals would be far more susceptible to sunburns, skin cancer, and other health problems. Ozone is only beneficial as part of the atmosphere’s ozone layer; it acts as a harmful pollutant in air at lower altitudes, causing various ailments.

INTERCONNECTION
Many elements of planet Earth’s environment depend upon each other to exist. Without sufficient water and sunlight, plants will stop growing. Plant-eating animals soon have nothing to eat or drink, and cannot benefit from the oxygen released by plants. After these animals die, the carnivorous animals and humans cannot eat. Thus it is very important to preserve each segment of the environment and wildlife.

The loss of a plant or animal species might not only affect the creatures which use it for food. Plants may depend on it to pollinate them or spread their seeds. One species’ extinction might result in the overpopulation of another species, causing starvation and harm to other wildlife. Some animals (and humans) also use certain plants for shelter or materials to build shelters from.

Certain animal and plant species inadvertently help each other survive in other ways. For instance, some small birds and insects kill parasites which harm larger animals or plants. Ladybugs often remove and devour aphids from various plants the aphids eat. Beetles sometimes live with termites or ants, gaining protection in exchange for “cleaning” their nests.

AN EXAMPLE
Despite their small size, bees play a very important role in the environment of our planet. They produce honey, pollinate various flowering plants, and provide a food source for some birds and other insects. Without them, many humans, plants, and animals would likely disappear from the Earth.

Unfortunately, their numbers have been declining in some regions, with various man-made causes possibly to blame. In one part of China, bees were completely eliminated due to pesticide use. Pear farmers in that region must now pollinate their trees by hand, a massive effort which was once accomplished easily by bees.

PROPER BALANCE
It is also important for most components of the Earth’s ecosystem to be well-balanced. Too many of a certain plant or animal can damage the environment, and too much (or little) water or sunlight causes droughts and floods. Occasional disbalances typically occur, but such problems can be exacerbated by influences like:

1. Species transferred to an area they don’t normally live in, where they have no predators. Boats, birds, and animal traffickers may accidentally release such plants and animals into the environment. People often refer to them as “invasive species”, and they remain a particular concern in lakes and ponds.

Invasive species aren’t always unusual, unfamiliar creatures or marine plants. For example, when goats were brought to small islands for the first time by humans, their population increased rapidly because no predator existed. They ate too many of the islands’ plants, eventually causing other animal species to become extinct.

2. Climate change, which is worsened by pollution and overpopulation, increases the likelihood of serious environmental disbalances like hurricanes and forest fires. It has the capability to cause the extinction of many species and raise the sea level over small islands. Rising temperatures increase the potential for lightening and heavy wind, while fueling hurricanes as they pass over warm water.

3. Severe deforestation (often caused by excessive logging) can lead to desertification, making an area uninhabitable for most plants and animals. In regions affected by large storms, the lack of plant life often follows deforestation with severe flooding, because there are no trees or shrubs to slow down moving water.

OTHER INFLUENCES
In addition to the major weather-related influences like wind, water, and sunlight, various other natural phenomenon affect the environment of planet Earth. Natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanoes can destroy forests, cause tidal waves, and release clouds of ash into the air. The moon’s gravitational pull causes tides in the ocean. Also, the rotation of the Earth influences wind movement, especially in a hurricane or cyclone.

OVERALL
Without wind, water, and air, there wouldn’t be any plants, which would eliminate the ability of animals or humans to exist on Earth. The planet’s environment would cease to function without any one of these major elements, and can be severely disrupted by the loss of a plant or animal species. Thus it is important not to overlook the necessity of any one species or environmental factor, and to prevent disbalances in the ecosystem whenever possible.

SOURCES:
1. Mindscape Complete Reference Library 1995, CD-ROM: Air, Wind, Water, Water Supply of the World, Environment

2. Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Standard 2005, CD-ROM: Air, Photosynthesis, Beetle, Environment, Atmosphere, Ecology

3. Pesticide Action Network UK (PDF)
4. AIRNow