Chapter 22 Flashcards
Name all the earth layers
Geosphere
Hydrosphere
Atmosphere
Biosphere
Define Geosphere
An earth layer that consists of rocks and land
Define hydrosphere
An earth layer that consists of all the water bodies such as oceans
Define Atmosphere
An earth layer that consists of mixture of gasses above the hydrosphere and geosphere
Define Biosphere
An earth layer that is the part of earth where life exists
List some of the gases of the atmosphere with percentages
78% nitrogen
21% oxygen
1% other gases (such as water vapor and carbon dioxide)
What is the rule that relates to the gases in the atmosphere
The higher the altitude, the denser these molecules become (the proportions stay the same)
However, this rule doesn’t apply to a gas called Ozone (O3)
Define the ozone layer and it’s importance
The ozone layer absorbs most of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation before it reaches the earth’s surface, protecting organisms from DNA mutations.
Explain the greenhouse effect.
Energy sun reaches the earths surface as light and may leave the earth surface as heat some of the atmospheric gases radiate this heat back towards earth surface.green house effect is the ability of the atmosphere to trap atmospheric gases
How does co2 and methane (ch4) enter the atmosphere
Co2 enters the atmosphere through cellular respiration, photosynthesis and burning organic matters (fossil fuel)
Define biodiversity
Different forms of life within a given area and their interactions
What are the types of biodiversity
Species diversity
Genetic diversity
Define species diversity
Species richness and Species evenness
What is species richness and evenness
Species richness: total number of species within the area.
Species evenness: how are the species within a given area distributed.
Define genetic diversity
Amount of variations in the genetic material within all members of the population.
It is important for natural selection.
What are the types of pollution
Ozone thinning
Global warming
Acid precipitation
Land and water pollution
Define smog
When Pollution is so much it becomes visible.
Water vapor mixed with polluted chemicals.
How is ozone produced
When nitrous oxide reacts with oxygen in air under sunlight.
What is ozone thinning
The ozone layer can be destroyed by chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) a human-made chemical.
One single CFC molecule could catalyze the breakdown of 100,000 ozone molecules.
What is CFCs
Chlorofluorocarbons which is a human made chemical that significantly damages the ozone layer.
It was used in refrigerators back in the late 90s.
What is global warming?
Long term heating of the earth’s surface.
How does global warming happen?
Happens due to:
1) generating power
2) Cutting down forests
3) Using transportation
4) producing food
5) consuming too much such as (cows)
What are the impacts of global warming?
Decrease in biodiversity, changes in the weather pattern.
What is acid precipitation?
Air pollutants combine with water in the atmosphere and forms acid.
What are the effects of acid precipitation?
Increased acidity in soil and water.
Define biological magnification
A process in which chemicals become more concentrated as you go higher up in the food chain.
What is ecosystem disruption?
Extinction
Define Keystone species
Some species that affect the survival of other species in a community.
What are the causes of extinction?
-Habitat destruction
-Hunting
-Harvesting
-Transfer of an invasive species into new habitats.
-Humans
Define ecological footprint
Analysis of human impact on ecosystems.
How does a country reduce its ecological footprint without harming its financial situation?
Recycle
Using electric cars, bicycles , and walking more.
***** NOT SOLAR PANELS (THEY ARE EXPENSIVE)
What are the two types of biologists that take care of the ecosystem?
Conservation biologists
Restoration biologists
What do Conservation biologists do?
Identify, protect and manage natural areas that still retain biodiversity.
What do restoration biologists do?
Deals with extreme cases of ecosystem damage.
What are bioindicators and it’s importance?
Species that are very sensitive to ecological change.
They can give us warnings of environmental issues and identifies the source of pollution.
Examples of bioindicators?
Fish, lichen , frogs , worms…
How do debt-for-nature swaps work
The creditor government cancels or reduces the debt of the debtor government in exchange for the debtor government to do environmental projects.
Which of the following is the term for the parts of earth where water is located?
Biosphere
Geosphere
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Hydrosphere
