The spheres and climate change Flashcards
Define Biosphere
The biosphere is the global sum of all ecosystems, including all living organisms and their interactions with the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.
Define lithosphere
The lithosphere is the outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and the uppermost mantle, which is involved in tectonic activities.
Define hydrosphere
The hydrosphere includes all water on Earth, in various forms such as oceans, rivers, lakes, groundwater, and ice.
Define atmosphere
The atmosphere is the layer of gases surrounding Earth, protecting it from harmful solar radiation and supporting life by providing essential gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Describe the interaction between the biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere
These four spheres interact in a dynamic system where, for example, plants (biosphere) absorb water (hydrosphere), take nutrients from the soil (lithosphere), and exchange gases with the air (atmosphere), enabling the cycling of matter and supporting life.
Describe the phosphorus cycle
The phosphorus cycle involves the movement of phosphorus through rocks, water, soil, and organisms. It is released by weathering of rocks, absorbed by plants, and passed through the food chain, eventually returning to the soil and water bodies.
Describe the processes involved in the carbon cycle
The carbon cycle involves processes like photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and combustion, where carbon is cycled between the atmosphere, organisms, oceans, and lithosphere.
Describe the impact of the phosphorus cycle on global systems
The phosphorus cycle is critical for plant growth, which impacts food webs. Excess phosphorus from fertilizers can lead to eutrophication (over-fertilization (of water)), harming aquatic ecosystems.
Describe the impact of the nitrogen cycle on global systems
The nitrogen cycle is essential for life, as it makes nitrogen available for plant growth. Human activities, such as using fertilizers, can disrupt this cycle, leading to water pollution and contributing to greenhouse gases.
Describe the nitrogen cycle
The nitrogen cycle includes processes like nitrogen fixation, nitrification, assimilation, ammonification, and denitrification, converting nitrogen into forms usable by plants and cycling it through ecosystems.
Explain the role of radiation from the sun
Solar radiation is the primary energy source for Earth, driving photosynthesis, weather, and climate by providing heat and light.
How does the interaction of radiation from the sun with the atmosphere act as the foundation for the global climate system
Solar radiation heats the atmosphere unevenly, creating air currents and weather patterns, which are foundational to the global climate system.
How does the interaction of radiation from the sun with the ocean act as the foundation for the global climate system
Solar radiation heats the ocean, influencing sea surface temperatures and driving currents, which distribute heat globally and regulate climate.
Describe the factors, including energy, that drive deep ocean currents, their role in regulating global
climate and their effects on marine life
Deep ocean currents, driven by temperature and salinity differences, regulate global climate by redistributing heat and carbon, moderating temperature extremes, and influencing weather patterns. They also support marine life by distributing nutrients and aiding species’ migration and survival.
How does the interaction of radiation from the sun with the land act as the foundation for the global climate system
Solar radiation heats land surfaces, affecting air temperature, humidity, and contributing to the formation of wind and weather patterns that shape the climate system.
How is changes in oceans an indicator of climate change
Warming oceans, altered salinity, and changes in sea levels indicate climate change and affect weather, marine life, and global climate patterns.
How is changes in atmospheric temperatures an indicator of climate change
Rising atmospheric temperatures provide direct evidence of global warming, a key driver of climate change. These temperature shifts affect ecosystems, human societies, and the planet’s natural systems, leading to changes in weather patterns, sea levels, and biodiversity.
How are sea levels changing an indicator of climate change
Rising sea levels, caused by melting ice and thermal expansion of seawater, are a key indicator of climate change.
How is changes in biodiversity an indicator of climate change
Climate change affects species survival, leading to loss of biodiversity, which is an indicator of changing habitats and ecosystems.
How is changes in species distribution an indicator of climate change
Species are shifting to new habitats due to climate changes, reflecting changes in temperature, precipitation, and availability of resources.
How is changes in permafrost an indicator of climate change
Climate change causes it to warm up and ultimately thaw. This makes it a good indicator for detecting climate change.
What is the greenhouse effect
The greenhouse effect is the process by which gases in the atmosphere trap heat from the sun, keeping Earth warm enough to support life.
How is changes in sea ice an indicator of climate change
Decreasing sea ice reflects warming temperatures, impacting polar ecosystems and contributing to sea level rise and global climate feedback.
