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earths life support systems > elss > Flashcards

elss Flashcards

1
Q

Explain Goldilocks zone

A

Earth is perfect distance away from sun to have right temperature for liquid water

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2
Q

How does water regulate Earths temperature

A

Water has a high specific heat capacity
Helps to create the benign thermal conditions on Earth
Water absorbs heat, stores it and releases it

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3
Q

Water usage in the economy

A 
Generation of electricity
Irrigation
Recreation
Public Demand
Industry
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4
Q

Stores of carbon

A 
Carbonate rocks
Sea floor sediments
Ocean water
Atmosphere
Biosphere
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5
Q

What is a system

A

Groups or objects and the relationship that bind the objects together

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6
Q

What is a closed system

A

A system with inputs and outputs of energy, but without any movement of material across the system boundaries

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7
Q

What is a open system

A

A type of system whose boundaries are open to both inputs and outputs of energy and matter

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8
Q

Carbon and water cycle are what kind of systems

A

Closed

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9
Q

What is the global water cycle

A

A closed system between the atmosphere, the oceans, land and the biosphere, timescales of transfer rates vary from days to millions of years

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10
Q

What are the major stores

A

Atmosphere - smallest store
Land
Ocean - largest store

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11
Q

What are the major processes of the water cycle

A

Precipitation
Evapotranspiration
run-off
Groundwater flow

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12
Q

Inputs of water to the atmosphere

A

Water vapour evaporated from the oceans, soils, lakes and rivers
Vapour transpired through the leaves of plants

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13
Q

Water leaving the atmoshpere

A

Precipitation - rain, snow, hail
Condensation - fog
Ice sheets, glaciers and snowfields release water by ablation

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14
Q

Water on the land

A

Precipitation and melt-water drain from the land surfaces as run-off into rivers
Most rivers flow into oceans
Precipitation reaches rivers after infiltrating the soil
Water in the soil may percolate into permeable rocks

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15
Q

The global carbon cycle

A

Long term storage in sedimentary rocks holds 99.9% of all carbon on earth
The main pathways between stores followed by carbon in this cycle include photosynthesis, respiration, oxidation and weathering

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16
Q

mportant roles

A

Carbonate rocks hold the most carbon
The carbon stored in the atmosphere, plants and soil is relatively small but these stores are crucial to the cycling of carbon

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17
Q

The slow carbon cycle

A

Carbon stored in rocks, sea floor sediments and fossil fuels is locked away for millions of years
10-100 million tonnes a year

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18
Q

The fast carbon cycle

A

Carbon circulates most rapidly between the atmosphere, the oceans, living organisms and soils
10-1000 times faster than those in the slow carbon cycle

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19
Q

The water balance

A

Summaries the flows of water in a drainage basin over time

Precipitation (P) = Evapotranspiration (E)+ Streamflow (Q)+/- Storage

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20
Q

Flows

A

Precipitation, Evaporation, Transpiration, run-off, infiltration, percolation, throughflow

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21
Q

Precipitation

A

Water and ice that falls from the clouds towards the ground
Precipitation forms when vapour in the atmosphere cools to its dew point and condenses into tiny water droplets or ice particles to from clouds

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22
Q

What is dew point

A

the atmospheric temperature (varying according to pressure and humidity) below which water droplets begin to condense and dew can form.

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23
Q

Transpiration

A

Diffusion of water vapour to the atmosphere from stomata
10% of moisture in the atmosphere
Influenced by temperature and wind speed
Influenced by water availability to plants

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24
Q

Condensation

A

Change of vapour to liquid
Occurs as water cools to its dew point
At this point air becomes saturated with vapour resulting in condensation
Clouds form through condensation in the attmosphere

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25
Q

Cumuliform clouds

A

Flat bases
Considerable vertical development
Form when the air is heated locally through contact with the Earths surface
The heated air parcels rise freely in the atmosphere, expand and cool

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26
Q

Stratiform clouds

A

Layer clouds

Develop where an air mass moves horizontally across a cooler surface - advection

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27
Q

Cirrus clouds

A

Wispy clouds
Form at high altitudes
Consist of tiny ice crystals
Do not produce precipitation

