2.3 Flows of Energy and Matter

Question 1

Solar radiation may also be called…

Answer 1

Insolation

Question 2

How is the solar radiation that reaches the earth called + define it

Answer 2

• the solar constant
• the average amount of solar energy that isreceived by the atmosphere when the sun is at its mean distance from earth.

Question 3

What is the path of solar radiation through the earth’s atmosphere- with percentages

Answer 3

Only 51% absorbed at surface 19% absorbed by clouds- you NEED to know this

Incoming solar radiation is either absorbed or it is reflected and scattered

- Small particles and gases in the atmosphere will**scatter**solar radiation in random directions some will go back out to space.

• Whilst scattering could send the light in any directionreflectionwill send it backout to space.

Question 4

What is the reflectivity of a surface called?

Answer 4

Albedo 🐧

Think about penguins: dark colours = low albedo. light colours = high albedo 🐧

Question 5

Define productivity

Answer 5

The conversion of energy into biomass in a given time = The rate of growth of plants and animals in the ecosystem

Question 6

Define gross and define net

Answer 6

Gross: Total amount
Net: What is left over after losses

Question 7

Difference between primary and secondary productivity?

Answer 7

Primaryis to do with plants andsecondaryto do with animals

Question 8

Define GPP (Primary productivity)

Answer 8

Gross primary productivity (GPP)is all the biomass produced by primary producers in a given amount of time (before any of it is used for respiration)

Question 9

Define NPP (Primary productivity)

Answer 9

productivity after losses to respiration and repair

Question 10

Equation for NPP (Primary productivity)

Answer 10

NPP = GPP – R

R being respiratory losses

Question 11

Define GSP (Secondary productivity)

Answer 11

• GSP represents the total amount of energy or biomass assimilated by consumers
• may also be referred to as assimilation

Question 12

Equation of GSP

Answer 12

GSP = food eaten – fecal loss

Question 13

Define NSP

Answer 13

the energy left at the end of all the processes for animal growth

Question 14

NSP Equation

Answer 14

NSP = GSP – R

(R being respiratory losses )

Question 15

What is sustainable yield

Answer 15

Sustainable yield(SY) is the amount of biomass that can be extracted without reducing natural capital of the ecosystem.

This means extracting NPP or NSP because it is the only way you are taking out without reducing the natural capital

Question 16

What are the stores in the carbon cycle?

Answer 16

1. Atmosphere ☁️
2. Terrestrial plants and food web
3. Phytoplanktonand food web in the marine ecosystems
4. Soil and organic matter
5. Coal, oil and gas
6. Sediments and sedimentary rocks
7. Ocean surface
8. Deep oceans

Question 17

How is the carbon in the atmosphere stored?

Answer 17

CO2in increasing amounts

Question 18

How is the carbon in Terrestrial plants and food web?

Answer 18

Carbohydrates made from atmospheric CO2

Question 19

How is the carbon in the Phytoplanktonand food web in the marine ecosystems stored?

Answer 19

Carbohydrates made from CO2dissolved in the water

Question 20

How is the carbon in Soil and organic matter stored?

Answer 20

Dead organic matter and soil biota.

Question 21

How is the carbon in Coal, oil and gas stored?

Answer 21

Organic matter decomposed over millions of years. Decreasing fast.

Question 22

How is the carbon in Sediments and sedimentary rocks
stored?

Answer 22

Calcite, limestonesand other rocks contains much carbon

Question 23

How is the carbon in Ocean surface stored?

Answer 23

CO2is initially dissolved but then incorporated into shells, skeletons and organic matter as carbon.

Question 24

What are the main flows of the carbon cycle (Hint: 4)

Answer 24

• Respiration → releases CO2
• Photosynthesis → absorbs CO2
• Decay → decomposers and detritivors release nutrients (one that is CO2) into the atmosphere
• Combustion → releases CO2

Question 25

How does marine life use co2 + how do oceans act as carbon sinks

Answer 25

1. CO2 simply dissolves into the surface waters of oceans 2. CO2 is then used in photosynthesis by marine plants 3. Marine animals use this dissolved carbon dioxide to make skeletons and shells 4. thus: the ocean acts as a carbon sink holding as much as 60 times more carbon than the atmosphere.

Question 26

Practice drawing the Carbon cycle

Answer 26

(look up diagram)

Question 27

Finish the lyrics! Nitrogen is essential for all life on earth as it is a major component of...

Answer 27

AMINO ACIDS (the building blocks of life, make protein)

Question 28

What are the main stores of the nitrogen cycle

Answer 28

- atmosphere - soil organic matter - ocean - terrestrial plant biomass

Question 29

what is the biggest nitrogen store? + percentage

Answer 29

- the atmosphere - nitrogen makes up 78% of atmospheric gas

Question 30

How is nitrogen in the atmosphere *useless*

Answer 30

Plants can only take in nitrogen in solid form

Question 31

How does the majority of nitrogen come to terrestrial ecosystems (process) (HINT REINA: 3 processes y las iniciales son BF, PF, A)

Answer 31

Biological fixation: Bacteria transform nitrogen into ammonium Physical fixation ⚡: - the lightning process - **Lightning** has enough energy to transform atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen oxides, which then combine with moisture in the air to form nitrates that can enter the soil in rainwater Ammonification of organic material: - Decomposers such as fungi and bacteria breakdown dead organic matter and turn the nitrogen into ammonium, ready for nitrification.

Question 32

How does nitrogen leave the ecosystem? (HINT REINA: 3 processes y las iniciales son D,L,C)

Answer 32

Denitrification - Special bacteria remove nitrates from the soil, convert them into nitrous oxides or N2 gas and release them back into the atmosphere Leaching - dissolve the soluble nitrates and wash them out of the soil Combustion - releases nitrogen locked up in organic material as nitrogen oxide or nitrogen dioxide. Dictionary

Question 33

How do humans impact the nitrogen cycle? (importante) (Hint: son 4 )

Answer 33

1. Fossil fuel combustion and forest fires 2. Draining of wetlands 3. Use of inorganic fertilizers 4. Livestock release ammonia

Question 34

How do fossil fuel combustion and forest fires the nitrogen cycle

Answer 34

Increases nitrogen oxides → which contributes to acid rain and photochemical smog

Question 35

How do draining of wetlands affect the nitrogen cycle

Answer 35

Reduces denitrification (denitrification takes place in wetlands) and thus less nitrogen enters the atmosphere

Question 36

How do the use of inorganic fertilizers affect the nitrogen cycle

Answer 36

Inorganic fertilizers use ammonia Ammonia is made using the Haber-Bosch process, which takes nitrogen from the atmosphere. this removes 90 million tonnes of nitrogen from the atmosphere each year Increases denitrification and leaching and it can lead to **eutrophication** in water bodies