7.9A Characteristics of the Solar System

A continuous stream of charged particles from the sun; variations cause aurorae displays & geomagnetic storms

Over exposure to UV radiation is one cause of cancer. What feature of our atmosphere protects life on Earth from this?

What do scientists looking for evidence of life on other planets look for?

Earth has a polar north and south from which magnetic lines of force are present like a giant magnet

Area that deflects & traps harmful particles; resulting from an interaction of earth's magnetic field with solar "wind"

Gas in earth's atmosphere that absorbs most of the damaging high energy ultraviolet radiation from the sun

A portion of the electromagnetic spectrum emitted by the sun; can cause tanning, sunburning and skin cancers.

What is one factor that affects the surface temperature of a planet?

What is a second factor that affects the surface temperature of a planet?

Atmosphere

Solar winds escape the Sun and would pelt the Earth with damaging particles if the planet did not have this feature.