UNIT 1- Earth and space Flashcards
The main greenhouse gases
• Water Vapour
• Carbon dioxide
• Nitrous Oxide
• Methane Gas
Consequences of a high concentration of green house gases
- Severe weather
- Rise in sea level
- Droughts
- Permafrost Thawing
Salinity
The salt content of ocean water
The more salt the water contains the more____ the _____ it is the ______ it sinks to the bottom
-the denser it is
-the denser the water is
-the faster it sinks to the bottom
Why do ocean have salts?
Seawater continuously pound against the lithosphere, dissolving salts in them
Why is there a high salt content on the equator?
The heat and drought evaporates the water, increasing Salinity
Why is there less salt content Near the poles?
Melting glaciers and pack ice add fresh water, diluting the saltwater
Permafrost
A layer of ground whose temperature has been 0 degrees for at least 2 years.
2 layers of permafrost
• The active layer -thin upper layer that melts in summer, supporting plant life in thawed soil
• A thick underlaying base of ground that never melts
Deep currents
A subsurface component of the general oceanic circulation caused by differences in water density, temperature and salinity
Subsurface currents
Wind driven and represent the most important cause of the ocean circulation. The rotation of the earth and tides also plays a role in this circulation
Impacts of global warming to the Thermohaline circulation.
Reduce the density of sinking water threatening to slow down the Thermohaline circulation
A catchment (Watershed)
A territory bounded by crest lines surrounding a network of rivers and streams, which also includes groundwater and surface run-offs
Oceanic circulation
Represents the movement of waters all around earth. Distributes sun energy more evenly between the poles and equator
Thermohaline circulation
Connects the deep and surface currents, it regulates temperature preventing extreme cold at the poles and extreme heat at the equator
A glacier
A slowly sliding mass of ice which is formed on land due to the accumulation of snow on top of it
Pack ice
A mass of ice which is formed on the surface of the ocean due to cold temperatures which freeze the top layer of the water
non renewable energy souce
Is finite. Will eventually run out of
Renewable energy
Constantly replenished. Will never run out of
Nuclear energy (Uranium)
An energy trapped inside the nucleus of an atom, when uranium nuclei are split in a nuclear reactor it release a large amount of energy and radioactive radiation.
Geothermal energy
Below the lithosphere lays a hot magma which release thermal energy, when the energy is harnessed it’s called Geothemics
Wind energy
Harnessed using wind mills. The wind causes the turbines to rotate an coverts mechanical energy to electrical energy
Solar pannels
Captured using solar panels. As the sun’s rays hit panels containing photovoltaic cells, they cause electrons to flow creating current electricity
Hydroelectricity
Use the movement of falling water to spin turbines, the turbines convert mechanical energy to electrical
Wave energy
Produced when the energy contained in the movement of water is harnessed using buoys
Ocean currents
Spin underwater turbine (just like wind turbines) using buoys
Tidal Energy
Electricity can be produced when water from a High tide is collected then falls
Carbon cycle
A set process by which the essential element carbon passes from one environment to the next and return to its original environment