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28
Q

Cloud formation and lapse rates

A

Cooling occurs when
Air warmed by contact with the ground or sea surfaces, rises freely through the atmosphere and pressure falls it cools by expansion
Air masses move horizontally across a relatively cooler surface
Air masses move horizontally across a relatively cooler surface
Air masses rise as they cross a mountain barrier or as turbulence forces their ascent

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29
Q

What are Lapses rates

A

The vertical distribution of temperature in the lower atmosphere, and temperature changes that occur within an air parcel as it rises vertically away from the ground

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30
Q

What is evaporation

A

The phase change of liquid to water vapour

Main pathway by which water enters the atmosphere

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31
Q

Latent heat

A

The energy input of evaporation does not lead to an increase in temperature
Instead the energy is absorbed as latent heat and released later in condensation

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32
Q

Interception

A

Vegetation intercepts a proportion of precipitation, storing it temporarily on branches, leaves and stems
This water will either evaporate or fall to the ground
Throughfall - rainwater which is briefly intercepted before dripping on to the ground
Stemflow - during prolonged or intense periods or rainfall, intercepted rainwater may flow to the ground along branches and stems

33
Q

What is infiltration

A

By gravity into the soil and lateral movement or throughflow to stream and river channels

34
Q

What is overland flow

A

Across the ground surface either as a sheet or as trickles and rivulets to stream and river channels

35
Q

What are the main processes involved in carbon exchange

A 
Precipitation
Photosynthesis
Weathering
Respiration
Decomposition
Combustion
36
Q

How is precipitation involved in the carbon cycle

A

Atmospheric C02 dissolves in rainwater to form weak carbonic acid
Human activities are increasing the acidity of rainfall resulting in ocean surface waters becoming more acidic

37
Q

How is photosynthesis involved in the carbon cycle

A

The flux of carbon from atmosphere to land plants and phytoplankton via photosynthesis averages around 120 gigatonnes
CO2 is used in photosynthesis

38
Q

What is weathering

A

In situ breakdown of rocks at or near the surface

Chemical, biological and physical processes

39
Q

Explain chemical weathering

A

Most weathering involves rainwater which contains dissolved CO2
This dissolves carbonate rocks
Transfers carbon to the atmosphere, streams, rivers and the ocean

40
Q

Explain physical weathering

A

Freeze-thaw breaks rocks donw into smaller particles but involves no chemical weathering
This process increases the surface area exposed to chemical processes

41
Q

What is downwelling

A

When water cools and becomes more dense then sinks

42
Q

Effect of downwelling on carbon cycle

A

Carries dissolved carbon to the ocean depths where individual carbon molecules may remain for centuries

43
Q

What is upwelling

A

Eventually deep ocean currents transport the carbon to areas of upwelling
Carbon-rich water rises to the surface and CO2 diffuses back into the atm

44
Q

How does urbanisation disrupt the dynamic equilibrium

A

Natural surfaces replaced by impermeable surfaces

Drainage systems remove water rapidly

45
Q

How does development on flood plains disrupt dynamic equilibrium

A

Floodplain are natural storage areas for water

Urban development on these areas reduce water storage capacity

46
Q

How does farming disrupt dynamic equilibrium

A

Crop irrigation diverts surface water from rivers and groundwater to cultivated land
Interception, evapotranspiration is reduced
Ploughing increases soil moisture loss
Furrows act as drainage channels

47
Q

How does arable farming effect the carbon cycle

A

Soil carbon storage is reduced by ploughing
Harvesting crops takes away carbon
Soil erosion increased by harvesting

48
Q

What is carbon capture storage

A

The process of capturing carbon from the atmosphere and then storing it where it will not reach the atmosphere for some time (normally underground)

49
Q

What are the limitations of carbon capture storage

A

Involves big capital costs
Uses a large amount of energy
Require specific geological conditions for storage

50
Q

Why are observation by satellites so important

A

Ground based observations of environmental changes at a global scale would be impractical
GIS techniques map and analyse the data to show areas of anomalies and trends and areas of greater risk

51
Q

Why does data need to be collected

A

Identifying change is key to predicting and managing issues

Lets us know what is normal

52
Q

Explain Diurnal change with examples

A

Significant changes over a 24 hour period
Low evaporation and transpiration at night
Conventional precipitation is dependant on direct heating of the ground surface, often falls during the afternoon

