LECTURE 11 -> BIOCHEM CYCLES Flashcards
What are biogeochemical cycles?
looks at biotic control on env & geochem of an ecosystem
phosphorous cycle?
A key
factor in ATP/DNA/LIPIDS
-> primarily comes inorganic, from weathering rocks (humans have inc this 3x)
How do we know temp/ carbon concentrations are inc?
PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
- > use ice or mud cores and look that he concentration
- > can also look at the length of tree ring growth
Terrestrial CO2 sink
measured based on balance of NPP and NEP
Ocean Sink
how well it works is based on the temperature of the water —-> Cooler water, higher solubility
but co2 uptake leads to acidification and coral bleaching
What causes coral bleaching?
co2 in reacts in the water and forms carbonic acid. Takes apart the Ca in molluscs and upsets the algae & coral relationship —> ACIDIFICATION
What is radiative forcing???
Difference between energy incoming and leaving over and area on the earth
-> If unbalanced and more energy stays in, shows the GHG effect
Natural and Anthro drivers of biogeochem disruption
Natural ->external } orbits, axis tilt -> Internal } volcanos, natural disasters Anthro -> GHG + -> arosols -
RCP’s are
Representative Concentration Pathways
- > -possible climate futures depending on the amount of GHG emitted
- > Measured in terms of radiative forcing
climate departure
The tipping point of climate change
-> past this we can never go back
Permafrost and Methane
methane gets trapped in permafrost up north. As ice melts, more of this ghg is released into the atmosphere
Effects of agriculture on nitorgen
sooo much fertilizer
_> yes to more food BUT had unintended consiquinces
1) more disease = worse air/ water (exponential)
2) Worse human health (n)
3) Agriculture yeaild caps
Feedback loops
positive -> Warming, more snow melt, less solar reflection, warms even more
Negitive -> warm, evaporation, more clouds, more light reflected, less evaporation
