Module 1 - Integrated Earth System Flashcards
What is the Gaia hypothesis?
A) The idea that Earth’s climate is primarily driven by variations in solar radiation caused by changes in its orbit, axial tilt, and precession.
B) The concept that Earth’s ecosystems, biosphere, and physical components form a complex, self-regulating system that maintains the planet’s habitability.
C) The theory that the movement of tectonic plates causes earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountain ranges.
D) The hypothesis that life on Earth originated from extraterrestrial sources, such as comets or meteorites.
B) The concept that Earth’s ecosystems, biosphere, and physical components form a complex, self-regulating system that maintains the planet’s habitability (Lovelock and Margulis, 1970).
Feedback on Planetary Processes [FPP]
Are…
A) Processes that involve the cycling of nutrients through ecosystems, such as the carbon and nitrogen cycles.
B) Phenomena that are primarily driven by the gravitational attraction between celestial bodies, such as the formation of planetary systems.
C) Mechanisms by which changes in a system lead to further changes that either reinforce (positive feedback) or counteract (negative feedback) the initial change, such as the role of greenhouse gases in regulating Earth’s climate.
D) The process by which new minerals are formed from existing rocks due to changes in temperature, pressure, or chemical composition.
C) Mechanisms by which changes in a system lead to further changes that either reinforce (positive feedback) or counteract (negative feedback) the initial change, such as the role of greenhouse gases in regulating Earth’s climate.
- Positive feedback: a mechanism by which a change in a system leads to further changes that reinforce the initial change, [amplifying the response] of the system to a perturbation.
- Negative feedback: a mechanism by which a change in a system leads to further changes that [counteract the initial change], stabilizing the response of the system to a perturbation.
[FPP] What’s a Positive example?
A) The absorption of carbon dioxide by the oceans.
B) The formation of clouds, which reflect sunlight back into space.
C) Melting ice caps, which increase warming by replacing reflective surfaces with darker land or water.
D) The spread of vegetation to new areas, which increases the planet’s albedo.
C) Melting ice caps, which increase warming by replacing reflective surfaces with darker land or water.
Other e.g.
- Forest fires: As temperatures rise, droughts become more common, increasing the likelihood of forest fires. Forest fires, in turn, release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which can contribute to further warming.
- Methane release from permafrost: As permafrost in the Arctic region thaws due to warming temperatures, it releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas that can contribute to further warming.
[FPP] What’s a Negative example?
A) Melting ice caps, which increase warming by replacing reflective surfaces with darker land or water.
B) Forest fires, which release large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
C) Clouds, which reflect sunlight back into space and help to counteract warming.
D) The release of methane from thawing permafrost.
C) Clouds, which reflect sunlight back into space and help to counteract warming.
Other e.g.
- Carbon dioxide absorption by the oceans: As carbon dioxide levels increase in the atmosphere, the oceans absorb more of it, which can help to slow down the rate of warming.
- Albedo: As the Earth’s surface warms, the amount of snow and ice cover decreases, which leads to a decrease in the planet’s albedo (reflectivity). However, as the albedo decreases, more sunlight is absorbed by the Earth’s surface, which can lead to further warming. As the Earth warms, vegetation may also spread to new areas, increasing the overall albedo and helping to counteract warming.
What is the anthroposphere?
A) The layer of the atmosphere where weather occurs.
B) The zone of the ocean where sunlight penetrates and photosynthesis occurs.
C) The sphere of Earth’s environment that includes all human-made components and processes.
D) The region of Earth’s crust where tectonic plates meet and interact.
C) The sphere of Earth’s environment that includes all human-made components and processes.
True or False: Negative coupling in the Earth system refers to a situation where two components or processes reinforce each other and lead to an amplification of an initial disturbance.
False.
- Negative coupling, also known as negative feedback, refers to a situation where two components or processes in the Earth system offset each other and dampen an initial disturbance.
- This can help to stabilize the system and maintain its equilibrium.
e.g. Absorption of carbon dioxide by the oceans and the formation of clouds in response to warming temperatures.
True or False: Positive coupling in the Earth system refers to a situation where two components or processes offset each other and dampen an initial disturbance.
False.
- Positive coupling, also known as positive feedback, refers to a situation where two components or processes in the Earth system reinforce each other and amplify an initial disturbance.
- This can lead to a destabilization of the system and potentially trigger abrupt changes.
e.g. The melting of sea ice and permafrost due to warming temperatures, which lead to further warming due to reduced albedo, and release of methane from thawing permafrost, which contributes to further warming.
What is albedo?
A) The amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
B) The degree to which Earth’s surface reflects sunlight.
C) The rate at which carbon dioxide is absorbed by oceans.
D) The amount of solar radiation received by the Earth.
B) The degree to which Earth’s surface reflects sunlight.
- Albedo is a measure of the reflectivity of a surface, with higher albedo indicating greater reflectivity.
- The albedo of Earth’s surface varies depending on factors such as land cover, snow and ice cover, and atmospheric conditions.
What is an aquifer?
A) A type of rock formation that is resistant to erosion.
B) A type of glacier found in the Arctic region.
C) An underground layer of permeable rock that stores and transmits water.
D) A type of marine animal that produces bioluminescent light.
C) An underground layer of permeable rock that stores and transmits water.
