Chapter 4- Environment Flashcards
True or false
The atmosphere is made up of gases.
True!
Facts: nitrogen - 76%
: oxygen - 21%
: carbon dioxide - 0.6%
: other gases - 2.4
The atmosphere
The mass of air surrounding the earth.
What are the four layers of the atmosphere?
Inosphere
Stratosphere
Troposphere
Lower atmosphere
True or false
The atmosphere shields us from the land and supplies water for the land
True! All life on earth depends on the atmosphere.
Hydrosphere
All of the water vapour and bodies of water that cover most of earth’s surface.
True or false
The surface of the earth is 30% water ans 70% land
False! Switch that around…. 70% water and 30% land.
True or false
Oceans supply most of the precipitation that falls on land
True! They’re known as giant resevoirs.
The lithosphere
The outer solid part of earth, including the crust and the upper mantle.
Why is the lithosphere useful?
It supplies us with nutrients needed to grow crops and with other natural resources such as metals and oils.
The biosphere
Life zone of the earth
True or false
The biosphere doesnt overlap with any other spheres
False! It overlaps with 3 spheres: lower layers of the atmosphere, first few meters of the lithosphere and allmof the hydrosphere.
The nitrogen cycle
The continous series of natural processes by which nitrogen gases pass through land air and water.
What sre the major components of air?
Nitrogen, carbon dioxide and oxygen
What is the greatest threat/cause to ozone depletion?
US!! When humans use appliances , such as spray cans, we release ozone destroying chemicals ( chlorine, fluorine, and hydrocarbons) into the atmosphere.
Global warming:
What causes a higher average temperatures, the release of more carbon dioxide and other changes and gases into the atmosohere and earth’s systems??
Burning fossil fuels! ): this is also called the greenhouse effect.
