Unit 1 Outcome 1 Flashcards
Carbon-oxygen cycle
The biogeochemical cycle by which carbon is exchanged among the Earth’s spheres
Limestone weathering (carbon-oxygen)
Calcium carbonate in limestone reacts with acids in rain and soil, producing carbon dioxide which moves into the atmosphere
Fossilisation and unavailable carbon (carbon-oxygen)
Involves burial and transformation of organic matter into fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas). Removes carbon from cycle to store as unavailable carbon
Combustion of fossil fuels (carbon-oxygen)
Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned. Human impact on carbon cycle.
Deforestation and fires (carbon-oxygen)
When trees and vegetation are cut down, burned or left to decay, the carbon stored in their biomass is released into the atmosphere as CO2
Photosynthesis (carbon-oxygen)
Plants absorb solar energy, carbon dioxide and water to convert them into oxygen, water and glucose (energy)
Cellular respiration (carbon-oxygen)
Animals eat the glucose-containing plants to power cellular respiration, and then release CO2 as a waste product
Decomposition (carbon-oxygen)
Decomposers break down complex organic molecules into simpler compounds (such as CO2) through the process of decay
Carbon sequestration (carbon-oxygen)
Plants or oceans absorb carbon dioxide. Removing carbon from atmosphere.
Volcanic eruption (carbon-oxygen)
Release large amount of carbon dioxide directly into atmosphere
Nitrogen cycle
The nitrogen cycle transforms and circulates nitrogen in various forms through Earth’s spheres
Atmospheric nitrogen fixation (nitrogen)
Lightning strike generates energy which splits nitrogen gas into nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide. These then dissolve in water droplets in clouds, which is them transported to Earth’s surface through precipitation.
Assimilation (nitrogen)
Plants and some microorganisms take up ammonium and nitrate ions from the soil
Consumption (nitrogen)
Animals acquire organic nitrogen by consuming plants or other animals
Ammonification (nitrogen)
Decomposers break down organic nitrogen compounds found in dead organisms, faeces, and other organic matter to convert them to ammonia or ammonium ions to release them back into the soil.
Volcanic eruptions (nitrogen)
Volcanic eruptions release nitrogen gas straight into the atmosphere
Denitrification by bacteria (nitrogen)
Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrate and nitrite ions into nitrogen gas. Opposite to nitrification.
Nitrogen fixation by bacteria (nitrogen)
Atmospheric nitrogen gas is converted into ammonia or ammonium ions by nitrogen-fixing bacteria found in the soil
Nitrification (nitrogen)
Ammonia is converted to nitrite ions by nitrifying bacteria. Nitrite ions are oxidized into nitrate ions by other nitrifying bacteria.
Water cycle
The continuous cycling and exchange of water on, above, and below the Earth’s surface. Driven by solar energy.
Transpiration (water)
Water is absorbed by plants from the soil through their roots. Water is pulled up the stem by transpirational pull and is evaporated from leaves into the atmosphere.
Condensation (water)
When in the atmosphere, water vapour cools and condenses, it forms clouds
Precipitation (water)
Occurs when clouds become saturated with water droplets which then fall to the ground
Surface run-off (water)
The movement of water over the land surface. Run-off then collects in bodies of water.
Infiltration (water)
Precipitation that falls onto land can infiltrate into the soil, replenishing groundwater reservoirs
Groundwater flow (water)
Water that infiltrates into the soil becomes groundwater, which slowly moves through underground aquifers
Evaporation (water)
The sun heats bodies of water such as oceans, lakes, and rivers, causing water to change from liquid to vapor and rise into the atmosphere
Freezing (water)
Freezing converts water from the liquid state to the solid state. Acts as water storage. Water is removed from cycle until melted.
Melting (water)
Converts water stored as ice and snow back into liquid water
Sublimation (water)
The process which transitions ice (solid) directly from a solid to water vapour (gas), bypassing liquid phase
Deposition (water)
Water vapor (gas) transforms into ice (solid) bypassing the liquid phase
Percolation (water)
The movement of water through soil, rock, or other porous materials
Non-living systems
Hydrosphere, lithosphere & atmosphere
Living system
Biosphere
The biosphere
Sphere that contains all living things
Ecosystem
A specific group of organisms that depend on each other and interact with the abiotic components of the environment
Biota
The collective term for plants, animals, micro-organisms and other living things
The Atmosphere
The gaseous envelope of air that is held close to the Earth’s surface by gravity
Troposphere
Layer of atmosphere closest to Earth. Composed of nitrogen, argon and carbon dioxide. Where clouds are visible and weather takes place.
The Stratosphere
Second layer of atmosphere. Air is roughly a thousand times thinner at the top of the stratosphere than it is at sea level.
The Mesosphere
Third layer of atmosphere. Where meteors are seen.
