Earth's Spheres
What are the four spheres of the Earth?
lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere
What are the two timescales of the Carbon cycle?
Biological and geological
What do we call what happens when heat is trapped by atmospheric gases like CO2?
Greenhouse effect
What are two of the most common carbon-containing greenhouse gases?
CO2 and methane (CH4)
True/False. Geosequestration is the process of storing carbon underground.
True
What is one way carbon can move from the atmosphere to the biosphere?
Photosynthesis
The water cycle, nitrogen cycle and carbon cycle are all types of what cycle?
Biogeochemical cycles
For a balanced carbon cycle, do we want a big or small difference between carbon stored and carbon released?
Small difference (ideally 0)
Why is rising sea levels so impactful for Australia?
Most Australians live on the coasts. Rising sea levels will mean erosion/flooding of the coasts.
Which of the following would not reduce carbon emissions?
Using public transport
Using solar panels
Using fire instead of electricity
Using fire instead of electricity
What spheres are interacting during a bushfire?
Atmosphere and biosphere
What are 3 processes of the biological carbon cycle?
Any 3 of the following: Photosynthesis, cellular respiration, combustion and decomposition
What carbon cycle process is the largest contributor to increased greenhouse gas emissions?
Combustion
What are two predicted outcomes of climate change?
Melting sea ice
Rising sea levels
Melting permafrost
True/False. Carbon sinks release CO2 into the atmosphere.
False
A cyclone hits Brisbane, bringing strong winds and rains. Many MacGregor State High School students are affected. What spheres are interacting?
Atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere.
is the chemical equation of what process?
Cellular respiration (aerobic)
How would you describe a combustion reaction?
Burning fuel in the presence of oxygen.
Why is it important that the permafrost doesn't melt?
Millions of years of carbon are stored in the permafrost.
Name 2 differences between hazard reduction burning and cultural burning.
Cultural burning burns cooler and maintains native plant diversity.
Hazard reduction burning is much hotter and doesn't discriminate between plant species.
What is the name of the study of how Earth's spheres interact?
Earth systems science
Name 3 processes that release CO2 into the atmosphere.
Cellular respiration, combustion, decomposition
Why is burning fossil fuels bad for the carbon cycle? Discuss timescales as well as impacts.
Fossil fuels take millions of years to form, but short periods to burn. When they burn, they release CO2, and it takes a long time to store them back as fossil fuels.
Describe how the enhanced greenhouse effect may lead to higher temperatures.
Heat from solar radiation is trapped by gases, keeping Earth's surface temperature stable. More greenhouse gases means that more heat is trapped, raising Earth's temperature.
Name the 2 international treaties that Australia has signed up to in order to reduce greenhouse emissions.
Kyoto protocol and Paris Agreement