Topic 2 Flashcards
Environmental cycles
The water cycle
Is the cycling of water through the lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.
Driven by solar energy
transpiration
Water is absorbed by plants from the soil through their roots
The water travels up the stem of the plants to the leaves
The water is released into the atmosphere through stomata
Condensation
Cooling of water vapour(gas) in atmosphere
Water vapour condenses into water droplets(liquid) forming clouds.
Precipiation
Water drops formed by condensation fall to earth
Can fall as rain, snow or hail
Surface run off
Refers to the movement of water over the land surface
Can transport sediment, nutrients and pollutants to other areas.
Percolation
The movement of water through soil and rock
Infiltration
Precipitation that falls onto land can soak into the soil, refilling groundwater sources
Ground water flow
Water that infiltrates into the soil becomes groundwater, which slowly moves through underground aquifers
Aquifer
Evaporation
The sun heats bodies of water such as oceans lakes and rivers
Causes water to change from liquid to water vapour and rise into the atmosphere
Freezing
Freezing converts water from the liquid state to the solid state.
Acts as water storage
Water is removes from cycle until melted
Melting
Converts ice and snow back into liquid water
After melting snow and ice refills rivers lakes and oceans
Carbon oxygen cycle
The cycle that transfers carbon through the atmosphere, lithosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere
Volcanic eruptions
Release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Cellular respiration
Animals eat the plants and take in 02 to power cellular respiration and then release CO2 into the atmosphere.
Works with photosynthesis to act as carbon transfer between organisms.
Photosynthesis
Plant cells absorb solar energy, carbon dioxide and water and convert them into oxygen, water and glucose(energy).
Works with cellular respiration to act as carbon transfer between organisms.
Carbon sequestration
On land, plants take in carbon dioxide to use in photosynthesis and store within their tissues (cells).
In the ocean, phytoplankton and other marine organisms take in carbon through photosynthesis.
Oceans also dissolve carbon dioxide.
C02 combines with the water and forms calcium formation of calcium carbonate shells.
Decomposition
When organisms die, their organic matter becomes available for decomposition by decomposers.
Decomposers break down complex organic molecules (like glucose) int simpler compounds (such as CO2)
Fossilisation and unavailable carbon
Involves the burial and transformation of organic matter into fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural.
Removes carbon from the cycle as it is transformed into fossil fuels.
Once fossil fuels are formed, they remain underground until extracted.
Limestone and weathering
Limestone is primarily composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3)
Calcium carbonate reacts with acids found in rainwater and soil.
Produces CO2 which is released into the atmosphere.
Combustion of fossil fuels
When burned, fossil fuels release large amounts of caron dioxide into the atmosphere.
Fossil fuels are burned for energy production, transportation, industrial processes, and heating.
Not part of natural carbon cycle (human impact)
Deforestation and fires
