Earths Spheres
What are the four spheres of the Earth?
Hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, biosphere
Define the Carbon Cycle
Describes the processes involved in Carbon moving through Earth’s different spheres by a series of chemical reactions.
What is combustion?
An exothermic reaction that requires fuel and oxygen
What is the Greenhouse Effect?
The greenhouse effect is a natural process where greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor trap heat from the Sun, warming the Earth’s surface and making it habitable. Sunlight heats the Earth, and the planet radiates this energy back as heat, which greenhouse gases absorb and re-radiate, maintaining a stable temperature.
What is firestick farming?
Firestick farming is an Indigenous land management practice where controlled burns are used to clear vegetation, promote new growth, and maintain ecosystems. It helps prevent large wildfires, supports biodiversity, and sustains resources like food and medicinal plants.
The Atmosphere includes....
All gases above the surface of the earth
Explain how human activity has impacted the balance of the natural carbon cycle.
Burning of fossil fuels has led to increased emissions of CO2 in the atmosphere at a rate much faster than the natural carbon cycle. This is leading to the enhanced greenhouse effect.
What are the reactants of combustion?
Fuel (Hydrocarbon) + Oxygen
What is the Enhanced Greenhouse Effect?
Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, increase these gases, intensifying the natural greenhouse effect and contributing to global warming and climate change
Describe the differences in temperature and intensity between 'Firestick Farming' and 'Bushfires'?
Bushfire = high-temp, high-intensity
Give an example of an interaction between the biosphere and geosphere.
Examples: roots absorbing nutrients from the soil, and elephant having a dust bath
What are the reactants required for photosynthesis?
CO2 and H2O
What are the products of combustion?
CO2 + Water
What is a long term consequence of the Enhanced Greenhouse Effect?
A long-term consequence of the enhanced greenhouse effect is climate change, which includes rising global temperatures, melting ice caps, sea level rise, extreme weather events, and disruptions to ecosystems and biodiversity.
Describe the differences in Carbon Dioxide and soil impact between 'Firestick Farming' and 'Bushfires'?
firestick = low CO2 emissions, topsoil remains intact.
Bushfires = high co2 emissions, topsoil destroyed.
Give and example of an interaction between the hydrosphere and biosphere.
Examples: animals drinking water, fish swimming in the ocean
What are the products produced by photosynthesis?
O2 and Glucose
Name a human activity which is linked to increased combustion.
Burning Fossil Fuels
What is Carbon Sequestration?
Carbon sequestration refers to the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere.
How may firestick farming reduce greenhouse house gas emissions?
By burning small cold fires, this creates a patchwork of vegetation that acts as a natural fire break. This prevents large hot fire which release large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere.
What spheres are involved when a volcanic eruption releases carbon dioxide gas into the air
Geosphere and Atmosphere
What is the full equation for 'cellular respiration'?
Oxygen + Glucose => Carbon Dioxide + Water + ATP Energy
What is the difference between complete and incomplete combustion?
- Incomplete has insufficient oxygen which results in Carbon, or Carbon Monoxide (not carbon dioxide) to be released instead of CO2. This is soot/charcoal.
Describe a technology/human intervention which enhances natural carbon sequestration.
Increasing the size of forests, bogs and wetlands,
Modifying agricultural processes
Fertilising the ocean with iron to increase phytoplankton growth.
Explain why firestick farming practises reduce the occurrence of large bushfires.
Firestick farming reduces large bushfires by clearing dry, flammable vegetation through controlled, low-intensity burns, which prevent the buildup of fuel and create natural firebreaks.