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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
Cumuliform clouds
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
26
Stratiform clouds
Layer clouds | Develop where an air mass moves horizontally across a cooler surface - advection
27
Cirrus clouds
Wispy clouds Form at high altitudes Consist of tiny ice crystals Do not produce precipitation
28
Cloud formation and lapse rates
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
29
What are Lapses rates
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
30
What is evaporation
The phase change of liquid to water vapour | Main pathway by which water enters the atmosphere
31
Latent heat
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
32
Interception
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
What is infiltration
By gravity into the soil and lateral movement or throughflow to stream and river channels
34
What is overland flow
Across the ground surface either as a sheet or as trickles and rivulets to stream and river channels
35
What are the main processes involved in carbon exchange
``` Precipitation Photosynthesis Weathering Respiration Decomposition Combustion ```
36
How is precipitation involved in the carbon cycle
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
How is photosynthesis involved in the carbon cycle
The flux of carbon from atmosphere to land plants and phytoplankton via photosynthesis averages around 120 gigatonnes CO2 is used in photosynthesis
38
What is weathering
In situ breakdown of rocks at or near the surface | Chemical, biological and physical processes
39
Explain chemical weathering
Most weathering involves rainwater which contains dissolved CO2 This dissolves carbonate rocks Transfers carbon to the atmosphere, streams, rivers and the ocean
40
Explain physical weathering
Freeze-thaw breaks rocks donw into smaller particles but involves no chemical weathering This process increases the surface area exposed to chemical processes
41
What is downwelling
When water cools and becomes more dense then sinks
42
Effect of downwelling on carbon cycle
Carries dissolved carbon to the ocean depths where individual carbon molecules may remain for centuries
43
What is upwelling
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
How does urbanisation disrupt the dynamic equilibrium
Natural surfaces replaced by impermeable surfaces | Drainage systems remove water rapidly
45
How does development on flood plains disrupt dynamic equilibrium
Floodplain are natural storage areas for water | Urban development on these areas reduce water storage capacity
46
How does farming disrupt dynamic equilibrium
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
How does arable farming effect the carbon cycle
Soil carbon storage is reduced by ploughing Harvesting crops takes away carbon Soil erosion increased by harvesting
48
What is carbon capture storage
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
What are the limitations of carbon capture storage
Involves big capital costs Uses a large amount of energy Require specific geological conditions for storage
50
Why are observation by satellites so important
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
Why does data need to be collected
Identifying change is key to predicting and managing issues | Lets us know what is normal
52
Explain Diurnal change with examples
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
What are seasonal changes controlled by
Variations in the intensity of solar radiation | Transpiration is highest in summer
54
What are long term changes
Glacial cycles Four major ones Glacial and interglacial
55
What happens during glacial periods
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
Diurnal changes in the carbon cycle
Daytime CO2 flows from the atmosphere to vegetation, this is then reversed at night
57
Seasonal changes in the carbon cycle
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
Long term changes in CO2
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
How does the atmosphere links the cycles
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
How does the oceans link the cycles
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
How does vegetation and soil link the cycles
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
How does the Cryosphere link the cycles
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
Name some management stratagies
Wetland restoration Afforestation Sustainable agriculture practices Control greenhouse emissions
64
What are the threats to wetlands
Population growth Economic development Urbanisation
65
What are the threats to forests
Logging Farming Mining
66
Management - Land and crop management
``` Zero tillage Polyculture Crop residues Avoiding using heavy machinery Contour ploughing and terracing ```
67
Management - manure management
Control way manure decomposes to reduce amount of methane produced Capturing methane to use as a renewable source
68
Paris agreement
Reduce global CO2 emissions below 60% of 2010 levels by 2050
69
Cap and trade
Alternative, international market- based approach to limit CO2 emissions Can purchase credits for those who need a bigger quota of other companies
70
Afforestation in China
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
Forestry threats
Increasing demand for resources and space threaten the forests
72
Funding projects
UN - REDD World bank Financial incentives to protect and restore forests
73
Brazil's protected areas
Recieved support from UN, World Bank, WWF and the German Development Bank
74
Benefit of protecting Brazils areas
Stabilizing the regions water cycle Offsetting 430 million tonnes of carbon a year Supporting indigenous forest communities Promoting ecotourism
75
Agriculture - improved management techniques to prevent water losses
Mulching Zero soil disturbance Drip irrigation
76
Agriculture - Reducing run-off on slopes
Terracing Contour ploughing Insertion of vegetative strips
77
Water withdrawal conflicts
Pakistan accounts for approx 63% Afghan for 1% India for 36% China for 0.04%
78
Water allocation 1961
In 1961, India and Pakistan signed a treaty
79
Drainage basin planning
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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