Difference between greenhouse effect and enhanced greenhouse effect
The greenhouse effect is natural, while the enhanced greenhouse effect is caused by increased greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, leading to global warming.
Explain the causes and effects of the greenhouse effect and the enhanced greenhouse effect
The natural greenhouse effect is essential for life. The enhanced greenhouse effect, caused by human activities, leads to global warming, affecting weather, sea levels, and ecosystems.
Discuss the link between the enhanced greenhouse effect and global warming
The enhanced greenhouse effect, due to excess greenhouse gases, increases Earth’s temperature, driving global warming and climate change.
Identify how scientists use climate modelling
Scientists use climate models to simulate and predict climate patterns, test scenarios, and understand potential impacts of different greenhouse gas levels on future climate.
Define the term ‘biodiversity’
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in all forms, including species diversity, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity.
Suggest why biodiversity is important to the survival of a species an the long term effects of the loss of
biodiversity
Biodiversity ensures ecosystem resilience and availability of resources. Loss of biodiversity reduces adaptability, risking ecosystem collapse and species extinction.
Describe the effect of climate change on sea level
Climate change causes sea levels to rise due to melting ice and thermal expansion of water, threatening coastal areas and ecosystems.
Describe the effect of climate change on biodiversity
Climate change disrupts habitats and species distributions, threatening biodiversity and increasing extinction risks.
Identify strategies for addressing global carbon emissions
Strategies include renewable energy adoption, energy efficiency, reforestation, carbon capture, and sustainable practices.
What is the Paris agreement
The Paris Agreement is an international treaty aiming to limit global warming to well below 2°C, preferably to 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels.
Signed 22 April 2016 with 196 signing it
Outline the importance of the Paris Agreement
It was adopted by 196 Parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, on 12 December 2015. It entered into force on 4 November 2016.
What is photosythensis
the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize nutrients from carbon dioxide and water. Photosynthesis in plants generally involves the green pigment chlorophyll and generates oxygen as a by-product.
Formula for photosynthesis
6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2.
Nitrogen cycle term nitrification
This is the process by which ammonium gets changed into nitrates by bacteria. Nitrates are what the plants can then absorb
Nitrogen cycle term Fixation
Fixation is the first step in the process of making nitrogen usable by plants. Here bacteria change nitrogen into ammonium
Nitrogen cycle term Assimilation
This is how plants get nitrogen. They absorb nitrates from the soil into their roots. Then the nitrogen gets used in amino acids, nucleic acids and chlorophyll
Nitrogen cycle term Ammonification
This is part of the decaying process. When a plant or animal dies, decomposers like fungi and bacteria turn the nitrogen back into ammonium, so it can reenter the nitrogen cycle
Nitrogen cycle term Denitrification
Extra nitrogen in the soil gets put back out into the air. There are special bacteria that performs this task well
Identify the purpose of climate models and why they are used by scientists.
Climate models are tools used by scientists to simulate and understand the Earth’s climate system. Their primary purpose is to project future climate conditions, assess the impacts of natural and human-induced changes, and guide policy decisions for climate mitigation and adaptation.
The biosphere consists of components that interact to support life on Earth. These are:
atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and biota.
How do deep ocean currents redistribute heat and why is it important
Deep ocean currents are crucial for redistributing heat, moving warm water from the equator to the poles and cold water from the poles to the equator, which helps moderate Earth’s climate and prevent extreme temperature differences.
What are the layers of the atmopshere
Layer - Temperature - Trend - Key Features
Troposphere Decreases Weather, life, water vapor.
Stratosphere Increases Ozone layer, absorbs UV radiation.
Mesosphere Decreases Burns meteors, coldest layer.
Thermosphere Increases Auroras, satellites, ionosphere.
Exosphere N/A Transition to space, sparse particles.
What are some indicators of climate change
ocean and atmospheric temperatures,
sea levels, biodiversity, species distribution, permafrost and sea ice
What is carbon capture
Carbon capture works by capturing CO₂ from industrial emissions or the atmosphere, transporting it, and either storing it underground or using it in industrial processes. This technology helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change impacts.
What distance is the troposphere
0 - 10 km
What distance is the stratosphere
10 - 30 km
What distance is the mesosphere
30 - 50 km
What distance is the thermosphere
50 - 400km
What distance is the exosphere
> 400km
