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Geography > Earths Life support Systems > Flashcards

Earths Life support Systems Flashcards

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1
Q

Importance of water to life on the planet

A

-oceans moderate temperatures
-Clouds (made from water droplets) reflect 20% solar radiation
- water vapour is a green house gate and absorbs radiation from earth to maintain temperatures
-water makes up 65-65% of living organisms and is used in key processes
-used in photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration and transport of minerals and cells turgidity
-economic resource: agricultural, domestic and manufacturing

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2
Q

Importance of carbon on the planet

A

-bases of life on earth as it forms stable bonds
-photosynthesis and respiration
-economic resources (e.g fossil fuels)
-Agricultural products store carbon and they are used by humans
-co2 in atmosphere maintains temp

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3
Q

water stores (4 types)

A

-oceans
-Cryospheric water (ice)
-Terrestrial water (Rivers, Lakes, wetlands, groundwater)
-Atmospheric water

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4
Q

Some statistics of water storage

A

-97% of all water on earth is ocean water
-Out of the 3% freshwater only 1% is easily accessible and most of that is from lakes

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5
Q

carbon stores

7

A

-atmosphere
-ocean surface (photosynthesised by plankton)
-deep ocean (passed through food chain and sinks to the bottom where its decomposed, also stored in shells)
-sedimentary rocks (eg. limestone and chalk)
-soil
-terrestrial biomass (living and dead organisms)
-fossil fuels

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6
Q

what are fluxes

A

Fluxes describe the processes that transfer water from one state or place to another, such as evaporation, precipitation, infiltration, and runoff.

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7
Q

ablation definition

A

The loss of snow and ice through melting evaporation and sublimation

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8
Q

Infiltration vs Percolation

A

Infiltration is the vertical movement of rainwater through the soil. Percolation is the movement of soil water and surface water to underlying rock

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9
Q

Sublimation definition

A

solid to gas, e.g Ice to vapour

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10
Q

Water balance definition and equation

A

The balance between inputs and outputs in a water drainage basin system.

P= E + Q +- (S)
P is precipitation
E is evapotranspiration
Q is run off
S is change in storage

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11
Q

what is a positive water balance

A

more precipitation that E, Q and S

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12
Q

what is a negative water balance

A

less precipitation that E, Q and S

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13
Q

what are the 4 sub sections of the carbon cycle

A

-terrestrial (fast) carbon cycle
- Oceanic carbon cycle
-Atmospheric carbon cycle
-Slow carbon cycle

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14
Q

Explain the terrestrial (fast) carbon cycle

A

This relates to uptake of co2 from plants by photosynthesis. Co2 is realised back during respiration and Co2 in the form of methane is released back during decomposition of organic matter. This rapid cycling of carbon from soil, vegetation and soil is very fast.

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15
Q

Explain the oceanic carbon cycle

A

Dissolved in tissues of organisms in the ocean and in the water. Input can be from atmosphere or ions through terrestrial run off. Ocean sediments are a long term carbon store.

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16
Q

Explain Atmospheric carbon cycle

A

Carbon in atmosphere occurs as CO2 and methane. Methane is more short lived in atmosphere but its a stronger green house gas.

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17
Q

Explain slow carbon cycle

A

This refers to cycling of carbon between rock stores, oceans and atmospheres. This cycling happens through the process of weathering which happens over the course of millions of years.

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18
Q

What factors effect transpiration and evaporation in the water cycle

A

-temperature
-wind
-humidity
-hours of sunshine

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19
Q

Condensation definition

A

water vapour becomes liquid as it reaches its dew point. As the air cools water condenses and form precipitation

dew point_the tempreature at which air needs to be cooled to reach a relative humidity of 100% at this point the air cannot hold any more water in the gas form

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20
Q

how do clouds form

A

-conduction causes mass of air to warm faster than the air around it, The mass of warm air rises because it is less dense
-the air cools and expands (causes for even faster cooling because there is space between particles) as it rises
-The air continues to cool until its dew point, this is when water begins to condense and the cloud starts to form
-The air mass continues to rise until the temperature is the same as the surrounding air

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21
Q

What is the dry adiabatic lapse rate

A

when a cloud first begins to rise it cools at a rate of 10C per kilometre. The air around is dry.

