importance of water and carbon Flashcards
what is water key to understanding and how?
water is key to understanding evolution as it provides a medium that allows organic molecules to mix and form more complex systems
how does water help create benign thermal conditions?
oceans (which occupy 71% of the worlds surface) absorb heat, store it and release it slowly.
clouds (which are made up of water droplets and ice crystals) reflect 1/5 of incoming solar radiation and lower the surface temperature
water vapour absorbs long wave radiation from the earth, helping to maintain avg global temperatures. 15% higher than w/o them
how is water used in flora, fauna and people?
95% of all living organisms need water to survive, as it is critical to their growth, reproduction and other metabolic functions.
plants manufacture their own food, and need water for photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration. Also to maintain rigidity…
in people and animals, water is the medium used in chemical reactions , including the circulation of oxygen and nutrients
essential resource for economic activity. it is used to generate electricity, irrigate crops, meet public demand…. and a huge range of industry such as food, steel…
how is carbon important to life on earth?
life is based on carbon, built on large molecules of carbon, proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids
used as economic resource, fossil fuels
agricultural crops and forest trees store large amounts of carbon available for human use as food, timber, paper….
what is carbon and where is it stored?
carbon is a common chemical element, which is stored in carbonate rocks, sea floor sediments. ocean water, the atmosphere, and the biosphere.
