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Earth's Interacting Spheres Term 2 > Flashcards > Flashcards

Flashcards

1
Q

What are the layers of the atmosphere?

A

Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere and Exosphere

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2
Q

What does the atmosphere do?

A

Allows us to live, breath, protect us from UV radiation and keep temperature constant.

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3
Q

What does the troposphere do?

A

Weather occurs here and the greenhouse gases are found.

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4
Q

Define the biosphere.

A

Consists of all areas of Earth and atmosphere that contain life.

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5
Q

Define Hyrdosphere

A

All water on Earth.

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6
Q

Define Geosphere

A

Geological matter, the rock cycle

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7
Q

Define Lithosphere

A

Earth’s crust and upper mantle. Tectonic Plates.

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8
Q

What is the carbon cycle and why is it important?

A

The movement of carbon through the four spheres. It’s important because carbon is an essential building block for life.

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9
Q

What is photosynthesis (carbon cycle)

A

Carbon dioxide in atmosphere absorbed by plants. Reacts with water to make glucose.

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10
Q

What is consumption (carbon cycle)

A

Animals eat carbon through plants, the carbon is then transferred through the food chain.

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11
Q

What is respiration (carbon cycle)

A

Break down glucose by oxygen to form CO2 and water. Carbon dioxide then added to atmosphere.

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12
Q

What is decomposition (carbon)

A

Carbons enters soil as urine and feces, also dead animals and plants.

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13
Q

What is fossil fuels (carbon cycle)

A

Composed of carbon from plants and animals died millions of years ago. Restored as fossil fuels.

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14
Q

Combustion (carbon cycle)

A

Fossil fuels and burned in oxygen. CO2 is formed in the atmosphere.

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15
Q

Ocean (carbonic acid) (carbon cycle)

A

CO2 in atmosphere dissolves in carbonic acid that forms limestone.

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16
Q

What is the nitrogen cycle?

A

How nitrogen moves through the spheres, it is the basis of DNA and amino acids.

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17
Q

What is nitrogen fixation?

A

Makes nitrogen in atmosphere accessible to organisms. Conversions of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia or other nitrogen compounds by nitrogen fixing bacteria or lighting.

18
Q

What is the food chain (nitrogen)

A

Plants absorb nitrates from soil for protein and animals obtain nitrogen through food chain.

19
Q

Ammonification (nitrogen)

A

Excreted waste material as well as dead organisms broken down by decomposers (bacteria or fungi that breaks down dead matter). Nitrogen then returns to soil as ammonia or ammonium ions.

20
Q

Nitrification (nitrogen)

A

Ammonia and ammonium ions are converted to nitrites by nitrifying bacteria in soil, then oxidised into nitrates.

21
Q

Uptake by plants (nitrogen)

A

Nitrates formed during nitrification are taken by plants and used to make DNA and amino acids.

22
Q

Denitrification (nitrogen)

A

This process involves bacteria being denitrified. It is the conversion of nitrates back into nitrogen gas, released into the atmosphere. Often takes place in waterlogged soil.

23
Q

What are the greenhouse gases?

A

The ground and ocean emit radiant energy back towards the atmosphere as infrared radiation. However, instead of leaving Earth’s atmosphere, some is absorbed and reflected by the greenhouse gases. Water vapour, methane, carbon dioxide are GG.

24
Q

What is the greenhouse effect?

A

A natural process that keeps Earth at a wild, stable temperature, suitable for life.

25
Q

What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?

A

Human action causing the greenhouse gas effect to intensify. The causes of this is that there is an increase in concentration of GG.

26
Q

How do humans cause the enhanced greenhouse effect?

A

Carbon Dioxide - Burning fossil fuels
Methane - Farming cattle
Nitrous Oxide - Using fertilisers
Water Vapour - As others increase, so do water vapour.

27
Q

What is the difference between weather and climate?

A

Weather describes conditions for short periods of time (min-months) and climate describes the average/prevailing weather conditions for long periods of time.

28
Q

What is climate change?

A

Climate change has occurred when there has been a significant change to normal weather patterns that has been sustained for a long time.

29
Q

What is a glacial period?

A

When a reduction in global temperature is sustained for a long period of time.

30
Q

What is an interglacial period?

A

When an increase in global temperatures is sustained for a long period of time. We are currently experiencing an interglacial period.

31
Q

What is the evidence for climate change?

A

Glaciers - Cooling and warming of glaciers
Ice Cores - Analysing ice cores to find temp and CO2 levels
Pollen - Pollen fossilised in rock gives an indication of plants living and in that period. Date the rock.

32
Q

How do humans influence climate change?

A

Deforestation, agriculture, burning fossil fuels and fertilisers.

33
Q

How do humans influence climate change?

A

Deforestation, agriculture, burning fossil fuels and fertilisers.

34
Q

What are the three effects of climate change?

A

Melting polar ice caps, reflecting ice and ocean density driving currents

35
Q

What does melting polar ice caps do?

A

They rise sea levels, and less ice covering the water increase the temp. Water then expands when it is warmer. Low rise places are in danger.

36
Q

What effect does reflecting ice have?

A

Ice reflects sun radiation back into space which has a cooling effect on the planet. Less ice = rise in global temp.

37
Q

What effect does ocean density driving currents have?

A

With rising sea temps, less seawater is freezing, reducing the density of the oceans. This slows down currents, if all water is stagnant, matter and nutrients are not circulated.

38
Q

What is biodiversity?

A

A measure of variety of environments, species and genes in an area.

39
Q

What are the three types of biodiversity?

A

Ecosystem, species and genes.

40
Q

Why is biodiversity good?

A

The more biodiverse an environment, the more resistant it is to change. If it is not biodiverse, it is a risk of collaspion.

41
Q

What is a keystone species?

A

Species that are relied upon by numerous others for food and shelter.

Earth's Interacting Spheres Term 2 (1 decks)

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