BIOPHYSICAL INTERACTIONS & CORAL REEFS Flashcards
1
Q
Atmosphere
A
blanket of gases surrounding Earth to provide air to breather and protection from heat and radiation
2
Q
Lithosphere
A
Earth’s solid outer shell; the topography of the land
3
Q
Biosphere
A
Earth’s surface zone which contains all living creatures and plants
4
Q
Hydrosphere
A
the interconnecting system of water storage in the lithosphere, atmosphere and biosphere
5
Q
Ecosystem
A
interaction between living and non-living elements operating in dynamic equilibrium
dynamic equilibrium: constantly changing and adapting to change to reach
6
Q
Troposphere
A
- layer closest to earth
- with increased altitude, air temp. and air pressure drop
- contains all water vapour and dust in atmosphere
- clouds and weather patterns formed
7
Q
Climate
A
patterns of temperature, precipitation, etc
8
Q
Weather
A
daily changes in atmospheric conditions
9
Q
Factors for global variation in climate
A
- variation in sunlight insolation: sun energy most direct, concentrated and consistent near the equator
- rotation on axis –> day and night, revolution around sun –> seasons, tilt of earth means some areas will always get more sunlight than others
- composition of atmosphere (greenhouse gases absorbing heat, volcanic eruptions, water vapour)
- distribution of continents and oceans: warm vs cold currents, proximity to ocean
- topography: mountain ranges greating orographic rainfall and rain shadows
10
Q
Human impacts on atmosphere
A
- CO2 emmisions from cars, factories, households, etc. –> enhanced greenhouse effect and global warming
- acid rain from sulphuric and nitric acid from factories: wet –> acid deposition in rain, fog, snow, etc., dry –> acidic gases and dust eat into sandstone, buildings, cars, etc.
- CFCs deteriorating ozone layer (Aus & Antarc.) –> layer of protection from UV rays removed –> Aus highest rate of skin cancer in world
11
Q
Convectional rainfall
A
energy of sun hits Earth’s surface –> evaporates water –> warm moist air rises and cools –> condenses into clouds –> water droplets form precipitation as weight of clouds grow
lasts for a short period of time, mainly close to the tropics
12
Q
Orographic rainfall
A
warm, moist air travels up mt. on windward side (changes temp. and pressure) –> condenses into water vapour and forms cumulus clouds (rain & thunder) –> dry air descends on other side of mt., rain shadow
influenced by ocean currents
13
Q
Coastal change processes
A
- Hydraulic action: waves hit rocks and traps air, rocks to crack overtime
- Abrasion: small pebbles and sand rub against base of cliffs to smooth and erode using friction
- Attrition: broken pieces of rock collide to break down into smaller sediments
- Solution: acids in water dissolves rocks (limestone)
14
Q
Cold ocean currents
A
- originates from Arctic and Antarctic circles
- mainly on west coast of continents
- rich in oxygen and marine life
- Humboldt Current: rich in anchovies, west coast of N and S America, created Atacama Desert
- west coast of Aus: tuna
15
Q
Warm ocean currents
A
- creates coral reefs (GBR)
- east coast of continents
- influences the south due to climate change - El Nino and El Nina
16
Q
Human impacts on the hydrosphere
A
- industrial runoff: agricultural –> fertilisers and herbicides: phosphates, nitrates, petrochemicals, silt –> carries nutrients and allows crops to grow, but pollutes water: sedimentation dries out waterways, excess blue green algae reduce O2 for animals, excess mercury bioaccumulation
- overfishing: resource depletion, ecosystem imbalance, aquatic pollution
- dams: reduce waterflow and disrupts natural waterways, cold water pollution, vertical stratification, straightens river (faster flowing, frequent and severe floods)
17
Q
Tectonic plates
A
- moves via convection currents in the magma in the mantle
- divergent: moves apart, forms mountain ridges, volcanic activity (Iceland)
- convergent: subduction, destructive, forms trenches, volcanic activity (Himalayas)
- transform: sliding, conservative, no formations or volcanic activity
- most active: Ring of Fire (Hawaii - island hotspots, fertile soil)
18
Q
Human impacts on lithosphere
A
- deforestation –> erosion –> weak water banks –> flooding –> plants and animals displaced
- mining
- runoff and waste increases acidity and destroys soil quality
- CO2 emissions –> chemical weathering and erosion
19
Q
Global vegetation patterns
A
- climate (precipitation, temperature, light, wind)
- topography (slope, aspect, altitude (1km up = 6.5 degrees colder))
- edaphic (changes soil acidity, mineral content, texture colour etc)
- biotic (plant competition, animal relationships)
20
Q
Human impacts on biosphere
A
- deforestation: destroys habitats, food chains, ecosystems, etc.
