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Biology > 4.4 > Flashcards

4.4 Flashcards

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1
Q

which gases have the greater impacts on the green house effect

A

carbon dioxide and water vapour

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2
Q

what does it mean that the earth is a closed system

A

not much escapes its gravity and atmosphere, meaning the amount of carbon dioxide and water on this planet is finite, the state of the molecules can change.

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3
Q

what are the two ways carbon dioxide is taken out o f the atmosphere

A

by photosynthesis and by dissolving in oceans and lakes

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4
Q

what are greenhouse gases

A

gases found in the atmosphere such as water value, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxides, that contribute to the greenhouse effect.

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5
Q

what is water vapour

A

water found in the atmosphere in a gaseous form, It is the most abundant greenhouse gas

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6
Q

what is carbon dioxide

A

a gas found in the atmosphere that is a main greenhouse gas

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7
Q

green house gases

A 
water vapour 60% 
carbon dioxide 26%
methane 4.4%
1.5% N2O 
0.1 others
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8
Q

how does a gas contribute to the greenhouse effect

A

it needs to be able to absorb longer wavelength radiation such as methane and nitrous oxides that can absorb longer wavelength or infrared radiation.

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9
Q

how does methane contribute to the greenhouse effect

A

traps 20% more heat than the same amount of carbon dioxide and causes faster warming of the planet

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10
Q

how does methane occur

A

naturally, by escaping from melting ice and tundra in the arctic

it escapes from landfills and marshes and is it produced by cattle

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11
Q

how are nitrous oxides emitted

A

by certain bacteria, small quantities may also be produced by lightning during thunderstorms

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12
Q

which animal emits the most tonnes of CO2

A

cattle

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13
Q

how much is the volume of greenhouse gases in the earths atmosphere

A

less than 1%

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14
Q

why is the earths atmosphere warmed

A

because certain gases in the atmosphere absorb radiation and retain heat

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15
Q

two factors that determine how much a greenhouse gas will contribute to global warming are

A

ability to absorb long wave radiation, abundance in atmosphere

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16
Q

why do some gases cause a greenhouse effect but not others

A

some gases can absorb longer wavelengths of light and re-emit them as heat.

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17
Q

step one of the greenhouse effect

A
  1. solar radiation from the sun spans the electromagnetic spectrum from approximately 100 to 4000 nanometers (nm) with visible light compromising about 44% of its emissions. After passing through the ozone layer, the layer of the atmosphere that blocks UV ration but is not considered a greenhouse gas, only short wavelength radiation form the sun reaches the earths surface. Some of the short wavelength radiation is reflected but most passes though the greenhouse gases to the earths surface.
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18
Q

step two of the greenhouse effect

A

the earth absorbs some of this shortwave radiation while some if reflected. This absorbed radiation is then re-emitted, mainly as infrared hear, which is a long wave radiation,

19
Q

step 3 and 4 of the greenhouse effect

A
  1. part of this longer wavelength radiation escapes earth’s atmosphere into space, however, much of it is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
  2. The greenhouse gases re-remit the absorbed light in all directions as heat. Some of this radiation is re-emitted towards the earth, thus contributing to global warming .
20
Q

what is radiation

A

energy that may be a subatomic particle, for example an electron (gamma rays) or in the form of an electromagnetic wave, for example ultraviolet radiation

21
Q

what is solar radiation

A

energy from the sun that comes in the form of electromagnetic waves. This includes many types of waves such as visible with or ultraviolet light

22
Q

what is the ozone layer

A

03 is a layer of the earths atmosphere that protects the Earth from ultraviolet radiation coming from the sun. It is not considered a greenhouse gas because it does not absorb long wave radiation

23
Q

What is UV radiation

A

ultraviolet radiation is a type of shortwave radiation coming from the sun, but is filtered out by the ozone layer of the atmosphere.

24
Q

What is long-wavelength radiation

A

also known as infrared light, a type of radiation that is emitted from the Earth and its atmosphere. Examples include, microwaves and radiowaves.

25
Q

what is short wavelength radiation

A

this type of radiation comes from the sun in the form of visible light and ultraviolet light. It is absorbed by the Earth and re-emitted as long-wavelength radiation.

26
Q

what is infrared

A

a type of long-wavelength radiation that is given off from the Earth in the form of heat.

27
Q

what is global warming

A

the warming of the Earth and its atmosphere due to the intensified greenhouse effect.

28
Q

how is retention of heat in the atmosphere caused

A

Longwave radiation emitted by the Earth’s surface is first absorbed by greenhouse gases and then re-emitted

29
Q

how cold would the earth be if we did not have any greenhouse gases

A

-18degrees Celsius

30
Q

is the total impact of methane more or less than carbon dioxide

A

lower as even though it has a much greater warming effect than carbon dioxide measured per molecule, the atmospheric methane concentration is much lower, so its total impact is lower as well.

31
Q

which two gases have the greatest impact on the greenhouse effect

A

carbon dioxide and water vapour

32
Q

what type of radiation does the earth absorb and emit

A

absorbs short wavelength and emits long wavelength

33
Q

implications of the earths climate

A

climate change

rising seawater

los of habitats

biotic factors

34
Q

what is the climate

A

long-term weather patterns in an area or region

35
Q

what is climate change

A

changes in the long-term weather patterns in an area of region due to the intensified greenhouse effect

36
Q

how does combustion o fossil fuel take place

A 
in vehicles for transport
when homes are heated
during the production of electricity 
in factories powered by fossil fuels 
burning of forests for clearing
37
Q

what is the precautionary principle

A

burden of proof - states that even without concrete evidence of a causal relationship, precautionary measures should be taken to ensure that humans are not causing detrimental harm to the environment or human health

38
Q

what are coral reefs

A

a ridge in the ocean where living coral polyps attach and secrete calcium carbonate. Coral reefs are typically very diverse places found in warm shallow waters

39
Q

what is ocean acidification

A

the drop in pH of the ocean due to the absorption of carbon dioxide which forms carbonic acid. The H+ ions become dissociated from carbonic acid causing the water to become acidic.

40
Q

describe the process of acidification

A
  1. carbon dioxide is absorbed by the ocean
  2. CO2 is broken down and forms carbonic acid and hydrogen ions
  3. As hydrogen ions form bonds with carbonate atoms, bicarbonate atoms form. The concentration of carbonate atoms is reduced
  4. Shells and coral of marine life are calcium -based and organisms use carbonate atoms to build and maintain these structures.
41
Q

what does the lowered pH in oceans do

A

it increases the solubility of calcium carbonate decreasing the amount of Ca C)3 in the living organisms. Because it is used by marine organisms, if less is available, it will slow down the building of coral reefs and make them more brittle.

42
Q

what is calcification

A

the process used by mollusks, crustaceans and corals to build their shells and exoskeletons using calcium carbonate. Disrupts the food chain

43
Q

What is the main cause of the dissolution of the calcium carbonate exoskeletons?

A

oceans pH is dropping

44
Q

An increase in the concentration of dissolved carbon dioxide represents a threat for coral reefs because

A

it will reduce calcification in corals and make them more brittle

Biology (51 decks)

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