Week 4

Question 1

what is the foundational unit of matter

Answer 1

atoms. they are the smallest unit to exhibit characteristic of an element

Question 2

what is a molecule

Answer 2

2 or more atoms joined together

Question 3

what are the 4 coumpunds that make up life

Answer 3

carbs
fats
protein
nuc acid

Question 4

what are the sates that matter can exist

Answer 4

solid, liquid and gas

Question 5

what is a biogeochemical cycle

Answer 5

the continuous cycling of nutrients found within the ecosphere
may either be gaseous or sedimentary

Question 6

what is nitrogen

Answer 6

N2 is a tasteless, colorless and odorless gas required by all orgs

Question 7

what is the nitrogen cycle

Answer 7

1) fixation: turning N2 into NH3 or NH4+ by bacteria (Rhizobium Family) or lightning
2)nitrification by chemotrophic bacteria (biological) of NH4+ into NO2- and NO3, which is used by plants

rather instead of fixation, N2 for dead organic matter can be converted into NH4 through ammonification

Question 8

why is nitrogen important

Answer 8

the amount of nitrogen within a system impacts the systems biological and ecosys processes

Question 9

what is denitrification

Answer 9

the conversion of nitrates into N2 by anaerobic bacteria

Question 10

in what form is carbons mostly stored as

Answer 10

CO2

Question 11

what is the C cycle

Answer 11

1) carbon is consumed by animals
2) co2 from respiration
3)co2 uptaken by plants with sun and h2o
4) o2 is produced

when animals or plants die the co2 in their bodies are decomposed and co2 is returned to the atmos

Question 12

how can C be stored in the earth?

Answer 12

when particular conditions are met. usually encompassing very oxygen-depleted areas (peat bogs) where decomposition cannot readily take place. the matter may be carried rapidly as well which preserved structures

Question 13

how much of earth’s surface is comprised of water?

Answer 13

71% where 97% is ocean and 3% is fresh

Question 14

which spheres does the water cycle travel through

Answer 14

atmosphere
lithospere
bioshpere

Question 15

where is water stored

Answer 15

lithosphere (ground water and aquifers)
lacks
oceans
glaciers

Question 16

what is the water cycle

Answer 16

1) precipitation
2) runnoff (if on land)
3) evaporation or transpiration
4) condensation

Question 17

how much water is precipitated onto land? oceans?

Answer 17

24%=land
76%=oceans

Question 18

how much water is evap from land? oceans?

Answer 18

14%=land
86%= oceans

Question 19

what is the residence time

Answer 19

the rate at which molecules move through a hydrological system. (measured in time)

active movement = river= short
in a reserviour= glacier or ocean= long

Question 20

what is precipitation

Answer 20

the solid or liqud form of water that forms under saturated conditions and falls to earth once at 100% humidity

Question 21

what is required for precipitation to occur?

Answer 21

condensation nuclei
saturation cooling by uplift

Question 22

what are condensation nuclei

Answer 22

small particles that provided the foundation for water droplet formation. water vapor condenses around these particles to form clouds

Question 23

what are the mechanisms that lift water

Answer 23

1) Frontal/ convergence
2) orographic
3) radiative cooling
4) Convectional

Question 24

what is orographic uplift

Answer 24

the movement of water from a low elevation to a high elevation, forced by topography of a region.
this results in adiabatic cooling of the gas pocket until 100% humidity is reached

Question 25

what si the dry lapse air rate? moist air lapse rate? which is fatser?

Answer 25

DALR= 10 per km MALS= 6 per km Moist is faster

Question 26

what is the lapse rate

Answer 26

the decrease in the temperature of an air parcel as it increases in elevation

Question 27

leeward side vs windward side

Answer 27

leeward side is on the other side of the geographical feature, wind is generally warmer as the cloud passes over the windward side is the side of a topographical feature that the water body resides on. wind is generally cooler

Question 28

what is a rain shadow and why does it happen

Answer 28

it is the reduction of rainfall on the leeward side of a topographical feature due to the shelter it provides. I’m contrast the windward side generally emperors much more rain fall.

Question 29

what is frontal lifting

Answer 29

the displacement of warm moist vs cool dry air when 2 wind forces meet here the warm wind is forced upward and cools to its dew point. this is common along the equatorial zone of the earth

Question 30

what is convective lifting

Answer 30

the rising of air due to the heating of the ground by the sun, causing it to rapidly rise to meet its dew point this type commonly gives rise to short and intense thundershowers

Question 31

what is radiative cooling

Answer 31

the cooling of the earth surface which causes air to cool and condense as well near the surface

Question 32

what is rain

Answer 32

liquid precip that falls to earth with a diameter greater than 0.5mm but less than 5mm

Question 33

what is freezing rain

Answer 33

the resulting precipitation when he atmosphere is above ) but the surface is below 0, ice forms when rain hits the surface

Question 34

what is sleet

Answer 34

transparent ice pellets less than 5mm. this is due to the atmosphere being above 0, but the rain drops are able to freeze before hitting the ground

Question 35

what is snow

Answer 35

ice crystals that form on condensation nuclei. the atmosphere must be below 0

Question 36

what is hail

Answer 36

frozen ball of precipitate caused by strong updrafts. these balls are commonly greater than 5mm

Question 37

what is a sedimentary cycle

Answer 37

the mobilization of materials that are sourced from the lithosphere by geological uplift. generally, these nutrients will travel through the hydro, possibly atmos back to the lith

Question 38

phosphorous

Answer 38

a macronutrient that exists in solid particulate form and is a critical component to metabolic function. bc this nutrient is sourced from the lithosphere, regeneration by weathering is limited, therefor it stays in tight circulation/ storage of the biomass above ground.

Question 39

what is the dominant limiting factor in freshwater ecosystems and terrestrial plant growth

Answer 39

phosphorous

Question 40

what influences the availability of phosphorus in soil?

Answer 40

the pH. it is unavailable (insoluble in groundwater) at either very high or very low pH (less than 5.5 or greater than 7)

Question 41

what is guano

Answer 41

a biological source of phosphorous in the form of bird droppings, which act as fertilizer

Question 42

sulphur

Answer 42

an essential macronutrient that is a necessary component to proteins may exist in solid or gaseous forms and requires to be converted into many different forms to be available

Question 43

what dictates the form of sulfur in soil

Answer 43

the presents of oxygen and the types of metal ions that are present. inorganic sulphur (sulfates) are readily uptaken by plants

Question 44

how do humans perturbation the biogeochemical cycles

Answer 44

we synthetically produce or extract minerals that are useful, commonly for agricultural uses. commonly the nuties that are of interest are N, P, and K.

Question 45

what is cultural eutrophication, and what is the main cause?

Answer 45

the excessive growth of algae due to the surplus of agricultural minerals in bodies of water by runoff from HUMAN SOURCES. may either by point sourced(sewage) or diffuse(farming)

Question 46

what is an oligotrophic system

Answer 46

an ecosystem devoid of nutrients, such as dissolved salts. This leads to an area with minimal growth high oxygen and lo organic material.

Question 47

what is the consequence of eutrophication

Answer 47

a surplus of P and N especially (sed min) causes algal blooms and suffocates aquatic ecosystems.