C2-5 Sulfur Cycle Flashcards
It plays a vital rle in organisms, especially as a minor but essential component of proteins
sulfur
are important determinants of the aciditiy of rainfall, surface water and soil
sulfur compounds
sulfur in particles and tiny, airborne droplets may act as _____
critical regulators of global climate
most of the earth’s sulfur is tied up underground in
rocks and minerals
inorganic sulfur are released into the air and water through
weathering, emissions from deep seafloor vents and volcanic eruptions
responsible for many of sulfur transformation
inorganic processes
they sequester sulfur in biogenic deposits or release it into the environment
living organisms, especially bacteria
large quantities of sulfur are released by ______
human activities, primarily through burning fossil fuels.
it is a serious problem in many areas
acid rain
these cause human health problems, damage buildings and vegetation and reduce visibility
sulfur dioxide and sulfate aerosols
these also absorb ultraviolet radiation and create cloud cover that cools cities and ay be offsetting greenhouse effects of rising CO2 concentrations
sulfur dioxide and sulfate aerosols
interestingly, they play a role in global climate regulation
biogenic sulfur emissions of oceanic phytoplankton
when ocean water is warm, tiny, single-celled organisms release
dimenthyl sulfide (DMS), which is oxidized to SO2 and then SO4 2- in the atmosphere
these increase the earth’s albedo (reflectivity) and cool the earth
sulfate aerosols
Pythoplankton activity decreases, DMS productin falls and clouds disappear when
ocean temperatures drop because of less sunlight getting through the earth
