Earth Systems Flashcards
What are the 4 major climate zones on Earth, and what are their features?
Tropical - Hot, humid, high rainfall.
Sub-tropical - Hot, dry, low rainfall.
Temperate - Warm, humid, high rainfall.
Polar - Cold, dry, low rainfall.
How are the different climate zones formed?
Caused by convection cells - hot air rises due to convection –> creates an area of low pressure- it cools down and is drawn back towards the equator to fill areas of low pressure, heating up along the way before cycling again.
What are the 4 main greenhouse gases?
Water vapour
Carbon dioxide
Nitrous oxide
Methane
Summarise the natural greenhouse gas effect.
50% of the total radiation from the sun penetrates Earth’s atmosphere where it is absorbed/reflected by land and sea and sent back into space. The absorbed/reflected radiation by the Earth is called Terrestrial Radiation (infrared). On the journey back into space, the radiation is intercepted by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which absorb the radiation, and vibrate before sending the wave out into any random direction.
What does the interception of greenhouse gases cause?
Heat which should be lost into space stays within Earth’s atmosphere and closer to the surface of the Earth which - when occurring too often increases the average global temperature.
What is the enhanced greenhouse gas effect?
The natural greenhouse gas effect + human activities which release GHGs into the atmosphere such as burning fossil fuels/trees. This causes an increase in GHGs in atmosphere which then increases the amount of heat trapped within the atmosphere which then increases the average global temperature.
Why is the natural GHG effect positive?
When there is a constant amount of GHGs in the atmosphere, there is a more constant temperature.
Additionally, the presence of GHGs is positive because it allows for heat within Earth’s atmosphere - increasing the livability of Earth as many organisms require sunlight (UV rays) to survive.
Define climate
Changes in weather over long periods of time - measured every 30 years or so.
Define weather
Conditions on a daily basis e.g., temperature, rain, snow, wind.
What is the difference between climate and weather?
Climate is the change in weather over long of time and suggests environments e.g., the formation of icebergs which consistently experience the same/similar conditions.
On the other hand, weather is the daily conditions such as temperature, rain, snow, or wind. This suggests that different environments are considered in a short amount of time rather than the average over a long period of time.
What is the difference between global warming and climate change?
Increasing the average temperature on a global level whereas climate change can be any change of average temperature whether its warming or cooling.
What is the carbon cycle?
Human activities –> CO2 in atmosphere –> Plants use in photosynthesis –> animals absorb and use to make proteins, fats and carbohydrates –> Carbon in excreted waste/dead organisms is broken down into carbon compounds (this goes into soil where it is absorbed by plants.
All of these produce waste carbon dioxide which then goes back into the atmosphere.
What is the biosphere and what does it include?
The biosphere is all regions on Earth occupied by living organisms. This includes plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, etc.
What is the geosphere (lithosphere) and what does it include?
The geosphere is the outer layer of Earth consisting of the crust and mantle. This includes magma, sediments, erosion, rocks, etc.
What is the hydrosphere and what does it include?
The hydrosphere is all forms of water on or surrounding Earth. This includes liquid water, clouds, ice, rain, water vapour, clouds, etc.
