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Year 11 Environmental Science > Unit 1 Outcome 1 > Flashcards

Unit 1 Outcome 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Carbon-oxygen cycle

A

The biogeochemical cycle by which carbon is exchanged among the Earth’s spheres

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2
Q

Limestone weathering (carbon-oxygen)

A

Calcium carbonate in limestone reacts with acids in rain and soil, producing carbon dioxide which moves into the atmosphere

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3
Q

Fossilisation and unavailable carbon (carbon-oxygen)

A

Involves burial and transformation of organic matter into fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas). Removes carbon from cycle to store as unavailable carbon

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4
Q

Combustion of fossil fuels (carbon-oxygen)

A

Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned. Human impact on carbon cycle.

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5
Q

Deforestation and fires (carbon-oxygen)

A

When trees and vegetation are cut down, burned or left to decay, the carbon stored in their biomass is released into the atmosphere as CO2

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6
Q

Photosynthesis (carbon-oxygen)

A

Plants absorb solar energy, carbon dioxide and water to convert them into oxygen, water and glucose (energy)

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7
Q

Cellular respiration (carbon-oxygen)

A

Animals eat the glucose-containing plants to power cellular respiration, and then release CO2 as a waste product

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8
Q

Decomposition (carbon-oxygen)

A

Decomposers break down complex organic molecules into simpler compounds (such as CO2) through the process of decay

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9
Q

Carbon sequestration (carbon-oxygen)

A

Plants or oceans absorb carbon dioxide. Removing carbon from atmosphere.

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10
Q

Volcanic eruption (carbon-oxygen)

A

Release large amount of carbon dioxide directly into atmosphere

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11
Q

Nitrogen cycle

A

The nitrogen cycle transforms and circulates nitrogen in various forms through Earth’s spheres

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12
Q

Atmospheric nitrogen fixation (nitrogen)

A

Lightning strike generates energy which splits nitrogen gas into nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide. These then dissolve in water droplets in clouds, which is them transported to Earth’s surface through precipitation.

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13
Q

Assimilation (nitrogen)

A

Plants and some microorganisms take up ammonium and nitrate ions from the soil

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14
Q

Consumption (nitrogen)

A

Animals acquire organic nitrogen by consuming plants or other animals

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15
Q

Ammonification (nitrogen)

A

Decomposers break down organic nitrogen compounds found in dead organisms, faeces, and other organic matter to convert them to ammonia or ammonium ions to release them back into the soil.

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16
Q

Volcanic eruptions (nitrogen)

A

Volcanic eruptions release nitrogen gas straight into the atmosphere

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17
Q

Denitrification by bacteria (nitrogen)

A

Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrate and nitrite ions into nitrogen gas. Opposite to nitrification.

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18
Q

Nitrogen fixation by bacteria (nitrogen)

A

Atmospheric nitrogen gas is converted into ammonia or ammonium ions by nitrogen-fixing bacteria found in the soil

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19
Q

Nitrification (nitrogen)

A

Ammonia is converted to nitrite ions by nitrifying bacteria. Nitrite ions are oxidized into nitrate ions by other nitrifying bacteria.

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20
Q

Water cycle

A

The continuous cycling and exchange of water on, above, and below the Earth’s surface. Driven by solar energy.

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21
Q

Transpiration (water)

A

Water is absorbed by plants from the soil through their roots. Water is pulled up the stem by transpirational pull and is evaporated from leaves into the atmosphere.

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22
Q

Condensation (water)

A

When in the atmosphere, water vapour cools and condenses, it forms clouds

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23
Q

Precipitation (water)

A

Occurs when clouds become saturated with water droplets which then fall to the ground

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24
Q

Surface run-off (water)

A

The movement of water over the land surface. Run-off then collects in bodies of water.

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25
Q

Infiltration (water)

A

Precipitation that falls onto land can infiltrate into the soil, replenishing groundwater reservoirs

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26
Q

Groundwater flow (water)

A

Water that infiltrates into the soil becomes groundwater, which slowly moves through underground aquifers

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27
Q

Evaporation (water)

A

The sun heats bodies of water such as oceans, lakes, and rivers, causing water to change from liquid to vapor and rise into the atmosphere

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28
Q

Freezing (water)

A

Freezing converts water from the liquid state to the solid state. Acts as water storage. Water is removed from cycle until melted.

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29
Q

Melting (water)

A

Converts water stored as ice and snow back into liquid water

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30
Q

Sublimation (water)

A

The process which transitions ice (solid) directly from a solid to water vapour (gas), bypassing liquid phase

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31
Q

Deposition (water)

A

Water vapor (gas) transforms into ice (solid) bypassing the liquid phase

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32
Q

Percolation (water)

A

The movement of water through soil, rock, or other porous materials

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33
Q

Non-living systems

A

Hydrosphere, lithosphere & atmosphere

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34
Q

Living system

A

Biosphere

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35
Q

The biosphere

A

Sphere that contains all living things

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36
Q

Ecosystem

A

A specific group of organisms that depend on each other and interact with the abiotic components of the environment

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37
Q

Biota

A

The collective term for plants, animals, micro-organisms and other living things

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38
Q

The Atmosphere

A

The gaseous envelope of air that is held close to the Earth’s surface by gravity

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39
Q

Troposphere

A

Layer of atmosphere closest to Earth. Composed of nitrogen, argon and carbon dioxide. Where clouds are visible and weather takes place.

40
Q

The Stratosphere

A

Second layer of atmosphere. Air is roughly a thousand times thinner at the top of the stratosphere than it is at sea level.

41
Q

The Mesosphere

A

Third layer of atmosphere. Where meteors are seen.

42
Q

The Thermosphere

A

Outer layer of atmosphere. Includes ionosphere. Where satellites, space shuttles and auroras are found.

