Earth's Life Support System

Question 1

Ubiquitous

Answer 1

Being present, found or appearing everywhere

Question 2

Cryosphere

Answer 2

Any area where water exists as snow and/or ice. This can be on land, frozen lakes and rivers as well as sea ice

Question 3

Aquifers

Answer 3

Rocks such as chalk and some sandstones that can store and transmit water

Question 4

Peat

Answer 4

Partly decomposed organic matter that has accumulated in waterlogged and therefore anaerobic conditions.

Question 5

Phytoplankton

Answer 5

are tiny, sometimes microscopic, plant organisms that float and drift in the oceans, capturing the sun’s energy through photosynthesis

Question 6

Dew-Point

Answer 6

The temperature at which air becomes fully saturated. Further cooling results in condensation

Question 7

Cumulus

Answer 7

Clouds that have flat bases and extend vertically up through the atmosphere. Some can be 10-15km from top to bottom.

Question 8

Stratus

Answer 8

Clouds exist as a widespread dense horizontal layer

Question 9

Cirrcus

Answer 9

Clouds are made up of ice crystals and have a wispy appearance

Question 10

Environmental lapse rate (ELR)

Answer 10

The actual change in temperature at any given place or time. What would be measured by a thermometer carried upwards by a balloon. (6.5 degrees Celsius per km)

Question 11

Dry adiabatic lapse rate (DALR)

Answer 11

Change in temperature of a parcel of dry air rising up through he atmosphere when no condensation occurs (10 degrees Celsius per km)

Question 12

Saturated Adiabatic lapse rate (SALR)

Answer 12

Change in temperature of a parcel of air rising up through the atmosphere when condensation is occurring. Lower rate than DALR because condensation releases latent heat.

Question 13

Water table

Answer 13

Boundary between saturated and unsaturated conditions underground

Question 14

Calving

Answer 14

occurs when glacier reaches the sea and the ice masses break and float off

Question 15

Anthropogenic

Answer 15

Caused by human activities

Question 16

Biomass

Answer 16

Biological material derived from living or recently living organisms. In the context of power generation it is usually plant material

Question 17

Biogenic Co2

Answer 17

Produced by respiration and decomposition of organisms in the soil