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ENSC 201 > Week 4 > Flashcards

Week 4 Flashcards

1
Q

what is the foundational unit of matter

A

atoms. they are the smallest unit to exhibit characteristic of an element

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2
Q

what is a molecule

A

2 or more atoms joined together

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3
Q

what are the 4 coumpunds that make up life

A

carbs
fats
protein
nuc acid

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4
Q

what are the sates that matter can exist

A

solid, liquid and gas

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5
Q

what is a biogeochemical cycle

A

the continuous cycling of nutrients found within the ecosphere
may either be gaseous or sedimentary

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6
Q

what is nitrogen

A

N2 is a tasteless, colorless and odorless gas required by all orgs

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7
Q

what is the nitrogen cycle

A

1) fixation: turning N2 into NH3 or NH4+ by bacteria (Rhizobium Family) or lightning
2)nitrification by chemotrophic bacteria (biological) of NH4+ into NO2- and NO3, which is used by plants

rather instead of fixation, N2 for dead organic matter can be converted into NH4 through ammonification

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8
Q

why is nitrogen important

A

the amount of nitrogen within a system impacts the systems biological and ecosys processes

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9
Q

what is denitrification

A

the conversion of nitrates into N2 by anaerobic bacteria

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10
Q

in what form is carbons mostly stored as

A

CO2

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11
Q

what is the C cycle

A

1) carbon is consumed by animals
2) co2 from respiration
3)co2 uptaken by plants with sun and h2o
4) o2 is produced

when animals or plants die the co2 in their bodies are decomposed and co2 is returned to the atmos

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12
Q

how can C be stored in the earth?

A

when particular conditions are met. usually encompassing very oxygen-depleted areas (peat bogs) where decomposition cannot readily take place. the matter may be carried rapidly as well which preserved structures

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13
Q

how much of earth’s surface is comprised of water?

A

71% where 97% is ocean and 3% is fresh

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14
Q

which spheres does the water cycle travel through

A

atmosphere
lithospere
bioshpere

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15
Q

where is water stored

A

lithosphere (ground water and aquifers)
lacks
oceans
glaciers

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16
Q

what is the water cycle

A

1) precipitation
2) runnoff (if on land)
3) evaporation or transpiration
4) condensation

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17
Q

how much water is precipitated onto land? oceans?

A

24%=land
76%=oceans

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18
Q

how much water is evap from land? oceans?

A

14%=land
86%= oceans

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19
Q

what is the residence time

A

the rate at which molecules move through a hydrological system. (measured in time)

active movement = river= short
in a reserviour= glacier or ocean= long

20
Q

what is precipitation

A

the solid or liqud form of water that forms under saturated conditions and falls to earth once at 100% humidity

21
Q

what is required for precipitation to occur?

A

condensation nuclei
saturation cooling by uplift

22
Q

what are condensation nuclei

A

small particles that provided the foundation for water droplet formation. water vapor condenses around these particles to form clouds

23
Q

what are the mechanisms that lift water

A

1) Frontal/ convergence
2) orographic
3) radiative cooling
4) Convectional

24
Q

what is orographic uplift

A

the movement of water from a low elevation to a high elevation, forced by topography of a region.
this results in adiabatic cooling of the gas pocket until 100% humidity is reached

25
Q

what si the dry lapse air rate? moist air lapse rate? which is fatser?

A

DALR= 10 per km
MALS= 6 per km

Moist is faster

26
Q

what is the lapse rate

A

the decrease in the temperature of an air parcel as it increases in elevation

27
Q

leeward side vs windward side

A

leeward side is on the other side of the geographical feature, wind is generally warmer as the cloud passes over
the windward side is the side of a topographical feature that the water body resides on. wind is generally cooler

28
Q

what is a rain shadow and why does it happen

A

it is the reduction of rainfall on the leeward side of a topographical feature due to the shelter it provides. I’m contrast the windward side generally emperors much more rain fall.

29
Q

what is frontal lifting

A

the displacement of warm moist vs cool dry air when 2 wind forces meet

here the warm wind is forced upward and cools to its dew point. this is common along the equatorial zone of the earth

30
Q

what is convective lifting

A

the rising of air due to the heating of the ground by the sun, causing it to rapidly rise to meet its dew point

this type commonly gives rise to short and intense thundershowers

31
Q

what is radiative cooling

A

the cooling of the earth surface which causes air to cool and condense as well near the surface

32
Q

what is rain

A

liquid precip that falls to earth with a diameter greater than 0.5mm but less than 5mm

33
Q

what is freezing rain

A

the resulting precipitation when he atmosphere is above ) but the surface is below 0, ice forms when rain hits the surface

34
Q

what is sleet

A

transparent ice pellets less than 5mm. this is due to the atmosphere being above 0, but the rain drops are able to freeze before hitting the ground

35
Q

what is snow

A

ice crystals that form on condensation nuclei. the atmosphere must be below 0

36
Q

what is hail

A

frozen ball of precipitate caused by strong updrafts. these balls are commonly greater than 5mm

37
Q

what is a sedimentary cycle

A

the mobilization of materials that are sourced from the lithosphere by geological uplift. generally, these nutrients will travel through the hydro, possibly atmos back to the lith

38
Q

phosphorous

A

a macronutrient that exists in solid particulate form and is a critical component to metabolic function.

bc this nutrient is sourced from the lithosphere, regeneration by weathering is limited, therefor it stays in tight circulation/ storage of the biomass above ground.

39
Q

what is the dominant limiting factor in freshwater ecosystems and terrestrial plant growth

A

phosphorous

40
Q

what influences the availability of phosphorus in soil?

A

the pH. it is unavailable (insoluble in groundwater) at either very high or very low pH (less than 5.5 or greater than 7)

41
Q

what is guano

A

a biological source of phosphorous in the form of bird droppings, which act as fertilizer

42
Q

sulphur

A

an essential macronutrient that is a necessary component to proteins

may exist in solid or gaseous forms and requires to be converted into many different forms to be available

43
Q

what dictates the form of sulfur in soil

A

the presents of oxygen and the types of metal ions that are present. inorganic sulphur (sulfates) are readily uptaken by plants

44
Q

how do humans perturbation the biogeochemical cycles

A

we synthetically produce or extract minerals that are useful, commonly for agricultural uses.

commonly the nuties that are of interest are N, P, and K.

45
Q

what is cultural eutrophication, and what is the main cause?

A

the excessive growth of algae due to the surplus of agricultural minerals in bodies of water by runoff from HUMAN SOURCES.

may either by point sourced(sewage) or diffuse(farming)

46
Q

what is an oligotrophic system

A

an ecosystem devoid of nutrients, such as dissolved salts. This leads to an area with minimal growth high oxygen and lo organic material.

47
Q

what is the consequence of eutrophication

A

a surplus of P and N especially (sed min) causes algal blooms and suffocates aquatic ecosystems.

ENSC 201 (14 decks)

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