Chapter 2

Question 1

Isolated systems

Answer 1

An isolated system is a system that exchanges neither matter nor energy with its surroundings.

Question 2

Closed system

Answer 2

Neither gains nor loses matter to or from its surrounding, but it does exchange energy with surrounding systems.

Question 3

Atmosphere

Answer 3

Outermost system is a mixture of gases, but dominantly consists of nitrogen, followed by oxygen. Water vapour is the third but extremely variable.

Question 4

Hydrosphere

Answer 4

Includes the oceans, water on the surface of the land such as rivers and lakes, water in the form of snow and ice (including glaciers) and water that’s present in pore spaces within the Geosphere, known as groundwater.

Question 5

Cryosphere

Answer 5

System that includes only water in the solid state, ice.

Question 6

Biosphere

Answer 6

huge and exceedingly complex system comprising all the world’s living animals and plants, together with their non-living remains and products on the Earth’s surface.

Question 7

Anthroposphere

Answer 7

Humans and their products who have had an enormous impact on earth in the last few thousand years.

Question 8

Geosphere

Answer 8

Mostly made of solid chemical substances called minerals, that occur in mixtures that we know as rocks. 12,000 km across

Question 9

Core

Answer 9

Middle of the Geosphere and mostly liquid iron and source of Earth’s magnetic field.

Question 10

Mantle

Answer 10

Outside the core and solid consisting of magnesium, and iron silicate minerals, over 3000 km thick.

Question 11

Crust

Answer 11

Third layer, 5-75 km thick and is hugely varied.

Question 12

Geoscientists

Answer 12

What geologists and geophysicists are known as.

Question 13

Flux

Answer 13

Measured as an amount per unit time. Ex cubic metres per second.

Question 14

Forcings

Answer 14

If fluxes in and out of a reservoir are not equal, then the reservoir will change size over time.

Question 15

Largest reservoir of water

Answer 15

Marine water , oceans and seas. 96.5% of total 1,335,000,000 km3 of water

Question 16

2nd largest reservoir of water

Answer 16

Ice - ice sheets, ice caps and glaciers. 24,364,000km3 of water

Question 17

3rd largest reservoir of water

Answer 17

Groundwater 23,400,000 km3

Question 18

4th largest reservoir of water

Answer 18

Water on land surface. Rivers, lakes, wetlands. 190,000 km3

Question 19

5th largest reservoir of water

Answer 19

Water vapour in the atmosphere. 12,900 km3

Question 20

Evaporation

Answer 20

Transfer of water from the oceans to the atmosphere.

Question 21

Transpiration

Answer 21

Transfer of water from the leaves and other surfaces of plants to the atmosphere.

Question 22

Total water used by humans

Answer 22

11% or 4.400 km3 of surface water. with crops added in it goes to 22,400 km3/yr