21
Q
Coral polyps and zooxanthallae
A
- symbiotic / mutualistic relationship
- polyps: small animal that secretes hard outer shell of limestone that attaches to rock or dead polyps –> gives algae protection, CO2 and nutrients for photosynthesis
- zooxanthallae: lives inside coral polyps –> gives coral oxygen, carbohydrates, bright colour, waste removal
- coral polyps expel zooxanthellae if temp. exceeds 29 to conserve energy to photosynthesise –> coral bleaching –> coral dies if occurs for over a month
22
Q
Benefits of coral reefs
A
- biodiversity: 25% of ocean’s fish depends on healthy coral reefs
- protects coastlines from storms and erosion
- provides tourism, jobs, recreation
- cultural value
23
Q
Coral ideal growth and function
A
- depth: 35m
- temp.: 26 deg. (bleaches above 31)
- high solar radiation for photosynthesis
- low nutrient water to maintain low algae growth
- saline water
- circulating water
24
Q
Location of coral reefs
A
- tropical waters near equator - Indo-Pacific region (GBR) has 91.9% of world’s coral reefs
- Australia: GBR (high biodiversity, good managment / developed country)
- Phillipines (2nd largest reef but high dynamite and cyanide fishing –> killing coral and fish, bioaccumulation)
- Fiji (2/3 at risk from overfishing, coastal development, logging, and erosion)
- St Kitts (black line algae: semi and untreated human waste, stop photosynthesis, developing country)
25
Q
Developing countries and coral reefs
A
- Coral reefs are mainly found in developing countries
- low income –> lack of food –> exploitation of fish
- making money from the reefs –> destruction of coral
- slums with poor sewerage and waste systems –> algae blooms, sunlight is blocked, kills coral
- lack of government control, funding, and protection
- coastal development for large amounts of tourism leads to erosion and silt / sedimentation
26
Q
Types of coral reefs
A
- fringing: along coast, shallow water
- barrier: paraller to shore but separated by lagoon or body of water
- atoll: ring shaped surrounding undersea volcano that rose to the surface
- patch: isolated patches that vary in size and grow from the bottom of continental shelves
- cays: spit of sand
27
Q
Hard coral
A
- Elkhorn: Caribbean, can grow up to 3.7m long and 1.8m high, groups called thickets, habitat for marine animals e.g. Caribbean Reef Octopus, threatened by white band disease, climate change, pollution, unsustainable fishing
- Open brain coral: threatened due to use for home fish tanks, many fluro colours, Indo-Pacific
28
Q
Soft coral
A
- Xenia coral: fastest growing soft coral, unique: uses “hands” to “pulse” water away, found in shallow seas under bright light and mid to high tide
- Nepthea coral: branching with very fine polyps, flexible structure, Indo-Pacific (Fiji, Solomon Islands)
29
Q
Human impacts on GBR
A
- climate change –> ocean warming –> coral bleaching
- tropical cyclones: (naturally good for upwelling cold water, reducing coral bleaching, allowing new growth), strong winds –> rough seas –> breakage, rain –> reduced salinity –> increases runoff and sedimentation
- COTS: occur naturally but outbreaks occur: run off, overfishing, global warming
- pollution and water quality: overgrazing, erosion, chemical agricultural runoff –> eutrophication: oxygen supply is limited, so phytoplankton thrives which COTS larvae consumes and grows
30
Q
Impacts of deforestation
A
- hydrosphere: increased ocean acidity due to excess CO2 in waterways and carbon sinks –> kills minerals and alters marine life food chains
- atmosphere: CO2 emissions –> enhanced greenhouse effect –> warming of earth and atmosphere
- lithosphere: damages land + no vegetation –> erosion
- biosphere: loss of biodiversity, habitats
31
Q
Impacts of agricultural and industrial runoff
A
- hydrosphere: silt and sedimentation from farming and pest/herbicides polluting waterways –> change of depth, blue green alage
- atmosphere: dry acid rain (gases and dust carried by wind breaks down sandstone, buildings, cars, etc.)
- lithosphere: chemical and physical erosion, degradation of soil quality, mining ruining land forms
- biosphere: pest/herbicides and mercury killing plants and animals / bioaccumulation
