The Biosphere and its ENERGY Flashcards
concept 1-
biosphere
narrows zone around earth that harbours life
what 4 things make up the biosphere?
lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and living things
abiotic
non-living
biotic
living
what two sources provide the biosphere with all its energy?
primarily the sun, but also the earth’s core
True or False: all of the energy that enters the biosphere leaves the biosphere
TRUE
all of the energy that enters the biosphere is either …… or ……?
absorbed or reflected by land, water, plants, and gases
How does an object gain heat?
by absorbing solar energy
Where does solar energy that is reflected go?
back to space
Why do plants need to absorb solar energy?
so they can perform photosynthesis
conduction
when energy is moved around due to air heated by land or water
convection
when energy is moved around due to wind or water currents
radiation
eventually, all absorbed energy is lost as radiation.
photosynthesis
the conversion of carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen using the light energy from the sun.
occurs in plants, algae, and some bacteria
chemosynthesis
conversion of carbon dioxide and water into sugars using chemical energy found in chemicals from the earth’s crust.
occurs in specialized bacteria
cellular respiration
conversion of glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide, water, and usable energy for the cell.
occurs in all living things
what is a trophic cascade?
an ecological phenomenon triggered by the addition or removal of top predators in an ecosystem and this usually results in dramatic changes in the ecosystem structure and nutrient cycling
what is an invasive species?
a non-native species whose introduction can cause harm.
ex. ravenous snakes
