Environmental science ecology
what is abiotic
physical rather than biological; not derived from living organisms.
Definition of Ocean Currents
Continuous movement of ocean water; circulates Earth
Definition of weather
Short term effects of the atmosphere
Definition of "assimilation" in the context of a cycle
Transfer of elements from the abiotic (non-living) into the biotic (living)
what is evaporation
the process of turning from liquid into vapor.
What are three pieces of evidence for CURRENT climate change
Loss of ice, increased weather events, rise in sea levels
What are the three main greenhouse gases
Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide
what is a climate
the weather conditions over a long period.
Definition of reservoir/sink in the context of a cycle
Accumulation of elements
What are the four spheres of the Earth?
Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, Geosphere
What is the greenhouse effect?
Earth's natural system of keeping the Earth warm; traps heat
Difference between surface currents and deep currents
Surface are closer to the top; moved by wind and land masses
Deep are salty waters that are deep below sea level; very dense
Due to Global Warming, the avergae global temperatures have been rising by ___ degree Celcius per year.
1.5
Importance of Nitrogen
Building blocks of proteins (manufactures amino acids)
The process of absorbing sunlight
Photosynthesis
What are three pieces of evidence to describe PAST climate change
Ice cores, pollen analysis, and glaciers
Technical term for the "global conveyor belt"
Thermohaline
Thero = heat, haline = salt
What are the 3 main greenhouse gases
Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide
the process that plants use to make food and the process that animals use to convert food to energy. (Carbon cycle)
photosynthesis & cellular respiration
Decaying animals; plants absorbing (photosynthesis) and releasing into the soil
What is the term used to describe the current age we are living in
Physics concepts that describes the rotation of the Earth and objects moving due to curvature
Coriolis Effect
Term used to describe the amount of energy reflected by a surface
albedo
How is nitrogen released from the soil (abiotic) back into the atmosphere
Denitrifying bacteria (denitrification)
Give an example of an interaction between the Geosphere and Atmosphere.
Weathering & Erosion