ELSS Flashcards
(48 cards)
1
Q
Uses of carbon for humans, fauna, and flora
A
- Building blocks of complex life
- Stabilises climate (GHGs)
- Geology (foundation for settlements)
- Fossil fuels (economic development)
2
Q
Uses of water for humans, fauna, and flora
A
- Hydration
- Sanitation
- Hydropower
- Food source (nutrient upwelling, fish farming)
- Maintaining hospitable temperatures (clouds)
3
Q
Inputs for the water cycle
A
Precipitation
4
Q
Outputs for the water cycle
A
- Transpiration
- Evaporation
- River discharge
5
Q
Inputs for the carbon cycle
A
- Photosynthesis
- Rock weathering
- Into oceans (dissolving)
6
Q
Outputs for the carbon cycle
A
- Land use change
- Respiration
- Combustion
- Ocean
- Volcanoes
- Cement production
7
Q
Processes of the water cycle
A
- Evaporation
- Transpiration
- Interception
- Precipitation
- Ablation
- Runoff
- Infiltration
8
Q
Processes of the carbon cycle
A
- Photosynthesis
- Respiration
- Decomposition
- Combustion
- Sequestration in oceans, vegetation, sediments
9
Q
Physical factors affecting the water cycle
A
- Temperature
- Geology
- Relief
10
Q
Effects of temperature on the water cycle
(Tropical rainforest)
A
- Higher temps = higher rate of evapotranspiration
- Increased flows from biosphere to atmosphere
11
Q
Effects of temperature on the water cycle
(Arctic tundra)
A
- Fluctuates around 0 degrees
- Large percentage of water is stored as permafrost so very little flows between stores
- Active layer thickens in the summer so transfers to vegetation and surface storage
12
Q
Effects of geology on the water cycle
(Tropical rainforest)
A
- Areas of igneous rock and crystalline shield (impermeable) prevent percolation and transfer to ground stores
- Areas of limestone + sandstone promote infiltration and create more aquifers
13
Q
Effects of geology on the water cycle
(Arctic tundra)
A
- Igneous rock prevents infiltration so creates standing pools of water when precipitation melts
14
Q
Effects of relief on the water cycle
(Tropical rainforest)
A
- Steep relief (eg Andes, Nazca plate) increases volume of relief rainfall
- Water can move as throughflow over large areas of lowlands
15
Q
Effects of relief on the water cycle
(Arctic tundra)
A
- Very flat and uniform
- Minimal infiltration due to igneous geology so lakes are created rather than rivers
16
Q
Physical factors affecting the carbon cycle
A
- Temperature
- Vegetation
- Organic matter in the soil
- Mineral composition of the rocks
17
Q
Effects of temperature on the carbon cycle
(Tropical rainforest)
A
- Consistently high temperatures
- Increases rate of photosynthesis
- Increases rate of decomposition - releases carbon dioxide to atmosphere
- Lower humidity due to deforestation so higher chance of a wildfire - transfer from vegetation to atmosphere through combustion
18
Q
Effects of temperature on the carbon cycle
(Arctic tundra)
A
- Temperatures fluctuate around 0 degrees for most of the year and plants can only photosynthesise efficiently above 7 degrees
- 3 month growing seasons causes vegetation to be small and low to the ground
- Little carbon stored in vegetation
19
Q
Impacts of human activity (deforestation) on the water cycle
(Tropical rainforest)
A
- Loss of vegetation leads to decreased transpiration = lower humidity
- Water lost through transpiration forms clouds, so less transpiration = less precipitation
20
Q
Impacts of human activity on the water cycle
(Arctic tundra)
A
- Melting of the permafrost increases run-off and river discharge
- Due to increased surface storage, evaporation is also increased during the summer
21
Q
Impacts of human activity on the carbon cycle
(Tropical rainforest)
A
Deforestation
- Removes stores of carbon
- Impacts the short carbon cycle
- Long term
Agriculture
- Monocultures decrease soil quality for growth of crops and afforestation so will store less carbon
- Often cattle ranching, releases large volumes of GHGs
22
Q
Impacts of human activity on the carbon cycle
(Arctic tundra)
A
Oil and gas
- Increasing infrastructure decreases biomass and natural habitats
- Combustion releases GHGs
- Permafrost melt releases methane to the atmosphere
23
Q
Short term changes to the water cycle
A
- Variation in weather daily/seasonally
- Very little seasonal variation in tropical rainforests so minimal short term changes to water cycle
- Larger variation in tundra - permafrost melts in the summer, causing more flows between stores
24
Q