43
Q

Solar energy

A

Energy emitted from the sun

44
Q

When solar energy reaches the troposphere, it becomes…

A

Visible light and infrared light

45
Q

The natural greenhouse effect

A

Process where solar energy is trapped by the greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. Maintains global temperatures.

46
Q

Climate

A

Average weather conditions of a place over time

47
Q

Weather

A

Day-to-day changes in conditions of atmosphere

48
Q

Enhanced greenhouse effect

A

Unnatural amounts of greenhouse gasses found in atmosphere. Causing increase in heat trapped in atmosphere, increasing global temperatures. Caused by human activity.

49
Q

The Hydrosphere

A

Encompasses all water found on Earth

50
Q

Surface water

A

Bodies of water that are visible on the Earth’s surface (rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, and oceans)

51
Q

Groundwater

A

Water found beneath the Earth’s surface, stored within soil pores and rock fractures in the subsurface layers

52
Q

Glaciers

A

Large, slow-moving masses of ice formed from the accumulation and compaction of snow over many years. Stored water is released through melting.

53
Q

Ice caps

A

Polar ice caps are large areas of ice covering the polar regions of Earth. Polar ice caps store enormous amounts of freshwater in the form of ice.

54
Q

The lithosphere

A

Forms the outermost solid layer of the Earth, which includes the crust and the upper mantle.

55
Q

Continental drift

A

Landforms have since drifted apart to their current positions over millions of years. Supported by the fact that Earth’s lithosphere is separated into large segments - called tectonic plates.

56
Q

Tectonic plates

A

Tectonic plates are large, mobile plates under the Earth surface

57
Q

Continental plates

A

Tectonic plates found under continents

58
Q

Oceanic plates

A

Tectonic plates found under the ocean

59
Q

Convection current

A

Molten material in the mantle, which nudge the tectonic plates, causing them to move.

60
Q

Plate tectonics

A

A more complex view of tectonic plate movement. Includes theory of continental drift and cause of movement (convection currents)

61
Q

Convergent plate boundary

A

Caused when tectonic plates collide and one is pulled below the other into the mantle

62
Q

Divergent plate boundary

A

Caused when tectonic plates move away from each other - resulting in new lithosphere being created in between

63
Q

Transform-fault boundary

A

Caused when tectonic plates slide horizontally past each other

64
Q

The rock cycle

A

The continuous process that describes the transformation of rocks from one type to another

65
Q

Examples of igneous rock

A

Granite, Basalt and Obsidian

66
Q

Weathering and erosion (rock cycle)

A

Weathering breaks down the rocks into smaller fragments and sediments.
Erosion transports the fragments and sediments away.

67
Q

Transportation and deposition (rock cycle)

A

Weathered and eroded sediments are then transported by agents such as water, wind, ice, or gravity and deposited in various environments such as rivers, oceans, or glaciers.

68
Q

Lithification (rock cycle)

A

As sediment layers accumulate after deposition, the weight of overlying sediments compresses the lower layers, leading to compaction.

69
Q

Cementation (rock cycle)

A

When mineral-rich groundwater creates minerals between the sediment grains, which binds them together - forming sedimentary rocks.

70
Q

Examples of sedimentary rocks

A

Sandstone, shale and limestone

71
Q
A
72
Q

Metamorphism (rock cycle)

A

Sedimentary rocks or igneous rocks are subjected to heat, pressure, or chemically reactive fluids. Transform into metamorphic rocks.

73
Q

Examples of metamorphic rock

A

Marble, slate and Gneiss

74
Q

Melting and recrystallization (rock cycle)

A

Metamorphic rocks exposed to extreme temperatures and pressures may undergo partial or complete melting, forming magma.
Upon cooling and solidification, this magma forms new igneous rocks, completing the cycle.

75
Q

Radioactive dating

A

Method used to determine the age of rocks and minerals by measuring the amount of certain radioactive isotopes they contain.

76
Q

Sand soil

A

Comprised of larger particles that allows water to pass through quickly

77
Q

Clay soil

A

Retain water for long periods, as a result they can become water logged.

78
Q

Porosity

A

The number and size of the spaces between the particles

79
Q

Soil fertility

A

The availability of nutrients for plants. Is dependent on the climate and the type of parent rock.

80
Q

A horizon (soil)

A

Topsoil, is fertile and is where most soil organisms live

81
Q

B horizon (soil)

A

Subsoil, receives clay particles and soluble particles that are washed down from A.

82
Q

C horizon (soil)

A

The parent material.

83
Q

Ecology

A

Ecology is the study of ecosystems

84
Q

Abiotic

A

Non-living environmental factor. Found in non-living spheres (hydrosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere)

85
Q

Biotic

A

Living environmental factor. Found in living sphere (biosphere)

86
Q

Food web

A

A food web links all the food chains in an ecosystem together to show all interactions in an ecosystem.

87
Q

Food chain

A

A sequence that links species by their feeding relationships, from one individual to another. Showing movement of energy up trophic levels.

88
Q

Trophic level

A

The position of an organism in the food chain

89
Q

Producer

A

Autotroph. Produces their own energy from sunlight. Usually through photosynthesis.

90
Q

Primary consumer

A

Heterotroph. Consumes producer.

91
Q

Secondary consumer

A

Heterotroph. Consumes primary consumer.

92
Q

Tertiary consumer

A

Heterotroph. Consumes secondary consumer.

93
Q

Autotroph

A

An organism that can produce its own food using light, water, carbon dioxide, or other chemicals.

94
Q

Heterotroph

A

An organism that eats other plants or animals for energy and nutrients

95
Q

Decomposer

A

An organism that breaks down dead organic material; also sometimes referred to as detritivores

Year 11 Environmental Science (2 decks)

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