1.a. Water and carbon support life on Earth and move between the land, oceans and atmosphere Flashcards
Why is water chemically important?
Important as it is a medium that allows organic molecules to mix and form complex structures.
What is ‘The Goldilocks’ Zone’? Why is it important to supporting life?
The distance from the sun, allowing liquid water to exist.
Compared to Mars, does Earth have much water?
Earth has an appropriate amount of water, significantly more than Mars.
Water creates what conditions? What percentage of the Earth is oceans, and what does this do for the Earth?
Thermal conditions.
Oceans cover 71% of the Earth’s surface and moderate temperature by absorbing heat. The ocean stores heat and releases it slowly.
How much solar radiation is reflected by cloud?
Around 1/5th.
Water vapour is a greenhouse gas, so absorbs what type of radiation? What does this mean for average global temperatures?
Long-wave radiation.
This maintains average global temperatures. Average temperatures would be 15 degrees celsius lower without this.
Water makes up around what percentage of all living organisms? What is this crucial for?
65-95%.
Crucial for their growth, reproduction, and other metabolic functions.
Plants need water for what 3 main processes?
Photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration.
Plants need water to maintain what? Water can transport what through a plant?
Rigidity.
Can transport nutrients.
In animals and humans, water is the medium for the circulation of what?
Oxygen and nutrients.
What does transpiration and sweating do for plants/ animals and humans?
Acts as a cooling process.
Water is essential for economic activity. What 3 things can be done with water?
Electricity, (hydroelectric power).
Irrigate crops.
Provide recreational facilities.
How does water satisfy public demand?
Through access to drinking water and sewage disposal.
State 3 industries that use significant amounts of water.
Brewing, paper making, and steel manufacturing.
Is carbon common?
Carbon is a very common chemical element.
Carbon is stored in what rock type? Give an example.
What does carbon rock dissolve in?
Carbonate rocks, such as limestone and sea floor sediment.
It dissolves in ocean water, the atmosphere and the biosphere.
Life is carbon-based, built up by large molecules of what? Give examples.
Carbon atoms.
E.g. proteins, carbohydrates, and acids.
Explain how carbon has significant economic importance?
Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas power the global economy.
Oil is also used in manufacturing to create what products?
Paint, plastics, and other products.
State 2 stores of large amounts of carbon.
Agricultural crops and forest trees.
