chapter 1 Flashcards
intro
What are the 5 earth spheres?
atmo
geo
bio
hydro
cryo
Atmosphere
envelope of gases held to earth by gravity
Geosphere
all the solid rock material, sediment, and molten rock from the surface down to the core.
Hydrosphere
all liquid water at the surface (rivers, lakes, oceans, etc.) as well as groundwater.
Cryosphere
all solid ice in the form of glaciers, snowcaps, sea ice, permafrost, etc.
Biosphere
all living organisms on planet Earth
Anthroposphere
the parts of the environment that are influenced or modified by human activity.
Flux
Energy change from one sphere to another
What are the top 2 most abundant gases and their percentages in the atmosphere?
Nitrogen 78%
Oxygen 21%
What drives atmospheric circulation?
solar radiation
Coriolis force (earth rotation)
What are the three materials that make up the geosphere?
Magma/lava
Solid rock
sediment
What drives geosphere circulation?
convection
What drives circulation in the hydrosphere?
Evaporation and precipitation
Thermo-haline circulation
What is meant by “thermo-haline” circulation?
colder and saltier water is denser; warmer and less salty water is more buoyant.
Why do we separate the cryosphere from the hydrosphere?
Ice and snow have distinct interactions with the other earth spheres that are unique
