ELSS Flashcards
(55 cards)
Describe what the Goldilocks’ Zone is
The Earth is the perfect distance from the sun to support life.
It is the habitable zone which is not too hot or too cold to have liquid water.
Explain why water is so important to life on Earth
It is required for photosynthesis.
Plant tissues need water, or they will wilt.
Fauna need water to regulate internal temperatures.
Water plays a big role in economic activities.
Define: hydrosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere, biosphere, atmosphere
Hydrosphere: the total water storage on a planet, including oceans, lakes, rivers.
Cryosphere: the frozen part of the earth system, such as glaciers.
Lithosphere: the solid, outermost layers of the earth’s structure, the crust and mantle.
Biosphere: the parts of earth where life exists.
Atmosphere: the layers of gases surrounding earth which shield against UV rays and insulate the earth.
Give an example of an input, output, process and store in the water cycle
Input – precipitation
Output – evaporation and transpiration
Process - evaporation, convection, condensation, precipitation and collection
Store – ocean, ice caps, land and atmosphere
Give an example of an open and a closed system and describe the difference between them
The earth’s water and carbon cycles are a closed system, no water leaves or enters the atmosphere. Only the sun’s energy (and not matter) cross the boundaries.
A drainage basin is an open system. Materials such as sediment and water leave and enter the system as well as the sun’s energy.
What is dynamic equilibrium? Describe the difference between positive and negative feedback using examples
Dynamic equilibrium is when a system’s inputs and outputs are equal. Dynamic means there are constant inputs, outputs, throughputs and variable stores of energy and materials.
Positive feedback is when an initial change causes further change, like a snowball effect. Global warming – warmer, more water vapor, green-house gas.
Negative feedback counters the system change and restores equilibrium. Global warming – increased cloud cover, reduces solar radiation to earth.
water stores and their challenges
Oceans – 97% Polar ice and glaciers – 2% Groundwater – 0.7% Atmosphere – 0.001% Biosphere – 0.00004%
The average residence time of a water molecule in the atmosphere is 9 days.
Accessible surface water is 1% of all freshwater, it is scarce.
Cryosphere – once these stores melt it is likely they will not freeze until the next glacial period.
Describe the distribution of the different stores of fresh water
68% is stored as ice caps and glaciers.
30% is stored as groundwater
Characteristics of inputs and outputs of WC
Inputs to atmosphere: water vapour from oceans, soils, lakes and rivers, and transpired water from leaves.
Leaves atmosphere as precipitation and condensation.
Ice and snow release water by ablation.
Precipitation and meltwater reaches rivers by run-off and infiltration of soil.
Water percolates into permeable rock or aquifers.
Groundwater reaches surface again as springs.
Characteristics of inputs and outputs of CC
Chemical weathering happens due to acid rain (precipitation with CO2). This releases carbon to atmosphere.
Partly decomposed organic material is buried under younger sediment to form carbonaceous rocks – coal, oil, natural gas (carbon sink for millions of years)
Phytoplankton uses CO2 for photosynthesis and water to make carbohydrates - foundation of food chain.
Respiration and decomposition release CO2 to atmosphere.
Precipitation
water and ice that falls from clouds; rain, snow, hail, sleet and drizzle. Once vapour forms clouds after reaching dew point, particles aggregate, reach critical size and leave as precipitation.
High intensity moves rapidly overland into streams and rivers. Precipitation may be concentrated in rainy seasons causing river discharge to be high and floods occur.
Transpiration
the diffusion of water vapour to the atmosphere from stomata. It is influenced by temperature, wind speed, water availability to plants. Deciduous trees shed their leaves in dry or cold seasons to reduce moisture loss.
Condensation and types of clouds formation
Condensation: clouds form through vapor turning to liquid when it reaches its dew point.
Cumuliform clouds - flat bases, considerable vertical development. Develop when air is locally heated through contact with earth’s surface.
Stratiform clouds - layer clouds formed when air mass moves horizontally across a cooler surface (advection).
Cirrus clouds - form at high altitude and have tiny ice crystals. Do not precipitate.
Condensation near ground produces dew or fog. These all deposit moisture on vegetation and surfaces.
Convection/lapse rates
Cloud formation/lapse rates: cooling occurs when a warm air mass mixes with a cooler one.
Air warmed by contact with earth rises through atmosphere, causing adiabatic expansion, the movement is convection.
Advection.
Air masses rise as they cross mountain barrier or turbulence forces them to rise.
Lapse rates describe the vertical distribution of temp in lower atmosphere and the temp changes that occur within an air parcel as it rises from ground.
Describe how wind speed, vegetation type, tree species & interception storage capacity affect interception loss
Wind speed: rates of evaporation increase with wind speed. Turbulence also increases with wind speed causing additional throughfall.
Vegetation type: interception loss is greater from grasses than crops. Trees, which have a large surface area and aerodynamic roughness, have higher interception loss than grass.
Tree species: loss is greater from evergreen conifers than from broad-leaved deciduous trees. Most conifers have leaves all year round and water adheres to spaces between needles, increasing evaporation.
Storage capacity: before rainfall, vegetation surface is dry and at maximum ability to retain water. Most rainfall is intercepted, but as vegetation becomes saturated, throughfall increases. Interception depends on duration and intensity of rainfall.
Describe what happens to temp and pressure as air moves upwards and what the environmental lapse rates are
Temperature decreases and pressure falls, causing air to cool and expand, therefore condensating.
The ELR is the vertical temp profile of lower atmosphere at any given time.
Temperature tends to fall by 6.5C for every km of height gained.
Explain what adiabatic expansion is and what the difference is between DALR and SALR.
Adiabatic expansion is when the warm air rises and as pressure falls it cools by expansion.
The DALR is the rate at which the temperature of dry air cools and is caused by adiabatic expansion (10C/km).
The SALR is the rate at which the temperature of a parcel of air saturated with water, cools as it rises through atmosphere. Condensation releases latent heat so SALR (7C/km) is lower than DALR.
Precipitation CC
rising concentrations of CO2 in atmosphere have increased the acidity of rainfall. This has increased acidity of ocean surface waters, affecting marine life.
Photosynthesis CC
using the Sun’s energy, CO2 and water, plants and phytoplankton convert light energy to chemical energy. They use this glucose to maintain growth, reproduction, and life processes.
Weathering CC
rainwater is a weak carbonic acid which dissolves limestone and chalk (carbonation). This releases carbon to water stores and atmosphere. Rainwater mixed with decaying organic material (TRF leaf litter) forms humid acids which attack rock minerals.
Respiration CC
absorbs oxygen and releases CO2. Glucose is converted to CO2 and water.
Decomposition CC
bacteria breaks down dead organic matter, extracting energy and releasing CO2. Faster in warm, humid climates.
Combustion CC
organic matter burns in the presence of oxygen. This releases CO2. Long winters slow decomposition of forest litter and fire shifts this jam, freeing carbon and nutrients for trees. Also opens forest canopy, allowing for new habitats and biodiversity.
Why is carbon important to life
Carbon can bond with other atoms, this gives flexibility to the form and function of biomolecules, such as DNA, these are needed for life, growth and replication.
Used in photosynthesis.