Short term changes to the carbon cycle
A
- Diurnal changes - photosynthesis only occurs during the daytime so takes in more carbon dioxide
- Cant photosynthesise effectively during colder months so significantly decreased carbon sequestration in winter in temperate zones
- Photosynthesis only viable May-September in the arctic tundra so high seasonal variation
- Respiration at night releases carbon dioxide
25
Long term changes to the carbon cycle
- Milankovitch cycles causing glaciations and interglacial periods
- Colder water dissolves higher volumes of carbon dioxide
- Less vegetation to biosynthesize = less biosphere storage
- Less flows between stores
- Sediment eroded by glaciers provide nutrients for phytoplankton
26
Long term changes to the water cycle
Glaciations
- More water stored in the cryosphere
- Less flows and water stored in oceans/surface
- Water held in soils also freezes to form permafrost
27
Strategies to mitigate impacts of oil and gas in the Arctic tundra
- Gravel pads - replace the insulation provided by natural vegetation
- Raised pipelines and infrastructure - air can circulate and prevent heat diffusion from affecting permafrost below
- Oil detecting technology - using computers allows company to detect oil-bearing geological structures to minimise the amount of drilling
28
Impact of land use on the water cycle
Urbanisation
- Prevents infiltration - less stored in aquifers, less throughflow/infiltration but more runoff
- Settlements on floodplains increases risk of flooding
Farming
- Less interception and evapotranspiration than in forest and grassland ecosystems
- Ploughed landscapes promote runoff
Forestry
- More interception and evapotranspiration (up to 60% interception in Sitka spruce, England)
- Reduced runoff and river discharge
29
Impact of land use change on the carbon cycle
Urbanisation
- Replaces vegetation - reduces biosphere storage
Farming
- If replacing forests, crops store less carbon
- Ploughing exposes organic matter to oxidation - releases carbon to atmosphere
Forestry
- Increased carbon storage (trees store 170-200tC/ha ^-1, 500tC/ha ^-1 for soils)
- Long term storage
30
Impacts of water extraction (aquifers, artesian basins) on the water cycle
- Reduced groundwater and river storage
- Water table falls
- Less water available for irrigation
- Sea water intrusion (soil salination)
31
Impact of fossil fuel burning on the carbon cycle
- Releases GHGs
32
Example of a positive feedback loop in the water cycle
Rising temperatures -> more evaporation -> more cloud cover + precipitation -> water vapour acts as a GHG ->
33
Example of a positive feedback loop in the carbon cycle
High atmospheric carbon dioxide -> rising temperatures -> permafrost melts -> carbon dioxide and methane released ->
34
Example of a negative feedback loop in the water cycle
More evaporation -> more cloud cover -> more insulation -> temperatures decrease
35
Example of a negative feedback loop in the carbon cycle
Increased temperatures -> more photosynthesis-> less atmospheric carbon dioxide -> less enhanced greenhouse effect -> decreased temperatures
36
Global strategies to protect the water cycle
Drainage basin planning
37
National strategies to protect the water cycle
Water allocation
38
Local strategies to protect the water cycle
Improved forestry
39
Global strategies to protect the carbon cycle
International agreements
40
National strategies to protect the carbon cycle
Wetland restoration
41
Local strategies to protect the carbon cycle
Forestry
Improved agriculture
42
Carbon PSF
- risen by 50% in 200 years
- wetlands 35% of terrestrial carbon
- 100 million tonnes released/yr from livestock
- 123OgC/yr taken in through photosynthesis
43
Water PSF
- oceans 97% of water
- ice 69% of freshwater
44
Tropical rainforest PSF
- 200-300 tonnes of carbon/hectare/yr
- spans 9 countries
45
Arctic Tundra PSF
- below freezing for 8-9 months of the year
- 1600 GT of carbon stored in dead organic matter in permafrost
- ANWA
- 20% of USA’s oil supply
46
Eccentricity definition and impact
Change in orbital shape (circular to elliptical) - generally every 100,000-400,000 years
Times of year with decreased incoming UV - colder
47
Obliquity definition and impact
Change in rotational tilt - generally every 40,000 years
Decreases UV concentration in the pole that has moved away from the sun
48
Precession definition and impact
Rotational wobble - every 26,000 years
More extreme seasons
