Earth and Space Flashcards
4 spheres
1- Lithosphere
2- Hydrosphere
3- Atmosphere
4- Biosphere(biomass= used to grown corn releases ethanol)
what is the lithosphere
- crust+upper mantle
- outershell of the earth
What is in the lithosphere
- building materials
- metals
- jewlery stones
soil
- thin surface layer on crust
- at risk (not enough)
- compost more
Permafrost
- a layer of permanently frozen soil
- in northern areas and high altitudes
- Permafrost is ground whose T has been 0°C or lower for >2 years
- active layer of PF thaws in summer
- active layer is sensetive to T
- Global warming melts PF
- houses have to be built on piles that pass though active layer and sit directly on PF
Problems with Melting Permafrost
- destruction of houses, roads+other infastructures
- as PF thaws microbes begin decomposing the dead once frozen plant life - this process releases GHG ex: CO2 + CH4
- Methane is 20 x effective to ↑GHE
- ancient bacteria + viruses thaw= can make humans sick
methane bubbles up and can be set on fire think fire triangle
Lithosphere Energy Sources
FF, Uranium, Geothermal
FF
how does it generate E + combustion of FF consequences
non renweabel
- FF burnt to emit HE→boils water(steam) →turns turbine ME →generator EE
-emits CO2 = biggestGHG
-SO2 + NO= acid rain
-CH4=20 x more powerfull GHG than CO2
Uranium
Non renewable
- radioactive element=nucleus has too many neutrons
- splitting(fission of)nucleus produces ↑ amts of E→electricity
- Handfull U=70 000kg coal
- Pro= no GHG
- Con=radioactive waste lasts for 100-1000years
a huge amount of E is stored in the bonds btw the particles in the nucleus of an atom
Geothermic
renewable
- churning of the melted rock(earths core) Fe+Ni grenerates the Earths mag feild
- fluid is circulated deep underground-heats up-and rises back up to the surface
- converted to E or used to heat buildings
- found in volcanic regions
- Pro= reduces heating costs + CO2 emmisons
- Con= $$$
Hydrosphere
state? how much? where?
the layer of water
state=
1. underground -L
2. in air -G
3. Glaciers -S
- 2.5% of water= fresh + 79% is frozen
- found in rivers, lakes, groundwater
Watersheds
- catchment areas/drainage basins
- areas of land whose lakes and rivers all empty out into the same body of water
-highest part of watershed= watershed divides
Factors that slow down or speed up water flow in a watershed
- Tropography(shape of land)
- Geology (rock structure +depth)
- Climate (T, rain, snow, winds)
- Vegetation (density+diversity of plants)
- What the land is being used for (human cause)
WHy are watersheds important
- used for drinking water, transportation
- provide habitats
- natural drainage
- beautiful(id think thats important)
Water Contaminants
+sources
- Chemical= N, bleach, salts, metals, toxins
- biological contaminants= microbes (bacteria/viruses)
- Indirect source= from soil + rainwater
- soil= agricultural practices (fertilizers, pesticides)