The Thermosphere
Outer layer of atmosphere. Includes ionosphere. Where satellites, space shuttles and auroras are found.
Solar energy
Energy emitted from the sun
When solar energy reaches the troposphere, it becomes…
Visible light and infrared light
The natural greenhouse effect
Process where solar energy is trapped by the greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. Maintains global temperatures.
Climate
Average weather conditions of a place over time
Weather
Day-to-day changes in conditions of atmosphere
Enhanced greenhouse effect
Unnatural amounts of greenhouse gasses found in atmosphere. Causing increase in heat trapped in atmosphere, increasing global temperatures. Caused by human activity.
The Hydrosphere
Encompasses all water found on Earth
Surface water
Bodies of water that are visible on the Earth’s surface (rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, and oceans)
Groundwater
Water found beneath the Earth’s surface, stored within soil pores and rock fractures in the subsurface layers
Glaciers
Large, slow-moving masses of ice formed from the accumulation and compaction of snow over many years. Stored water is released through melting.
Ice caps
Polar ice caps are large areas of ice covering the polar regions of Earth. Polar ice caps store enormous amounts of freshwater in the form of ice.
The lithosphere
Forms the outermost solid layer of the Earth, which includes the crust and the upper mantle.
Continental drift
Landforms have since drifted apart to their current positions over millions of years. Supported by the fact that Earth’s lithosphere is separated into large segments - called tectonic plates.
Tectonic plates
Tectonic plates are large, mobile plates under the Earth surface
Continental plates
Tectonic plates found under continents
Oceanic plates
Tectonic plates found under the ocean
Convection current
Molten material in the mantle, which nudge the tectonic plates, causing them to move.
Plate tectonics
A more complex view of tectonic plate movement. Includes theory of continental drift and cause of movement (convection currents)
Convergent plate boundary
Caused when tectonic plates collide and one is pulled below the other into the mantle
Divergent plate boundary
Caused when tectonic plates move away from each other - resulting in new lithosphere being created in between
Transform-fault boundary
Caused when tectonic plates slide horizontally past each other
The rock cycle
The continuous process that describes the transformation of rocks from one type to another
Examples of igneous rock
Granite, Basalt and Obsidian
Weathering and erosion (rock cycle)
Weathering breaks down the rocks into smaller fragments and sediments.
Erosion transports the fragments and sediments away.
Transportation and deposition (rock cycle)
Weathered and eroded sediments are then transported by agents such as water, wind, ice, or gravity and deposited in various environments such as rivers, oceans, or glaciers.
Lithification (rock cycle)
As sediment layers accumulate after deposition, the weight of overlying sediments compresses the lower layers, leading to compaction.
Cementation (rock cycle)
When mineral-rich groundwater creates minerals between the sediment grains, which binds them together - forming sedimentary rocks.
Examples of sedimentary rocks
Sandstone, shale and limestone
Metamorphism (rock cycle)
Sedimentary rocks or igneous rocks are subjected to heat, pressure, or chemically reactive fluids. Transform into metamorphic rocks.
Examples of metamorphic rock
Marble, slate and Gneiss
Melting and recrystallization (rock cycle)
Metamorphic rocks exposed to extreme temperatures and pressures may undergo partial or complete melting, forming magma.
Upon cooling and solidification, this magma forms new igneous rocks, completing the cycle.
Radioactive dating
Method used to determine the age of rocks and minerals by measuring the amount of certain radioactive isotopes they contain.
Sand soil
Comprised of larger particles that allows water to pass through quickly
Clay soil
Retain water for long periods, as a result they can become water logged.
Porosity
The number and size of the spaces between the particles
Soil fertility
The availability of nutrients for plants. Is dependent on the climate and the type of parent rock.
A horizon (soil)
Topsoil, is fertile and is where most soil organisms live
B horizon (soil)
Subsoil, receives clay particles and soluble particles that are washed down from A.
C horizon (soil)
The parent material.
Ecology
Ecology is the study of ecosystems
Abiotic
Non-living environmental factor. Found in non-living spheres (hydrosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere)
Biotic
Living environmental factor. Found in living sphere (biosphere)
Food web
A food web links all the food chains in an ecosystem together to show all interactions in an ecosystem.
Food chain
A sequence that links species by their feeding relationships, from one individual to another. Showing movement of energy up trophic levels.
Trophic level
The position of an organism in the food chain
Producer
Autotroph. Produces their own energy from sunlight. Usually through photosynthesis.
Primary consumer
Heterotroph. Consumes producer.
Secondary consumer
Heterotroph. Consumes primary consumer.
Tertiary consumer
Heterotroph. Consumes secondary consumer.
Autotroph
An organism that can produce its own food using light, water, carbon dioxide, or other chemicals.
Heterotroph
An organism that eats other plants or animals for energy and nutrients
Decomposer
An organism that breaks down dead organic material; also sometimes referred to as detritivores