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22
Q

saturated adiabatic lapse rate

A

When the air begins to condense it releases latent heat and the air becomes saturated with water, at this point the air slows down rising and starts cooling at 7C per kilometre

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23
Q

causes of precipitation

A

-convection currents
-orographic:when air gets forced to rise e.g over a mountain
-when air masses of different densities meet, the warm air rises over the cool air and causes frontal rainfall

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24
Q

input to a glacial system

A

accumulation: inputs to a glacial system from snow fall

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25
Q

output from glacial system

A

ablation is output due to melting

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26
Q

what is a drainage basin

A

an area of land where all the precipitation that flows is drained by a river and its tributaries, it forms a subsystem of the water cycle

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27
Q

inputs of water cycle

A

precipitation and condensation

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28
Q

stores of water cycle

A

-Vegetation (intercepts it)
-Surface storage (puddles)
-soil moisture\storage
-ground water store (stored in permeable porous rocks)
-channel store(river)
-stem flow

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29
Q

flows in water cycle

A

-Infiltration
-overland flow(flows when soil is saturated)
-channel flow (flow in the river)
-throughfall (water moving from vegetation to ground)
-throughflow (similar to overland flow but slower but its down to a river)
-percolation (down wards)
-ground water flow (lateral flow)
-Evapotranspirartion

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30
Q

water cycle outputs

A

-leakage-loss from groundwater stores
-run-off- movement of water across the land surface

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31
Q

processes of carbon cycle

8

A

-precipitation(CO2 dissolves in rain water)
-photosynthesis
-respiration
-decomposition (returns CO2 to atmosphere)
-combustion
-weathering (sediments form at the bottom of the ocean)
-Ocean(diffusion)- cold water sinks with CO2 and warm water releases it at the top
-plankton absorbs in ocean and it goes through the food web

32
Q

how does geology effect the water cycle AMAZON

A

In the amazon rainforest there are two contrasting geologies, there are large parts that are impermeable and there is some areas with porous lime stone

33
Q

how does geology effect the carbon cycle AMAZON

A

Limestone stores a lot, there is less storage in the rest of the TRFS metamorphic rock

34
Q

How does temperature effect the water cycle in the AMAZON

A

high evapotranspiration and lots of convection

35
Q

How does temperature effect the carbon cycle in the AMAZON

A

lots of sunlight and high temperatures means lots of guaranteed photosynthesis. High temperatures also promote rapid decomposition

36
Q

how does relief effect the water cycle in the AMAZON

A

-high run off due to steep catchments in the west
-lots of through flow
-extensive gentle lowland in some areas creates areas of water storage

37
Q

Importance of carbon to humans

A

Building block for life
Carbon cycle regulates earths climate
Economically - trade of fossil fuels, construction, electronics, transportation and agriculture

38
Q

how does biomass effect the carbon cycle AMAZON

A

-main carbon store
-absorbs 2. 4 billion tonnes of co2 per year
-stores 60% in trees and 40% in roots and soil

39
Q

human factors effecting the water cycle
in the AMAZON

A

deforestation has many impacts, such as increasing ground temperatures which reduces cloud formation and leads to permanent climate change. Leeds to reduce water storage in trees, soil, geology and the atmosphere. This as meant total run off has increased by a factor of 27 and causes flooding.

40
Q

how does increased temperatures mean there is reduced cloud formation

A

Warmer air has a higher capacity to hold moisture. As temperatures increase, the air can retain more water vapor without reaching saturation, delaying the point at which condensation (and thus cloud formation) occurs.

41
Q

mini case study, for flooding in amazon

A

-in 2014 flooding in Porto Velho killed 60 and 68,000 people have to be evacuated

42
Q

human factors that effect the carbon cycle in the AMAZON

A

-deforestation reduces amount of carbon stored in biomass and leaching the soil and there are fewer decomposers

43
Q

How does geology effect the water cycle in the TUNDRA

A

hard crystalline rocks have low permeability due to permafrost

44
Q

How does geology effect the carbon cycle in the TUNDRA

A

most carbon stored in permafrost, little impact on the carbon cycle

45
Q

How does temperature effect the water cycle in the TUNDRA

A

low temps keep water stored as permafrost, short summer melt causes some water to flow on the surface this is called the active layer.

46
Q

How does temperature effect the carbon cycle in the TUNDRA

A

low temps mean slow rates of photosynthesis and respiration so limited flow of CO2 and very little decomposition

47
Q

How does relief effect the water cycle in the TUNDRA

A

gentle relief helps to store water during the summer months, water logging soils

48
Q

what is water logged soils

A

Waterlogging of soils occurs when water builds up in the soil to the extent that it saturates the root zone, leaving insufficient oxygen for plant roots to breathe.

49
Q

How does biomass effect the carbon cycle in the TUNDRA

A

total store small because of limited water and sunlight

50
Q

human factors affecting the water cycle in the TUNDRA

A

oil and gas exploration have increased the melting of snow, so flooding is more likely. This creates extensive wetlands in the summer which increases evaporation and disrupts drainage networks. Additionally artificial lakes created store water from creeks for local industry

51
Q

human factors affecting the carbon cycle in the TUNDRA

A

oil and gas exploitation melts permafrost, releasing stored carbon.
-Melting is caused by building, deposition of dust and removal of vegetation which previously insulated permafrost.
-removing vegetation also reduces photosynthesis.
-Warmer soils lead to more decomposition.
-Gas flaring and oil spills put co2 directly back into the atmosphere.

