Lecture 23: Global Ecology Flashcards
1
Q
Global Ecology
A
- Elements move among geologic, atmospheric, oceanic, and biological pools at a global scale -> Carbon main focus
Earth is warming because of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gasses - Share atmosphere and an ocean (keep this in mind)
2
Q
Global Biogeochemical Cycles
A
- Global cycling of carbon ( C ), nitrogen (N), phosphorus(P) emphasized because opf biological importance
- Roles in human alteration of the global environment
- Marine biota-> surface ocean waters-> atmosphere
3
Q
Carbon Pools Located In
A
- Rocks
- Atmosphere
- Surface ocean waters
- Benthic sediments
- Marine biota
- Solis
- Vegetation
- Deep ocean water
- Every single pool affects another all dependent on carbon diffusion
4
Q
Carbon
A
critical for energy transfer and biomass
5
Q
Pool or resivoir
A
- Amount of an element in a component of the biosphere
- Movement among these pools is over weeks to decades
6
Q
Flux
A
rate of movement of an element between pools
7
Q
Atmosphere Through Diffusion Will ___
A
have carbon going from surface ocean waters to marine biota then deep ocean waters
8
Q
4 Major Pools
A
- Ocean
- Dissolves CO2
- But think of the deep oceans - Atmosphere
- Vegetation and soils
- Rocks and sediments
- 3 fluxes were unbalanced creating patterns of precipitation (atmosphere, forest and fauna, soils)
9
Q
Anthropogenic
A
- Release of C to the atmosphere
- Before mid-nineteenth century deforestation was the main flux
- Removing forest canopy warms the soli
- Increases rates of decomposition and respiration
- Burning trees release CO2 and small amounts of CO and CH4
10
Q
In the 20th Century Major Deforestation
A
- Shifted from the mid-latitudes to the tropics
- Caused from terrestrial pool results from land use change
- Mostly from deforestation (20%)
- From burning fossil fuels (80%)
11
Q
Since Mid 19th Century
A
- CO2 concentrations have increased at a rate faster than at any other time in the past 400,00 years
- Methane is 4x the impact as greenhouse gas than CO2
12
Q
Emissions of CO2
A
more than doubled from 1970-2011
13
Q
Athabasca Oil Sands
A
once a source of oil, economic growth and environmental concern
14
Q
Fossil Fuels
A
- Apart of slow carbon cycle/deep carbon soil
- Further extent of the pools and flux’s carbon going through the mantle cause of subduction zone
- Deep ocean waters carbon can enter the sedimentary & soil flux
15
Q
Simplified Global Carbon Cycle
A
Deep cycle/slow cycle can divide rocks and sediments and soils as two
