Previously made Cards Flashcards
Explain why the hydrosphere is required on Earth
It is essential to life and all organisms depend on water for their metabolism
Why is water called a FINITE source?
Because the amount of water in, on, and above the planet does not change
List two factors that may contribute to the type and number of species present in an aquatic environment
the depth of the water, its temperature, and its salinity
Define Biosphere, Lithosphere, Atmosphere, and hydrosphere
Biosphere - All life on earth
Lithosphere - the solid, outer part of earth
atmosphere - the mixture of gases that surround Earth.
Hydrosphere - all water on earth
Define tectonic plates
Large mobile plates that continants and oceans rest on. These plates move very slowly and influence earth’s geological composition
List three types of rocks that make up the lithosphere and describe a feature of each
Igneous Rocks:
Feature: Formed from cooling magma or lava. Examples include granite (intrusive) and basalt (extrusive).
Sedimentary Rocks:
Feature: Created by sediment accumulation, showing distinct layers (bedding/stratification). Sandstone is an example.
Metamorphic Rocks:
Feature: Result from the transformation of existing rocks under high pressure and temperature, often displaying foliation. Slate is a foliated example.
Explain how volcanoes occur
collisions of tectonic plates pushing earth up and releasing heat from molten underneath
Define igneous rock types
Igneous rocks are rocks formed from melted magma or lava.
List the 4 most abundant gases found in the atmosphere in order of abundance.
Nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide
recall the layers of the atmosphere in order from closest to farthest.
Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, (exosphere)
In which layer of the atmosphere does all weather occur?
Troposphere
In which layer of the atmosphere is ozone most abundant
stratosphere
What is meant by the term TEMPERATURE INVERSION?
Temperature inversion is when the usual way temperatures drop as you go higher in the atmosphere gets reversed. In this situation, warmer air sits on top of cooler air, trapping pollutants and impacting the weather.
Why is the ozone layer beneficial to life on Earth?
Because ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun and protects from UV damage.
Identify two ways the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere interact.
All these spheres interact regarding the climate
What is the carbon-oxygen cycle?
the carbon-oxygen cycle describes the movement of carbon up the food chain and its return to the atmosphere.
What is a biogeochemical cycle?
the natural movement of elements or compounds through living things and the environment, like the air, soil, and water.
Describe the water cycle
The water cycle describe the continuous movement of water on, above, and below earth’s surface.
Define Sedimentary Rocks
Sedimentary rocks are formed from layers of tiny particles like sand, mud, or shells that have piled up and hardened over time.
Define Metamorphic rock types
Metamorphic rocks are rocks that have changed from their original form due to heat and pressure, often developing layers or patterns.
What is an open system?
An open system exchanges matter and energy with other systems (is not isolated from other systems)
Give an example of an open system
An ecosystem
What is a closed system?
A closed system is isolated from other systems in the environment. (doesn’t exchange matter but exchanges energy)
What is a semipermeable system?
A semipermeable system is like a middle ground between a closed and open system. It allows some energy and matter to move in and out, but it doesn’t freely exchange material with its surroundings.
Example of a semipermeable environment
A biological cell
What is a food chain
A single feeding pathway within ecosystems. Energy flow is represented by the arrows in the diagram
Describe a Producer (in terms of trophic level and role in the food chain)
A producer is represented on the first trophic level and is an autotroph in the food chain
Which trophic levels are described as heterotrophs?
Second trophic level, third trophic level, fourth tropic level (also described as consumers)
Example of an autotroph (1st trophic level, producer)
kangaroo grass
Example of primary consumer (second trophic level, heterotroph)
Eastern ringed xenica
Example of secondary consumer
snake
Example of tertiary consumer
wedge-tailed eagle
What is a biomass pyramid?
A biomass pyramid demonstrates the total try weight of living organic matter in a given area
What is a pyramid of numbers?
shows the number of organisms at each trophic level (doesn’t give an accurate picture of the amount of energy or biomass at each level)
What is soil?
Soil is a mixture of particles formed over a long period by the weathering of rocks and the remains of dead organisms.
What are the soil profiles in order from the highest to lowest?
Surface Litter
A horizon
B horizon
C horizon
Rock
What is the A horizon made up of?
Topsoil
What is the B horizon made up of?
Subsoil (usually coarser than the A horizon)
What is the C horizon made up of?
Parent material
What is a Terrestrial ecosystem?
a land-based ecosystem
What is an aquatic ecosystem?
Water-based ecosystem
What is Aerobic respiration?
Aerobic respiration is the process by which animals, fungi, microorganisms and plants break down glucose to produce energy.
Evaporation is the process of ________
water changing from liquid to gas
Transpiration occurs when ______
water evaporates from plants, mainly through their leaves
Condensation is the process of _________
changing water from gas to liquid
Precipitation refers to _____
the process after water vapour has condensed and falls from the sky is various forms (rain, snow, sleet, hail, etc.)
Infiltration occurs when _______
water that falls to the ground if soaked into the earth. This can collect and form groundwater.
Surface run-off occurs when _______
water does not soak into the ground, but instead flows across land.
Give examples of Biotic factors
Animals (such as mice, kangaroos, insects, birds etc.)
Plants
Decomposers
Give examples of Abiotic factors
Earth cycles
Wind
Sun
Atmosphere
Temperature
What is an ecosystem?
A community of living organisms interacting together with their non-living environment. Contains a number of communities
What is a community?
made up of different species that interact at a specific location
what is a habitat?
a place/location where an organism exists/lives
What is a species?
One singular type of animal of the same kind that can breed together