Unit A – Biosphere Flashcards
What is a closed system?
In a closed system, energy can move in and out but matter cannot, therefore all matter has to be recycled, changed, and reused
Is the earth a closed or open system?
The earth is a closed system
What help sustain life on earth?
Incoming solar energy and the cycling of matter
What is the biosphere?
A narrow zone around the earth in which all life exists (10 km below ground level to 30 km above)
What is dynamic equilibrium?
The steady-state of ecosystems; Adjustments are continually made to the ever-changing earth, without disturbing the entire system
Where is 99% of life on earth found?
1 km up and 1 m down
What are the three parts that make up the biosphere?
Atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere
What is the atmosphere?
What is the lithosphere?
What is the hydrosphere?
Air
Land
Water
What are ecologists?
People who study the interactions among living things and the relations they have with their nonliving environment
What does abiotic mean?
What does biotic mean?
Abiotic – nonliving
Biotic – living
What are ecosystems?
Regions of the biosphere wherw biotic and abiotic factors interrelate to the flow of energy and cycling of matter
What is biodiversity?
The number of species in an ecosystem
What is extinction?
What is extirpation?
Extinction is total elimination
Extirpation is when a species is eliminated from a certain area
How is the biosphere maintained?
The biosphere is maintained by a constant flow of energy, originating at the sun
Solar radiation hits the earth, some is absorbed, some is reflected back into space as heat
Why does the earth heat unevenly?
What does this cause?
The earth heats unevenly because of its curvature
This results in weather systems and climatic differences
The sun is at an angle. What happens when you change the angle?
Change the angle and the same amount of radiation is spread out over a larger area (think of a shining flashlight on a ball)
Radiation from the sun strikes the earth at ___°
What does this do?
90°
This delivers much more energy per-unit area and radiation striking the earth at higher latitudes
The earths axis is tilted at ___°
23.5°
Why doesn’t the equator experience seasons?
Because it always receives the same amount of solar radiation
Where does the earth receive energy?
The earths core, tidal energy, the sun
What is albedo?
Degree to which materials reflect solar radiation
Does a lighter color mean higher albedo or lower albedo?
Lighter color – higher albedo
What are the properties of something with higher albedo
Greater reflection and less energy available for organisms
How is albedo represented?
Using a decimal number, telling you the percent of reflected radiation