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Ecology > Nutrient Cycles > Flashcards

Nutrient Cycles Flashcards

1
Q

How is Water required by all Life on Earth?

A

Solvent of life, Regulates Climate, Physical Processes, and Nutrient Cycles

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2
Q

Solvent of Life

A

Exists as solid, liquid, and gas

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3
Q

Physical Processes

A

Weathering and erosion of rocks and minerals

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4
Q

Nutrient Cycles

A

Ability to dissolve many substances

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5
Q

What is the Hydrologic (Water) Cycle

A

It describes the continuous movement of water on (surface), above (atmosphere) and below (groundwater) the Earth

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6
Q

Hydrology is the study of ___?

A

Water Cycle

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7
Q

How does the Mass of water on Earth Remain Constant?

A

water partitioned into the major reservioirs of ice, freshwater, saline water and atmospheric water is variable depending on climate

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8
Q

What are the Physical Processes in the Water Cycle?

A

Evaporation, condensation, Precipitation, infiltration, surface runoff, and subsurface flow

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9
Q

Evaporation

A

Trasnfer of water from the Earth Surface (liquid state) to the atmosphere (gaseous state)

  • Evaporated water is in gaseous state outside of clouds
  • 80% from ocean, 20% from land & plants (evapotranspiration)
  • wind moves evaporated water around the globe (humidity)
  • higher evaporation rates in warmer temperature with high solar energy
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10
Q

Transpiration (Evapotranspiration)

A
  • evaporation of water into the atmosphere by plants
  • through stomata of leaves
  • accounts for 10% of total water in the atmosphere
  • influences by leaf size, solar radiation, temperature, humidity, soil water supply
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11
Q

Condensation

A
  • the change of water from its gaseous state to liquid state
  • occurs in the atmosphere
  • warm air rises, then cools, then water vapor condenses to liquid water droplets
  • formation of clouds and fog
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12
Q

Precipitation

A
  • Transport of condensed water from the atmosphere back to Earth’s surface
  • Rain, hail, snow, sleet, fog drip
  • Can vary by biome, year, topography
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13
Q

Infiltration/Seepage

A
  • the flow of water from the ground surface into the ground (aquifer)
  • once infiltrated, the water is stored as soil moisture or groundwater
  • influenced by soil type, slope of surface
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14
Q

Runoff (Surface Runoff)

A
  • movement of surface water (rivers, lakes, streams) on land to ocean
  • consists of precipitation that neither evaporates, transpires, nor infiltrates the surface to become groundwater
  • excess runoff can lead to flooding
  • Runoff due to few major rivers ( 20% Amazon, 43% 50 largest rivers)
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15
Q

Groundwater (Subsurface) Flow

A
  • flow of water underground in aquifers
  • can return to surface as a spring or pumped
  • moves downwards towards sea level by gravity
  • moves slowly and is replenished slowly
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16
Q

What is Residence Time?

A

The average time that a water molecule spends in a reservoir

- its a measure of the average age of water in a reservoir

17
Q

What percent of Earth’s water is freshwater?

A

2.5%

18
Q

Why is Majority of Freshwater Inaccessible?

A
  • ~99% of freshwater is in groundwater, ice, glaciers, permafrost
  • many aquifers (groundwater) not connected to earth’s surface
  • deep aquifers are not renewable by precipitation
  • accessible (surface) groundwater is renewable, but turnover is slow (100-200 yrs)
19
Q

Renewable Groundwater

A
  • surface groundwater that is accessible by humans
  • recharged by precipiation
  • slow rate of recharge, long residence time
  • overuse or quick depletion can cause shrinking/compaction of aquifer
  • above ground alterations to streamflow, landscape can influence infiltration of precipitation into groundwater
  • can be contaminated by chemicals, nutrients, bacteria
20
Q

Oglala Aquifer, Great Plains, USA

A
  • Accessible surface groundwater
  • Largest aquifers (174,000 sq mi)
  • irrigates 1/5 of cropland in U.S.
  • drinking water for 1.9 million people
  • recharged by precipitation, but arid land with impermeable soil/rock
  • 60-70yrs have reduced by 9%
  • contaminated with Nitrates
  • 6,000 yrs. to replenish by rainfall
  • lifespan estimated up to year 2028
21
Q

Case Study: Aral Sea, Kazakhstan & Uzbekistan

A
  • accessible surface water for humans
  • previously 1 of 4 largest lakes in the world
  • Shrinking since 1960’s
  • Rivers diverted for irrigation
  • Now 10% of size with desert remaining
  • Remaining land not usable
  • High salinity
  • Fish kills
  • Dust storms
22
Q

What are Human Impacts on Water Cycle in the Tropics?

A
  • most rain over the ocean & coastal areas is from evaporation from the ocean
  • BUT in tropical rainforest, 50% of rain is from local evapotranspiration
  • Immense implications for runoff, precipitation

Ecology (2 decks)

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