Chapter 7 Definitions

Question 0

Atmosphere

Answer 0

The earth is surrounded by a layer of gases called the atmosphere. The atmosphere is very important to life on Earth and does many things to help protect life and help life to survive.

Question 1

Biosphere

Answer 1

The biosphere is the life-support system of our planet. It consists of the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and biota.

Question 2

Lithosphere

Answer 2

the outermost layer of the Earth; includes the crust and uppermost part of the mantle

Question 3

hydrosphere

Answer 3

the water on the Earth’s surface

Question 4

Biota

Answer 4

all living things living things

Question 5

Troposphere

Answer 5

the layer of the atmosphere closest to the Earth’s surface. The particles of the air are packed most closely in this layer and they spread out further away from the surface.

Question 6

Stratosphere

Answer 6

the second layer of the atmosphere up to about 55 km above the Earth’s surface, between the troposphere and the mesosphere

Question 7

Ozone layer

Answer 7

a layer in the stratosphere, about 25 km above Earth, consists of high concentrations of ozone gas. This layer absorbs over 90 per cent of the sun’s ultraviolet light.

Question 8

Chlorofluorocarbons

Answer 8

Organic compounds used as coolant agents, propellants in aerosols, and solvents. Their manufacture is being phased out as they also cause damage to the ozone layer.

Question 9

igneous

Answer 9

rocks that form from the cooling of lava or magma as it is thrown through the air from a volcanic eruption

Question 10

Sedimentary

Answer 10

rocks formed from sediments deposited by water, wind or ice. The sediments are cemented together in layers, under pressure.

Question 11

metamorphic rocks

Answer 11

rocks formed from another rock that has been under great heat or pressure (or both)

Question 12

Biome

Answer 12

regions of the Earth divided according to dominant vegetation type

Question 13

Climate

Answer 13

the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period.

Question 14

tropical zone

Answer 14

Between 23.5o north (the tropic of Cancer) and 23.5o south (the tropic of Capricorn) of the equator. The sun’s rays are most intense and the temperatures are always warm.

Question 15

temperate zones

Answer 15

are between 23.5o and 66.5o north and between 23.5o and 66.5o south of the equator. The sun’s rays strike Earth at a smaller angle than near the equator.

Question 16

greenhouse effect

Answer 16

a natural effect of the Earth’s atmosphere trapping heat, which keeps the Earth’s temperature stable. The sun’s energy passes through the atmosphere and warms the Earth. Heat energy radiated from the Earth cannot pass through the atmosphere and is trapped.

Question 17

global warming

Answer 17

The rise of the earths temperature.

Question 18

greenhouse gases

Answer 18

gases found in the atmosphere that contribute to the greenhouse effect, trapping the sun’s heat (for example, carbon dioxide)

Question 19

enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 19

an intensification of the greenhouse effect caused by pollution
adding more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to the atmosphere; associated with global warming

Question 20

landfills

Answer 20

areas set aside for the dumping of rubbish.

Question 21

cellular respiration

Answer 21

the chemical reaction involving oxygen that moves the energy in glucose into the compound ATP. The body is able to use the energy contained in ATP.

Question 22

Ozone

Answer 22

a gas in the atmosphere made up of particles with three oxygen atoms (O3)

Question 23

ice cores

Answer 23

samples of ice extracted from ice sheets containing a build‐up of dust, gases and other substances trapped over time

Question 24

permafrost

Answer 24

soil on or below the surface of very high mountains in the polar regions that is permanently frozen

Question 25

climate sensitivity

Answer 25

the measure of temperature change in the climate, dependent on the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere

Question 26

Geosequestration

Answer 26

is a process that involves separating carbon dioxide from other flue gases, compressing it and piping it to a suitable site.

Question 27

metagenomics

Answer 27

a technology that combines DNA sequencing with molecular and computational biology

Question 28

Kyoto Protocol

Answer 28

an international agreement with the goal of reducing the amount of greenhouse gases produced by industrialised nations

Question 29

Montreal Protocol

Answer 29

an international agreement with the goal of reducing and eliminating the use of substances that contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer.

Question 30

remote sensing.

Answer 30

data collection about Earth’s biosphere completed from space by devices such as satellites.

Question 31

biodiversity

Answer 31

variation in the many different communities and their environments on Earth

Question 32

gene pool

Answer 32

all the genetic information for a particular species

Question 33

extinction

Answer 33

complete loss of a species when the last organism of the species dies. The Tasmanian tiger is believed to be extinct but there are still occasional reports of sightings.

Question 34

coevolved

Answer 34

two species whose evolution has been influenced by selective pressures exerted on each other, which now depend on each other for e.g. bees and the flowers they pollinate

Question 35

Niche

Answer 35

Involves the place where an organism lives and the roles that an organism does in it's habitat