Science Glossary Unit Two Flashcards
Burn Scar
Land previously burned and damaged by a forest fire.
Zombie Fire
Forest fires in the fall that burn underground during winter and resurface in the spring.
Fuel
A mass of matter that is flammable and contains energy
Energy
Flows through a system once, dissipates as heat.
Matter
Cycles through ecosystems.
Cellular Respiration
Process of converting energy and matter from fuel to usable energy and other products.
C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + 36 ATP energy
Stored in the bonds of sugar molecules, ATP energy is produced as a byproduct after the due process of cellular respiration.
Anaerobic Respiration
Ability to break down energy without an oxidant.
- Anaerobic Respiration yields way less energy than aerobic respiration.
- Glucose → 2 ATP energy
Carbon Sink
Large storage of carbon that keeps carbon out of the atmosphere
Photosynthesis
Using light to create chemical energy.
The plants that photosynthesize support the whole system.
6CO₂ + 6H₂O → (energy) C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
Photo meaning light (ie. photon, photography, etc), and synthesis meaning to create.
Directional Hypothesis
A proposed explanation for the relationship between two variables in a phenomenon.
Chemical Energy
Artificial energy made by the conversion of one molecule to another.
Light energy → Chemical energy
Fire Suppression
A policy to a) extinguish fires, and b) preventing intentional arson/burns.
Prescribed burns often clear out dead underbrush. With fire suppression, the risk of carbon sinks becoming more detrimental and unmanageable when burned increases.
Climate Change
A long term shift in temperature, precipitation and other weather patterns in any ecosystem
Sphere
Denoting any collection of things with a similar characteristic
Bio: Living organisms | Litho/Geo: Mainly landmasses and rocks | Atmo: The sky (and more specifically the layers of gas) | Hydro: Any body of water
Positive Feedback Loop
When the product of a reaction leads to an increase in that reaction.
Carbon Cycle
The path in which carbon moves through the four spheres via different processes
carbon might not be found in the same structure, but the atoms are still there nonetheless
Interest Holder
Some directly affected by an issue who has a valid opinion in the stakes of the issue
Criteria
Requirements for a specific situation to be considered complete, or principles for upon something to be judged
Constraints
Something that prevents the meeting of a request
