Earth and Space Flashcards

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1
Q

4 spheres

A

1- Lithosphere
2- Hydrosphere
3- Atmosphere
4- Biosphere(biomass= used to grown corn releases ethanol)

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2
Q

what is the lithosphere

A
  • crust+upper mantle
  • outershell of the earth
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3
Q

What is in the lithosphere

A
  • building materials
  • metals
  • jewlery stones
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4
Q

soil

A
  • thin surface layer on crust
  • at risk (not enough)
  • compost more
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5
Q

Permafrost

A
  • 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
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6
Q

Problems with Melting Permafrost

A
  • 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

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7
Q

Lithosphere Energy Sources

A

FF, Uranium, Geothermal

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8
Q

FF

how does it generate E + combustion of FF consequences

non renweabel

A
  • 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

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9
Q

Uranium

Non renewable

A
  • 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

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10
Q

Geothermic

renewable

A
  • 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= $$$
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11
Q

Hydrosphere

state? how much? where?

the layer of water

A

state=
1. underground -L
2. in air -G
3. Glaciers -S
- 2.5% of water= fresh + 79% is frozen
- found in rivers, lakes, groundwater

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12
Q

Watersheds

A
  • 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
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13
Q

Factors that slow down or speed up water flow in a watershed

A
  • 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)
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14
Q

WHy are watersheds important

A
  • used for drinking water, transportation
  • provide habitats
  • natural drainage
  • beautiful(id think thats important)
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15
Q

Water Contaminants

+sources

A
  • Chemical= N, bleach, salts, metals, toxins
  • biological contaminants= microbes (bacteria/viruses)
  • Indirect source= from soil + rainwater
  • soil= agricultural practices (fertilizers, pesticides)
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16
Q

Factors that influenece water T of Oceans

A
  • Depth
  • Seasons
  • Latitude(distance from equator)
  • Salinity
17
Q

thermo-cline layer of ocean

A

transitional zone of water

18
Q

How seasons affect ocean T

A
  • winter oceans lose some of the HE they stored in summer
  • water loses heat slower than land- 1g water needs 4.19J to raise T
19
Q

Latitude

A
  • equator temp =25C-28C
  • horozontal lines are paralel
20
Q

Salinity

A

seawater pounds against the rocks of the lithosphere and dissolved salts(minerals)
- 3.4 - 3.7% m/v= salinity of ocean

21
Q

Ocean Circulation

A
  • Current= movment of seawater
  • surface currents + subsurface currents
  • ocean circulation is the effect of all currents
22
Q

Suface Currents

A
  • wind driven
  • move 400m deep
  • QC ex: GULF STREAM
23
Q

Subsurface currents

A
  • variations in density of water
  • denser water the deeper it sinks
24
Q

Factors that effect denisity of water

A
  1. Temperature (the colder the more dense)
  2. Salinity (the higher salt conc the more dense)
25
Q

Thermo-haline Circulation

Thermo(HE) + Haline (salt)

A
  • surface and subsurface currents like a converyor belt at an airport
  • moves water around world
  • responsible for major transfer of heat
  • lessens the diff btw equator+other locations
26
Q

The Cryosphere

Frozen water

A
  • where water is found as a solid
  • ex: pack ice, glaciers, frozen lakes+rivers, snow, ice in permafrost
27
Q

Pack Ice

A
  • Ice floating on the water
  • Huge slabs of ice on surface of the water
  • doesnot contribut to wtising sea levels
  • major problem for animals
28
Q

Glaciers

A

Frozen water on land
- glaciers lie on land not float on water
- some on mountain peaks
- contain 79% freshwater
- icebergs= break off peices of glacier
- ice falling into ocean ↑water level= ↑water flooding

29
Q

how glaciers contribute to dillution of ocean

A

↓the conc of a solution by adding H2O (when icebergs in water melt= dillution)

30
Q

How is less saline of ocean a problem

A

less saline= less dense= slowing of ocean currents = climate change

31
Q

how do hydro dams work

A
  • dam gates open
  • water rushes into large pipes that lead to turbine
  • force of water spins turbine
  • alternates generator (ME–>EE)
32
Q

how do Hydro dams impact enviroment

A

when it was built the land was floaded–> methyl (Hg) in the soil went into water (bioaccumulation of Hg in food chains

33
Q

How to generate energy with waves and ocean currents

A
  • buoys that rise and fall with waves create movement
  • turns turbine underwater
  • destroys animals
34
Q

Pollution and Degradation in hydrosphere

A
  • human activites
  • endanger quality of drinking water
  • factories discharge warm water= ↑ T + ↓ O2 conc (thermal pollution)
35
Q

what is eutrophication

A

Algae that feed on nutrients grow into unsightly scum on the water surface, decreasing recreational value and clogging water-intake pipes

  • farming activities= excess fertilisers+pestiside runoff inot lakes+river= ↑ algae growth= eutrophication
36
Q

Consequences of Eutrophication

A
  • algae blooms= blocks sunlight–> plants die
  • natural waters loose O2 because bacteria use it to decompose algae
37
Q

Threats at Sea

A
  • 6mil tonnes of petroleum are discharged into ocean every year
  • hydrocarbons float on the water surface and pollute coastlines
38
Q

GHG

A
  • H2O
  • CO2
  • CH4
  • N2O