1: Conditions for life on earth

Question 1

What is dynamic equilibria?

Answer 1

A balance created by active processes whose impacts cancel each other out, its regenerative system.

Question 2

Define circular economy

Answer 2

A regenerative system in which a resource input, waste, emission and energy leakages are minimised

Question 3

What is a regenerative system?

Answer 3

Where the waste is minimised, and that waste is then reused

Question 4

What is negative feedback?

Answer 4

When mechanisms are put in place that reduce change.

e.g. increased co2 emissions, increased photosynthesis and then carbon is then reaborbed

Question 5

what is positive feedback?

Answer 5

mechanisms that aim to increase with change.

E.g. fruit ripening then releases a hormone which further causes fruit ripening.

Question 6

What is the ‘tipping point’?

Answer 6

where natural processes cant regulate change fast enough to resist that change. E.g. global warming

Question 7

what type of system is more resistant to change?`

Answer 7

A diverse system

Question 8

What is the name of the ‘economy’ by which people replace and throw away quickly?

Answer 8

linear economy

Question 9

What conditions are there for life on earth?

Answer 9

• gravitational field
• rotational axis
• distance from sun
• magnetosphere
• daily rotation
• moon

Question 10

How was the earths magnetosphere created?

Answer 10

The moving liquid iron in the outer core generate electric currents, which produce magnetic fields. charged metals passing through these fields create more magnetic fields. These are then all combined into one big field through the Coriolis force.

Question 11

How does the gravitation field provide life on earth?

Answer 11

It holds in our atmosphere allowing for gasses to accumulate, seas to form and temperature regulation

Question 12

How does the earths axis provide life on earth?

Answer 12

Allows seasonal climate change and global temperature regulation so that the majority of the earth gets enough light to provide life.

Question 13

How does out distance from the sun help life on earth?

Answer 13

• It controls insolation to a safe level (amount of radiation)
• Keeps the temperature within a level optimum for enzymes to work
• water remains liquid

Question 14

How does the earth daily rotation help life on earth?

Answer 14

• It means that both sides of the earth gets light (day/night)
• Reduces temperature extreemes to ones optimal for enzymes

Question 15

How does the moon help life?

Answer 15

It stabilises the earths rotation , keeping seasons more stable.

Question 16

Why is the temperature range on earth suitable for life?

Answer 16

• enables biological chemicals and enzymes to have enough energy to react, without enzymes bein denature.
• Allows water to be liquid

Question 17

What are the 5 sections of the atmosphere?

Answer 17

(Lowest)
-troposphere, contains half the mass of the atmosphere

• stratosphere, where planes fly as it is often very stable
• mesosphere, meteors or rock fragments burn up here
• thermosphere, where satellites orbit

-exosphere, where the atmosphere merges with space
(Highest)

Question 18

How does temperature vary in the atmosphere?

Answer 18

The temperature varies in a zig-zag formation because of the different gasses at the pressure (held in place due to the different densities) absorbing more/less amounts of radiation.
e.g. the stratosphere warms with hight because of increased ozone absorbing radiation, and in the thermosphere, it is because of oxygen absorbing the radiation.

Question 19

Why is our atmospheric pressure important?

Answer 19

Because of the pressure was too low, water would begin to boil as the water molecules would begin to spread out under the low pressure.
This means life would struggle to to develop as water is required as liquid solvent in most organisms.

Question 20

How does energy radiating from the earth compare to energy being absorbed?

Answer 20

The solar radiation arriving and leaving are generally in a dynamic equilibrium.

Absorbed radiation:

• ultraviolet
• visible light
• near infrared

Emitted radiation:
- long wavelength infrared

Question 21

(Check for repetition)

What key factors allow the atmosphere to support life?

Answer 21

• allows for water to liquid
• reduces harmful solar radiation
• burns meteors
• thermal regulation
• gases for natural processes
• ocean currents
• influences ocean currents

Question 22

What natural process keep the atmosphereric concentration of carbon dioxide in equilibrium?

Answer 22

Photosynthesis and respiration

Question 23

What gases does the atmosphere provide for natural processes?

Answer 23

• oxygen
• carbon dioxide
• hydrogen
• nitrogen

Question 24

How does absorption of insolation support life?

Answer 24

The atmosphere protects the earth from solar winds and the ozone layer absorb as most of the Harmful uv radiation.
Much of the energy emitted by the sun is absorbed and re-emitted as infrared, easing the temperature of the earth to a level suitable for life.

Question 25

How does the atmosphere help with heat distribution?

Answer 25

The energy fuels convection currents and strong winds, distributing heat and precipitation and equalising pressure differences across the globe.

The winds then power ocean currents, further distributing heat and water vapour.

Question 26

Why the high specific heat capacity of water important?

Answer 26

Because it means water absorbs a lot of energy before changing state allowing for stable environments to support life.

Question 27

What human activities affect the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide?

Answer 27

• respiration
• combustion of fossil fuels
• deforestation
• cement production
• engines/machines
• extractive materials

It has a low relative effect but is the most concerning as it is being increased in concentration the most

Question 28

What human activities increase the atmospheric concentration of methane

Answer 28

• domestic/agricultural animals
• rice cultivation
• fermentation
• landfill
• the making of fossil fuels

Question 29

What human activities affect atmospheric concentration of nitrogen oxides?

Answer 29

• fertilisers

- combustion

Question 30

What are the sources of chlorofluorocarbons (cfc’s)?

Answer 30

• compressed gases (aerosols, fire extinguishers, expanding foam)
• old refrigerants

Question 31

What natural process affect atmospheric concentration of tropospheric ozone?

Answer 31

-photochemical breakdown of NO2 and reaction with oxygen.

Question 32

what are the compositions of the gases in the atmosphere?

Answer 32

Nitrogen: 78%
Oxygen: 21%
CO2: 0.04
Rare gases: 1
Ozone: 0.000007
water: Up to 3%

Question 33

How does the mass of the earth allow for life?

Answer 33

• The mass of the earth was great enough to provide gravity strong enough to hold in gases vital for life, such as carbon hydrogen oxyegn and nitrogen)
• Also strong enough to prevent water from boiling.

Question 34

What human processes affect the concentration of tropospheric ozone?

Answer 34

-Release of CFCs