atmosphere and soil ecology Flashcards
(32 cards)
orographic
of or relating to mountains;especially associated with or induced by the presence of mountains
greenhouse gases
water vapor (H2O) carbon dioxide CO2, methane CH4 nitrous oxide N2O-fermintation, OZONE, chloroflurocarbons image: guy driving car on cold day, breathing out, farting, banana ferminting, fertialzer back, and spray self with aerosale (chloroflourocarbons).
How do scientists tell the difference between them?
They can look at the soil’s physical characteristics such as pH, color, particle size, permeability and water-holding capacity
natural greenhouse effect
natural warming effect of troposphere. Natural effect that releases heat in atomposhere near earth’s surface. Greenhouse gases (above + ozone) and other gases in lowere atmopshere (troposphere) absor some of infared radiation heat radiated by earths surface. Molecules vibrate and transform absorbed energy into longer wavelenght infared radiation in troposphere. IF atomosphere concentrations of green house gases increase and other natural processes do not remove the, AVG TEMP of lower atmosphere will increase (compare to global warming: warming of earths lower atmosphere (troposphere) b/c increase in concentrations of one or more greenhouse gases. Can result in climate change that last for decades to thousands of years.
light spectrum
(low) radio infared normal or visable light ultraviolet XRAY Gamma Cosmic Ray
weather
Weather is the current state of the atmosphere and is determined by factors like temperature, pressure and humidity.
Erosion
the wearing down of soil by wind, water, heating and freezing
soil
The top layer of the earth’s surface in which plants can grow, consisting of minerals, dead organic material = abiotic since dead organic. Types of soil clay, sand, and silt. Capable of retaining water
soil’s importance
medium for plant growth; principal factor controlling fate water in terrestrial env; nature’s recycling system which breaks down waste products of plants and animals and transforms them into their basic elements; and habitat to diversity of animal life from small mammals to countliess forms microbial life.
what effects does soil show?
The unconsolidated mineral or organic matter on the surface of the Earth that has been subjected to and shows effects of genetic and environmental factors of: climate (including water and temperature effects), and macro- and microorganisms, conditioned by relief, acting on parent material over a period of time.
what function do each of microcrobes do in soil
Soil Fungus good fungi help plants get nutrients from the soil. Mites - soil mites eat good and bad fungus. They carry bacteria around on their backs! They are an important part of healthy soil. Bacteria Bacteria can be good or bad.
what microcrobes are in soil?
bacteria, fungi (fungus) and mites
arthropods
an invertebrate animal of the large phylum Arthropoda, such as an insect, spider, or crustacean.
humus
the organic component of soil, formed by the decomposition of leaves and other plant material by soil microorganisms.
what other organisms besides microboes live in soil
Spiders, beetles, earthworms, ants and many other arthropods are some of the visible members of the soil community.
Nutrition
the energy (food source) needed by living things to be able to survive and thrive
Horizon
in soil, horizons are another name for its layers
Soil is layered.
The upper layer or SOIL HORIZON has more organic matter and water, causing it to be darker. Plant roots use this area to get nutrition, water and oxygen.
Soil is described by its particle size.
All soil is made up of sand, silt and clay. The larger or coarser particles are sand. The smallest particles cling together to make clay. This de- scribes the particle sizes, not the type of parent material it is composed of.
soil layers
Soil is layered (horizons); the upper A Horizon has more organic matter, water and air. This is good for plants. The lower layers tend to be less broken down, with less organic matter, air and water.
Silt
a type of soil particle between the smallest (clay) and the largest (sand)
soil colors
Black/Dark Brown Soil that has high organic matter content and nutrients for plants. Yellow or Gold Soil from certain sandstones. Light Brown Clay soils with low organic matter content. Soils formed mainly in materials left from ancient sea beds. Red Soil with high iron content. White or Cream Soil with high amounts of lime or formed in wind-blown silty material.
Parent Materials
in soil, parent materials are the types of rocks and minerals that eventually become soil over time
How is soil formed?
Soil is formed slowly as rocks break down into tiny pieces, through EROSION. Organic material decays (assisted by action living organisms) and mixes with INORGANIC MATERIALS and water to form soil. Soil even has air in it!