- Aquifers are underground formations of rock, sand, or gravel that hold water, much like a sponge.
- They can provide a source of freshwater for drinking, irrigation, and other uses.
- Groundwater can flow through an aquifer and be replenished over time by precipitation or other sources of water.
According to Suglia (2018), what are vanishing nutrients?
A) The depletion of important nutrients in the soil due to overuse of fertilizers.
B) The loss of nutrients in food during processing and storage.
C) The decline in the availability of key nutrients in the oceans due to climate change.
D) The disappearance of nutrients in groundwater due to pollution.
C) The decline in the availability of key nutrients in the oceans due to climate change.
- Rising temperatures and other changes in ocean conditions are leading to a decrease in the abundance of phytoplankton, which are the base of the marine food chain.
- This can lead to a reduction in the availability of key nutrients like iron and nitrogen, which as essential for the growth of many marine organisms.
What is the nitrogen nutrient cycle?
A) The process by which nitrogen is fixed from the atmosphere and made available to plants.
B) The process by which nitrogen is released from dead organisms and returned to the soil.
C) The process by which nitrogen is converted into a usable form by bacteria in the soil.
D) The process by which nitrogen is absorbed by plants and used to build proteins.
B) The process by which nitrogen is released from dead organisms and returned to the soil.
- A complex process that involves the movement of nitrogen through the biosphere.
- After nitrogen is fixed by lightning or bacteria, it is converted into a form that can be used by plants.
- Plants die
- Nitrogen (N) in their tissues are broken down by decomposers
- Returned to soil
Which layer corresponds with 8.?
Outer Core
Which layer corresponds with 9.?
Inner Core
Which layer corresponds with 1.?
Atmosphere
Which layer corresponds with 2.?
Continental Crust
Which layer corresponds with 3.?
Oceanic Crust
Which layer corresponds with 4.?
Lithosphere
Which layer corresponds with 5.?
Asthenosphere
Which layer corresponds with 6.?
Upper mantle
Which layer Corresponds with 7.?
Upper mantle
What is Geosynclinal Hypothesis?
A) A theory that explains the formation of mountain ranges through the collision of tectonic plates.
B) A hypothesis that suggests that the Earth’s crust is composed of a series of rigid plates that move relative to one another.
C) A model that explains how continents move over time due to the movement of magma in the mantle.
D) A hypothesis that explains the formation of sedimentary rock layers in deep ocean basins.
A) A theory that explains the formation of mountain ranges through the collision of tectonic plates.
–> Sedimentary deposits in deep ocean basins (VERTICAL ONLY)
What did Oreskes’ (2013) study on magnetic field polarity and oceanic ridges suggest?
A) Oceanic ridges do not have a significant impact on magnetic field polarity.
B) Magnetic field polarity reversals do not occur on the spreading sea floor.
C) Magnetic field polarity reversals on the spreading sea floor provide evidence for seafloor spreading and continental drift.
D) Seafloor spreading is not related to changes in magnetic field polarity.
C) Magnetic field polarity reversals on the spreading sea floor provide evidence for seafloor spreading and continental drift.
What is the relationship between transform faults and slabs of crust driven into the mantle?
A) Transform faults are unrelated to slabs of crust driven into the mantle.
B) Transform faults are formed when slabs of crust are driven into the mantle.
C) Transform faults are formed when slabs of crust are pulled apart at divergent plate boundaries.
D) Transform faults are formed when slabs of crust slide past each other at conservative plate boundaries.
D) Transform faults are formed when slabs of crust slide past each other at conservative plate boundaries.
What are Subduction Zones?
A) Subduction zones occur where two tectonic plates meet and one plate is forced beneath the other into the mantle.
B) They are associated with convergent place boundaries, where two plates move towards each other.
C) Subduction zones can create deep ocean trenches, volcanic arcs, and earthquakes.
D) All of the above
D) All of the above
What was Marie Tharp’s main achievement?
Marie Tharp’s main achievement was creating the first scientific map of the entire ocean floor (using echo and sonar signals/pulses) , which helped to confirm the theory of plate tectonics.
PLATE TECTONIC BOUNDARIES - Key differences between CONVERGENT, Divergent and Transform plate boundaries.
Convergent: SUBDUCTION ZONE
- Two converging plates
–> Formation of mountain ranges
–> Volcanic arcs, and deep oceanic trenches
–> Deep ocean ridges
= Volcanic eruptions + Earthquakes + Tsunamis
PLATE TECTONIC BOUNDARIES - Key differences between Convergent, DIVERGENT and Transform plate boundaries.
Divergent:
- Awayinator
–> Formation of Mid-ocean ridges
–> Rift valleys
–> Seafloor spread
= Volcanic Eruptions + Earthquakes + NEW ocean crust
PLATE TECTONIC BOUNDARIES - Key differences between Convergent, Divergent and TRANSFORM plate boundaries.
Transform:
- Sliding –> Strike-Slip Faults
= __________________ + Earthquakes .
TYPES OF TECTONIC - Oceanic Crust
–> Young And Thin because of Basaltic Rocks
- Formed @ Mid-O and Away
= High Recycling
TYPES OF TECTONIC - Continental Crust
–> B-OLD And BOUYANT
- Full time contract
- Collision = mountain range
