ENVS 1.1 - Conditions for Life on Earth (Key Words)

Question 0

Specific Heat Capacity

Answer 0

The measure of the amount of heat energy needed to heat up a particular mass of a material through a particular temperature rise. Water has a high specific heat capacity so it heats up and cools down slowly and has an important role in moderating climate fluctuations.

Question 1

Physiological Function

Answer 1

Any substance that is involved in a chemical reaction in a living organism has a physiological function.

Question 2

Thermophilic

Answer 2

Heat-loving, such as the bacteria that live around hot volcanic vents and springs.

Question 3

Ambient Gases

Answer 3

The surrounding environmental gases that are available to organisms.

Question 4

Photolysis

Answer 4

The splitting of molecules by light, including the splitting of water molecules in the early atmosphere, producing oxygen.

Question 5

Greenhouse Gas

Answer 5

A gas that absorbs infrared radiation and causes atmospheric heating.

Question 6

Transpiration

Answer 6

The loss of water by evaporation from the stomata of leaves.

Question 7

Biosphere

Answer 7

All the living organisms on Earth.

Question 8

Hydrosphere

Answer 8

All the water on Earth, found in solid, liquid or gaseous form in a variety of reservoirs, including the oceans, ice caps, rivers and lakes, soil, groundwater, atmosphere and living organisms.

Question 9

Lithosphere

Answer 9

The relatively hard outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper layer of the mantle.