Importance of the water and carbon cycle Flashcards
Why is water important
Provides a medium that allows organic molecules to mix and form more complex structures
Explain Goldilocks zone
Earth is perfect distance away from sun to have right temperature for liquid water
How does water regulate Earths temperature
Water has a high specific heat capacity
Helps to create the benign thermal conditions on Earth
Water absorbs heat, stores it and releases it
Explain cloud allbedo
Clouds are made up of tiny water droplets and ice crystals
These reflect 1/5 of incoming solar radiation
What is water vapour classed as
A greenhouse gas
contributes 36-72%
What are waters usage
Crucial for growth, reproduction, photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration
Water usage in the economy
Generation of electricity Irrigation Recreation Public Demand Industry
Stores of carbon
Carbonate rocks Sea floor sediments Ocean water Atmosphere Biosphere
Economic importance of carbon
Fossil fuels due to their high energy density still make up the largest percentage of the world energy mix
Carbon in resources
Oil is used to manufacture a range of products from plastics to paints
What is a system
Groups or objects and the relationship that bind the objects together
What is a closed system
A system with inputs and outputs of energy, but without any movement of material across the system boundaries
What is a open system
A type of system whose boundaries are open to both inputs and outputs of energy and matter
Carbon and water cycle are what kind of systems
Closed
Name smaller scales of water and carbon cycles
Drainage basin
Forest