53
Q

What are seasonal changes controlled by

A

Variations in the intensity of solar radiation

Transpiration is highest in summer

54
Q

What are long term changes

A

Glacial cycles
Four major ones
Glacial and interglacial

55
Q

What happens during glacial periods

A

Net transfer of water from the ocean to storage in ice, glaciers and permafrost
Ice sheets destroy grassland
Water stored in biosphere shrinks
Low rates of transpiration

56
Q

Diurnal changes in the carbon cycle

A

Daytime CO2 flows from the atmosphere to vegetation, this is then reversed at night

57
Q

Seasonal changes in the carbon cycle

A

Monthly changes in the NPP
Northern hemisphere in summer, trees are in full foliage, net movement of CO2 to the biosphere
Phytoplankton are stimulated into photosynthetic activity by rising water temperatures and more intense sunlight

58
Q

Long term changes in CO2

A

CO2 levels drop in glacial periods
During interglacial activities CO2 is higher
The carbon pool in vegetation sinks during glacial periods
Tundra replaces forests
Tundra sequesters carbon in permafrost

59
Q

How does the atmosphere links the cycles

A

CO2 plays a vital role in photosynthesis
Plants extract water from soil and transpire it to the atm
water is evaporated from the oceans
CO2 is exchanged from the ocean to the atm

60
Q

How does the oceans link the cycles

A

Ocean acidity increases when exchanges of CO2 are not in balance
Solubility of CO2 in the oceans increases at lower sea-surface temperatures
CO2 influences SST and thermal expansion, melting of ice and air temperatures

61
Q

How does vegetation and soil link the cycles

A

cycles
Water availability influences the rate of photosynthesis, NPP
Water storage capacity of soils increases with organic content
Temperature and rainfall affects decomposition rates and the release of CO2 to the atm
Temp and rainfall affects decomposition rates and release of CO2 to atm

62
Q

How does the Cryosphere link the cycles

A

CO2 levels in the atm determine temp and melting of ice sheets, glaciers and permafrost
Melting expose land and sea surfaces which absorb more radiation and increase temp
Run-off, river flow and evaporation respond to temperature change

63
Q

Name some management stratagies

A

Wetland restoration
Afforestation
Sustainable agriculture practices
Control greenhouse emissions

64
Q

What are the threats to wetlands

A

Population growth
Economic development
Urbanisation

65
Q

What are the threats to forests

A

Logging
Farming
Mining

66
Q

Management - Land and crop management

A 
Zero tillage
Polyculture
Crop residues
Avoiding using heavy machinery
Contour ploughing and terracing
67
Q

Management - manure management

A

Control way manure decomposes to reduce amount of methane produced
Capturing methane to use as a renewable source

68
Q

Paris agreement

A

Reduce global CO2 emissions below 60% of 2010 levels by 2050

69
Q

Cap and trade

A

Alternative, international market- based approach to limit CO2 emissions
Can purchase credits for those who need a bigger quota of other companies

70
Q

Afforestation in China

A

Aim to afforest 400, 000km2 by 2050
Non-native, fast growing species such as popular and birch
Combats desertification and land degradation in the semi-arid expanses of northern china

71
Q

Forestry threats

A

Increasing demand for resources and space threaten the forests

72
Q

Funding projects

A

UN - REDD
World bank
Financial incentives to protect and restore forests

73
Q

Brazil’s protected areas

A

Recieved support from UN, World Bank, WWF and the German Development Bank

74
Q

Benefit of protecting Brazils areas

A

Stabilizing the regions water cycle
Offsetting 430 million tonnes of carbon a year
Supporting indigenous forest communities
Promoting ecotourism

75
Q

Agriculture - improved management techniques to prevent water losses

A

Mulching
Zero soil disturbance
Drip irrigation

76
Q

Agriculture - Reducing run-off on slopes

A

Terracing
Contour ploughing
Insertion of vegetative strips

77
Q

Water withdrawal conflicts

A

Pakistan accounts for approx 63%
Afghan for 1%
India for 36%
China for 0.04%

78
Q

Water allocation 1961

A

In 1961, India and Pakistan signed a treaty

79
Q

Drainage basin planning

A

Most effective to manage water at the basin scale
Need to manage to accommodate the conflicting demands
Social - domestic, recreation
Economic - agriculture and industry
Environmental - wildlife

earths life support systems (2 decks)

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