Earth's Life Support Systems Flashcards
How much faster is the fast carbon cycle than the slow carbon cycles?
10^1000 times faster
How does CO2 in the ground get to the atmosphere in the fast carbon cycle?
By evaporation
How does CO2 in the atmosphere reach the ground in the fast carbon cycle?
Precipitation in the form of acid rain
Which two organisms in the ocean remove substantial amounts of carbon from the atmosphere through photosynthesis?
Sea kelp and phytoplankton
How significant are the stores of carbon in the atmosphere, plants and soil to the fast carbon cycle?
They are small and are not very significant but still require monitoring
Approximately how long is carbon stored for in the slow carbon cycle?
150 million years
How can CO2 reach the atmosphere in the slow carbon cycle?
Sedimentary rocks that are sub-ducted into the mantle melt and are released into the atmosphere in volcanic events, releasing carbon into the atmosphere
How can molluscs and crustaceans contribute to the slow carbon cycle?
They combine carbonate and calcium ions to form shells, most of which end up on the sea floor as sediments, which lithify to form chalk and limestone. These rocks store carbon for millions of years
How much water does the US Geological Survey estimate is circulated annually?
505,000 km^3
What are five of the key processes of the water cycle?
Water vapour, precipitation, condensation, infiltration, percolation
What is the water balance equation?
Precipitation (P) = Evapotranspiration (E) + Streamflow (Q) +/- Storage
How does precipitation form?
When vapour in the atmosphere cools to its dew point and the air condenses, becoming saturated and forms tiny water droplets or ice particles
How much precipitation is considered to be ‘high-intensity’?
10-15mm/hour
What is transpiration?
The diffusion of water vapour to the atmosphere from the stomata of plants
