Exam 1 Flashcards
Lectures 1-7 (34 cards)
Vernal Equinox
Equal Night (Same hours of day and night)
What do changes of seasons fuel in the abiotic and biotic aspects of the environment?
Cycling of materials and elements (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and water)
biotic
relating to or resulting from living things, especially in their ecological relations
abiotic
physical rather than biological; not derived from living organisms
What is the primary source of carbon in the atmosphere
Cellular Respiration
where is the largest sink of CO2 dissolved?
Water
What is a sink?
storage place for nutrients, like a sponge. There is a threshold of how much can be absorbed
Is there a limit to how much CO2 the ocean can absorb?
Yes, one cause for greenhouse effect
Where is most of nitrogen held?
Atmosphere
What kind of bond does N2 have?
Triple bond
where is most phosphorus locked up?
marine sediments (rocks)
What does burning fossil fuels cause?
adding sulfur to atmosphere
why does mudflat emit hydrogen sulfide
due to decomposition (rotten egg smell)
Where is most water available?
Ocean and aquifers (groundwater)
What % of water is freshwater?
2.5%
What is the atmosphere?
Gaseous envelope surrounding a sphere
Meso
Middle of atmosphere
Equator
Hottest and closest to sun
what do wind cells represent?
circulation of heat
Which way does the Earth rotate?
West to East
Gyres
Circular ocean currents
what occurs in the tophosphere
weather
What causes the Coriolis Effect
The Earth’s rotation
What are the 3 types of Risk Communication
Precaution Advocacy, Outrage Management, Crisis Communication
