Earth, the third planet from the Sun, is unique in our solar system for its ability to support life. This is due to the presence of liquid water, which covers 70.8% of Earth's surface in the form of a global ocean. The remaining 29.2% of Earth's surface is land, mostly in the form of continents. Earth's crust is dynamic, composed of moving tectonic plates that create mountains, volcanoes, and cause earthquakes. A liquid outer core generates a magnetosphere that protects Earth from harmful solar and cosmic radiation.
A period of analysis on the impact of extreme weather events, including their human death toll, began in 1980.
By the year 2000, marking the end of a specific analysis period, extreme weather events were found to have caused an average of 11,800 human deaths per year from 1980 onwards.
In 2006, the near-Earth asteroid 2006 RH120 was observed making close approaches to the Earth-Moon system, with an orbital pattern that brings it close roughly every twenty years, during which it can temporarily orbit Earth.
In 2010, astronomers discovered 2010 TK7, an asteroid librating around the leading Lagrange triangular point, L4, in Earth's orbit around the Sun, making it an Earth Trojan asteroid.
By 2015, it was determined that 2% of the 12-14% of ice-free land used for crops was irrigated.
In 2018, an assessment revealed that no country was meeting the basic needs of its population without exceeding planetary boundaries, emphasizing the challenge of sustainable development.
In 2019, a study revealed that 39 million km² of Earth's land surface was forest and woodlands, while 12 million km² was shrub and grassland.
In 2020, global temperatures were estimated to be 1.2 °C warmer than the preindustrial baseline, highlighting the impact of human activities on climate change.
As of September 2021, it was reported that there were 4,550 operational, human-made satellites orbiting Earth, along with inoperative satellites and over 16,000 pieces of tracked space debris.
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