Climate change terms and concepts that I need to know Flashcards
what are the four spheres
- Atmosphere
- Biosphere
- Hydrosphere
- Geosphere
what is the Biosphere.
all living organisms and their interactions with the non-living environment, including the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.
all the water on Earth, including oceans, lakes, rivers, groundwater, ice, and water vapor in the atmosphere
Hydrosphere
what is the Geosphere.
all the solid, rocky parts of the Earth, from the surface down to its core, including rocks, minerals, and the processes that shape the Earth’s surface.
a layer of gases that surrounds the Earth, providing us with air to breathe, shielding us from harmful radiation, and helping regulate the planet’s temperature.
Atmosphere.
what is the Hydrosphere
all the water on Earth, including oceans, lakes, rivers, groundwater, ice, and water vapor in the atmosphere
all the solid, rocky parts of the Earth, from the surface down to its core, including rocks, minerals, and the processes that shape the Earth’s surface.
Geosphere
what is the Atmosphere.
a layer of gases that surrounds the Earth, providing us with air to breathe, shielding us from harmful radiation, and helping regulate the planet’s temperature.
all living organisms and their interactions with the non-living environment, including the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.
Biosphere
what is endothermic.
chemical reactions in which the reactants absorb heat energy from the surroundings to form products.
examples
photosynthesis, evaporating liquids, melting ice, dry ice, alkane cracking, thermal decomposition, ammonium chloride in water
what is exothermic.
chemical reactions, which release energy from the chemicals into the surroundings.
examples
Making of an Ice Cube. Making an ice cube is a process of liquid changing its state to solid.
Snow Formation in Clouds.
Burning of a Candle.
Rusting of Iron.
Burning of Sugar.
Water and Calcium Chloride.
What is endothermic and exothermic.
exothermic reactions release energy (usually as heat), while endothermic reactions absorb energy (usually as heat).
worded equation for photosynthesis.
carbon dioxide + water ~> glucose + oxygen
or
carbon dioxide+ water (light energy) ~> glucose + oxygen
number equation of photosynthesis.
6CO2 + 6H2O ~> C6 H12 O6 + O2
Carbon cycle
the natural process where carbon atoms move between the atmosphere, land, oceans, and living organisms, cycling through various forms and processes like photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition.
Carbon storage in carbon cycle
Atmosphere: Primarily as carbon dioxide (CO2).
Oceans: Dissolved CO2 and in the shells and skeletons of marine organisms.
Land: In plants, animals, soils, and fossil fuels.
Key process that happen in the carbon cycle.
part one
Photosynthesis: Plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and convert it into sugars for energy, storing carbon in their tissues.
Respiration: Living organisms release CO2 back into the atmosphere through respiration (breathing).
Decomposition: When organisms die, their carbon is released back into the environment through decomposition, where bacteria and fungi break down organic matter, releasing CO2 and other compounds.
key process in the carbon cycle.
part two
Combustion: Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) releases stored carbon as CO2 into the atmosphere.
Ocean Exchange: The ocean absorbs and releases CO2, acting as a significant carbon sink.
Geological Processes: Over long periods, carbon can be stored in rocks and sediments, and can be released through geological processes like volcanic activity.
respiration worded equation.
glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water + energy.
Green house gases.
The greenhouse effect is a natural process where the Earth’s atmosphere traps heat, keeping the planet warm enough for life.
enhanced greenhouse gases.
The enhanced greenhouse effect, on the other hand, is the strengthening of this natural process due to human activities, particularly the release of excessive greenhouse gases, leading to global warming.
why do we need the carbon cycle
it regulates Earth’s climate, supports life by facilitating the transfer of carbon between the atmosphere, oceans, and living organisms, and is essential for the functioning of ecosystems and biodiversity.
What is climate change.
long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.
