Topic 1-Global Systems

Question 1

Solar Energy

Answer 1

Comes from the sun
Occurs across a spectrum
Chlorophyll only absorbs certain wavelengths of light
Photosynthesis is more efficient when exposed to blue and red light waves

Question 2

Earth’s Energy Budget

Answer 2

Earth’s energy budget accounts for the balance between the energy that Earth receives from the Sun and the energy the Earth loses back into outer space.

Question 3

Visible light

Answer 3

Visible light is light that the human eye is able to comprehend as a result of it’s wavelength.

Question 4

Infrared Light

Answer 4

Infrared light is a form of light that the human eye cannot see, though it can be felt as heat. This is because it has a longer wavelength than visible light

Question 5

Ultraviolet Radiation

Answer 5

Ultraviolet light is a form of light that the human eye cannot see. This is because it has a shorter wavelength than visible light

Question 6

Albedo Effect

Answer 6

The albedo effect is the ability for a surface to reflect light.

Question 7

Greenhouse Effect

Answer 7

The greenhouse effect refers to the gasses in our atmosphere preventing sunlight from leaving.

Question 8

The Water Cycle

Answer 8

The water Cycle refers to the continued reuse of water through evaporation, condensation and a plethora of others

Question 9

Transpiration

Answer 9

Water is absorbed by plants from the soil through their roots
The water travels up the stem of the plant to the leaves
The water is released into the atmosphere through stomata
Microscopic hole that releases water

Question 10

Condensation

Answer 10

Cooling of water vapour in the atmosphere
Water vapour condenses into water droplets forming clouds
Involves the hydro and atmo spheres

Question 11

Precipitation

Answer 11

Water drops formed by condensation fall to earth.
Can fall as snow, hail, rain or sleet.

Question 12

Surface Run off

Answer 12

Refers to the movement of water over the land surface
Runoff ends in rivers, streams, lakes and oceans.
Can transport sediment, nutrients and pollutants to other areas.

Question 13

Infiltration

Answer 13

Any precipitation that falls onto the land can soak int othe soil refilling groundwater sources.

Question 14

Ground Water Flow

Answer 14

Water that infiltrates into the soil becomes groundwater, which slowlyu moves through aquifers

Question 15

Aquifer

Answer 15

An aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing material, consisting of permeable or fractured rock, or of unconsolidated materials. Aquifers vary greatly in their characteristics.

Question 16

Evaporation

Answer 16

When the sun heats bodies of water such as oceans, lakes and rivers
Causes water to change from liquid to water vapour and rises into the atmosphere.

Question 17

Freezing

Answer 17

Freezing converts water from a liquid to a solid
Acts as water storage
Water is removed from the cycle until it has melted.

Question 18

Melting

Answer 18

When ice and snow are converted back into water
After melting, snow and ice refills rivers, lakes and oceans

Question 19

Deposition

Answer 19

Transforms water vapour to ice
Skips liquid phase
Forms snow ice and glaciers

Question 20

Percolation

Answer 20

The movement of water through soil and rock

Question 21

Nitrogen Cycle

Answer 21

Nitrogen is an essential element for living organism, as it is a component of proteins, nucleic acids and other organic molecules.
The nitrogen cycle transforms and circulates nitrogen in various forms through earths spheres.

Question 22

Atmospheric Nitrogen Fixation

Answer 22

Lightning strikes generate enough energy to separate nitrogen gas into nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide.
These smaller molecules dissolve in water droplets in clouds, forming nitric acid.
Nitric acid is transported to the earths surface through precipitation.

Question 23

Nitric Acid

Question 24

Assimilation

Answer 24

Plants and some microorganisms take up ammonium and nitrate ions from the soil to use in cell processes

Question 25

Consumption

Answer 25

Animals acquire organic nitrogen by consuming plants or other animals.

Question 26

Ammonification

Answer 26

Decomposers break down nitrogen compounds found in dead organisms and other organic matter.
Converts them to ammonia and ammonium ions
These more simple forms of nitrogen are released back into the soil.

Question 27

Volcanic eruption

Answer 27

Volcanic eruptions release nitrogen gas straight into the atmosphere
Heat and pressure created by eruptions leads to transformation of atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen oxides.

Question 28

Denitrification

Answer 28

Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrate and nitrite ions into nitrogen gas.
Nitrogen gas is returned to the atmosphere where it can be accessed again by nitrogen fixing bacteria.

Question 29

Nitrogen Fixation by bacteria

Answer 29

Atmospheric N2 is converted into ammonia or ammonium ions by nitrogen fixing bacteria found in the soil

Question 30

Nitrification

Answer 30

Ammonia is converted to nitrite ions by nitrifying bacteria
Nitrite ions are then oxidized into nitrate ions by other nitrifying bacteria.