3.4 - 4.1 - cycles of matter & climate

Question 1

What happens to matter within the ecosystem?

Answer 1

Unlike the one way flow of energy, matter is recycled within and between ecosystems.

Question 2

What is the biogeochemical cycle?

Answer 2

Elements pass from one organism to another and among parts of the biosphere through closed loops.

Question 3

What happens to matter as it is cycles through the ecosystem?

Answer 3

Matter is never created nor destroyed => it is just altered/recycled/reused

Question 4

Process involved in the biogeochemical cycles: In the Biological aspect, what’s happening?

Answer 4

All activities are performed by living organisms.

Question 5

Process involved in the biogeochemical cycles: What’s happening in the Geological aspect?

Answer 5

There are major movements of matter within and below the surface of the Earth.

Question 6

Process involved in the biogeochemical cycles: What does the Chemical & Physical aspect include?

Answer 6

Formation of clouds and precipitation, flow of running water, and lightening.

Question 7

Process involved in the biogeochemical cycles: What is the human aspect?

Answer 7

It is activities that affect cycles of matter at a global level.

Question 8

What is the Water Cycle?

Answer 8

The movement of water throughout the biosphere.

Question 9

What does every organism depend upon?

Answer 9

Nutrients

Question 10

What are the 3 key nutrients?

Answer 10

Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus.

Question 11

Biosphere: (CO2 Deposited): What are the fossil fuels?

Answer 11

Coal, oil, and natural gas.

Question 12

Biosphere: (CO2 Deposited): Emissions and what else?

Answer 12

Animal respiration.

Question 13

Biosphere: (CO2 Deposited): What kind of carbon?

Answer 13

Organic carbon.

Question 14

Biosphere: (CO2 Withdrawn): What is going through photosynthesis?

Answer 14

Plants and some bacteria.

Question 15

Biosphere: (CO2 Withdrawn): What does CO2 do? Where does it go?

Answer 15

CO2 dissolves in oceans and returns to the atmosphere.

Question 16

What is Climate?

Answer 16

The average conditions of an area over a long period of time.

Question 17

What is the 1st factor that impacts climate?

Answer 17

Solar energy trapped in the biosphere.

Question 18

What is the 2nd factor that impacts climate?

Answer 18

Latitude - receives direct energy.

Question 19

What is the 3rd factor that impacts climate?

Answer 19

Transport of heat by the wind and ocean currents.

Question 20

How is the Earth’s average temperature calculated?

Answer 20

The balance between heat that stays in the biosphere and heat that is lost to space determines Earth’s average temperature.

Question 21

The balance is controlled by the concentration of 3 gases in the atmosphere. What are these 3 gases?

Answer 21

CO2, Methane, and Water Vapor.

Question 22

What are the 3 gases (CO2, Methane, and Water Vapor) called collectively?

Answer 22

Greenhouse Effect

Question 23

What is the process of the Greenhouse Effect?

Answer 23

The gases function like glass in a greenhouse, allowing visible light to enter but trapping heat. If greenhouse concentrations rise, they trap more heat. So the Earth warms. If their concentrations fall, more heat escapes. So the Earth cools.

Question 24

What is the climate also affected by?

Answer 24

The proximity towards the equator.

Question 25

Why are the polars of the Earth cooler than the equator?

Answer 25

The solar energy is spread out over the poles, and more focused over the equator.

Question 26

Is the amount of solar energy consistent throughout the year at the equator and at the poles?

Answer 26

Yes. Near the equator, solar energy is intense because the sun is almost directly overhead at noon all year. Curvature of Earth causes the same amount of solar energy to out over a much larger area near the poles than near the equator.

Question 27

Is the Polar part of the earth Fluctuating or Consistent? Explain.

Answer 27

Fluctuating: During winter, the sun is a lot less intense.

Question 28

Is the Temperate part of the earth Fluctuating or Consistent? Explain.

Answer 28

Fluctuating: During winter, the sun is a lot less intense.

Question 29

Where are the Polar parts of the Earth?

Answer 29

At the very top and the very bottom.

Question 30

Where are the Temperate parts of the Earth?

Answer 30

On both sides right on the insides of the Polar parts of the earth (the Polar parts are at the top).

Question 31

Where are the Tropics of the Earth?

Answer 31

In the very middle.

Question 32

Where does evaporation come from?

Answer 32

It goes up from the water.

Question 33

Where does transpiration come from?

Answer 33

Up out of the ground, and into the clouds.

Question 34

Where is condensation?

Answer 34

In the clouds, and it can form on the outsides of cups and bottles filled with cold liquid.

Question 35

What is precipitation?

Answer 35

It is rain; it comes out of the clouds.

Question 36

Where is runoff?

Answer 36

It comes out of the mountains and goes into ponds/lakes/oceans/rivers.

Question 37

Is the polar part of the Earth fluctuation or consistent?

Answer 37

Fluctuating: During winter, the sun is a lot less intense.

Question 38

Are the tropics fluctuating or consistent?

Answer 38

Consistent: There is intense sunlight all year round.