Lecture 11

Question 1

Signs of thawing permafrost

Answer 1

Changes in vegetation; Grass to tress bc roots can grow deeper, more landslides on slopes, More erosion by rivers, more sediment in rivers, ‘drunken forests’, disappearance of lakes, changes in hydrology(movement, distribution, quality of water)

Question 2

Carbon cycle

Answer 2

Soil contain lots of carbon in the form of organic matter

Question 3

Autotroph(self feeder)

Answer 3

Makes organic molecules using energy from sun or chemical reactions

Question 4

Heterotroph(other feeder)

Answer 4

Obtains organic molecules by decomposing or consuming another organism

Question 5

why does permafrost preserve organic matter

Answer 5

Too cold to decompose, When temperature rises matter decays and releases CO2

Question 6

How to determine amount of carbon being released

Answer 6

Planes measure CO2 and CH4 levels with sensors, more CO2 and CH4 levels in the air less radiation will return to the detector

Question 7

Half life

Answer 7

Amount of time for half of the radioactive isotope to decat