52
Q

how to manage carbon and water cycles in the arctic tundra

A

-building on gravel pads protects permafrost from melting
-building pipelines on piles lets cold air circulate which stops it from melting permafrost
-new techniques for oil drilling means oil can be accessed kilometres away from drilling sites and it reduces impact on vegation and permafrost
-advanced technology reduces need for exploration wells

53
Q

Urbanisation impact on water cycle

A

-natural surfaces(vegetation and soil) replaced by impermanent concrete brick and tarmac. So reduces infiltration
-urban drainage systems remove water rapidly so it doesn’t evaporate
-development on flood plains reduces water holding capacity and increases chances of flooding

54
Q

Urbanisation impact on carbon cycle

A

-reduces surface vegetation
-CO2 emissions from industry and transport
-Cement manufacture releases CO2 emissions

55
Q

Forestry impact on water cycle ?????

A

-Increase interception of rainfall
-Evaporation off leaves increase
-run-off and stream discharge is reduced
-high transpiration
?????

56
Q

Forestry impact on carbon cycle

A

-increases carbon stores
-trees sequester for 100s of years, most is stores in the wood
-forestry plantations usually rotate every 80-100years

57
Q

farming practices impact on water cycle

A

-Irrigation diverts water from rivers and groundwater supplies to cultivate land. Plant also release water from soil through transpiration
-Less interception, evaporation and transpiration than forest
-use of heavy machinery can compact the soil
-underground drainage channels in farmland increase water flows to rivers
-ploughing increase soil moisture loss and furrows can act as drainage channels

58
Q

farming practices impact on carbon cycle

6

A

-reduces above and below ground carbon stores when forest is removed for farming
-ploughing reduces soil carbon storage and exposes organic matter to oxidation
-harvesting means very little organic matter is returned to soil
-rice paddies generate methane
-cows fart methane
-tractor emissions

59
Q

what can over extraction of water lead to

A

-rivers drying up
-damage to wetlands ecosystems
-sinking water tables
-empty wells
-coastal areas can experience intrusion from salt water

60
Q

Aquifers

A

permeable ares that stores water, water hast to be pumped out

61
Q

Artisan basin

A

An artesian basin is a specific type of confined aquifer that is surrounded by layers of impermeable rock and is under pressure. This pressure can be significant enough that when a well is drilled into the basin, the internal pressures will cause the water to rise up the well without the need for pumping.

62
Q

Diurnal changes- water cycle

A

significant changes within 24 hours, Evaporation and transpiration is lower at night because temperature drops. In the afternoon there are down poors due to convectional rainfall.

63
Q

Seasonal changes (water cycle)

A

temperatures effect rates of transpiration and evaporation.

64
Q

Diurnal changes- carbon cycle

A

the carbon flows from atmosphere to vegetation in the day through photosynthesis and this reverses at night because respiration occurs n

65
Q

Seasonal changes (water cycle)

A

more sunlight in summer means more photosynthesis

66
Q

longterm changes in water cycle(store)

A

over the last 400,000 years there have been 4 glacial periods.

67
Q

how does glacials impact the water cycle

A

-sea levels fall
-ice sheets and glaciers expand
-destroys forest and grassland
-water stored in biosphere shrinks
-evapotranspiration declines
-water cycle slows due to reduction evapotranspiration
-and more storage

68
Q

Impact of glacials in carbon cycle

A

-less CO2 in atmosphere
-changes is oceanic circulation bring phytoplankton to the surface, they fix carbon dioxide and when they die its stored deep in the ocean
-less decomposition
-less photosynthesis

69
Q

atmosphere interlinkages

A

-Co2 and water content are greenhouse gases that increase temperature so more transpiration

70
Q

ocean interlinkages

A

temperatures decrease in water more co2 gets stored and more acidic. however climate change mean more co2 in atmosphere its a green house effect

71
Q

interlinkages vegetation and soil

A

-water availability influences rate of photosynthesis
-more organic content increases water storage capacity of soil
-rainfall effects decomposition rates

72
Q

cryosphere interlinkages

A

-permfrost holds water and carbon dioxide
-green house effect
-

73
Q

lag times

A

time until water precipitation gets into river, lag time increased by forestry

74
Q

climate change impact water cycle

A

-more evaporation
-more precipitation
-more extreme weather because water vapour is a source of energy
-water stored in cryosphere shrinks

75
Q

climate change impact carbon cycle

A

-longterm increase in carbon storage in atmosphere and decrease in biosphere and oceans
-faster decomposition
-forest can turn into arid land reducing stores
-carbon released from permafrost
-ocean scidifaction limits carbon storing capacity
-forests move into tundra

76
Q
A

Geography (28 decks)

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