Arctic
11,000 years ago, the Earth was tilted so the Arctic received ______ sunlight.
More!
As sunlight increases, photosynthesis _____________.
Increases!
As the temperature decreases, cellular respiration/decomposition _____________.
Decreases!
What is burning in a zombie fire?
Peat!
What input does the energy start in for photosynthesis?
Sunlight!
How does peat form?
Plants in a body of water die, form layers underwater, and decompose very slowly.
What are the inputs for photosynthesis?
Water (H2O), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), and Sunlight
What are the inputs of Cellular Respiration/Decomposition?
Glucose (C6H12O6), Oxygen (O2), and Thermal Energy (Heat)
What is a zombie fire?
A zombie fire is a fire that looks like it's dead (out), but instead burns peat underground through the winter before coming back out in the spring.
What output in photosynthesis does the energy end in?
The chemical energy in glucose!
What is permafrost?
Permafrost is ice, rock, soil, and peat that is frozen for at least 2 years.
What are the outputs for photosynthesis?
Glucose (C6H12O6) and Oxygen (O2)
What are the outputs of cellular respiration/decomposition?
What are the inputs of a combustion reaction for a zombie fire?
Glucose (from peat), Oxygen, and Thermal Energy (Heat)
What input does the chemical energy for a zombie fire start in?
Glucose!
Today, in the Arctic, permafrost is melting, causing the frequency of zombie fires to ____________. This happens because...
Increase because the permafrost melting exposes peat to be burned.
What output does the carbon in photosynthesis end in?
Where does this molecule with carbon go after photosynthesis?
Glucose (C6H12O6)
It gets stored in the plant to be used for food later!
Why was peat able to form underwater in the Arctic 11,000 years ago?
Low amounts of oxygen meant there was a slow rate of decomposition, and peat was able to build up underwater.
What are the outputs for a combustion reaction (fire)?
Carbon Dioxide, Water, and Heat/Light Energy.
What output does the energy end in for cellular respiration/decomposition?
ATP (the energy for life)
The arctic today has _______ thermal energy compared to the arctic 11,000 years ago.
Why?
Less thermal energy!
The Earth's tilt changed, and the Arctic gets less sunlight today than 11,000 years ago.
Why is there so much fuel for zombie fires present in the Arctic?
Around 11,000 years ago, the Arctic received a lot of sunlight, and underwater plants were able to do a lot of photosynthesis. With this high rate of photosynthesis, lots of glucose (sugar) was made. Eventually, those plants died and formed peat with lots of glucose with lots of chemical energy. This peat provides fuel for zombie fires.
Why didn't the peat decompose when it was trapped under the permafrost?
After the Earth tilted to its current state, the Arctic now has less thermal energy (lower temperatures), and permafrost has formed. Under the permafrost, peat decomposes very slowly due to a lack of oxygen and low thermal energy (heat).
What in peat makes it able to burn for so long?
There is a lot of glucose in peat that contains a lot of chemical energy in its chemical bonds
Why is there so much energy in peat?
Peat has a lot of densely packed glucose that is full of chemical energy in its chemical bonds.