Earth's Physical Systems: Matter, Energy, Geology

System

network of relationships that interact

negative feedback loop

decrease effects of og process. Most systems in nature, enhance stability.

dynamic equilibrium

when continual processes are balanced (can sometimes shift)

homeostasis

a tendency towards equilibrium

Positive feedback loops

Increase effects of og process; uncommon in nature but common in ecosystems altered by humans

negative

Are negative or positive feedback loops better?

Energy

Capacity to change position, temperature, or physical comp. of matter

Autotrophs, Primary Producers

create their own food, from sunlight or chemicals

chemosynthesis

Autotrophs living around hydrothermal vents undergo this process in order to create food for themselves

The Sun

powers most biological systems

Gross Primary Production

Total amount of chemical energy produced

Biomass

If primary producers do not use the food they create for metabolism, where do the leftovers get put into?

Net Primary Productivity

The rate at which energy is stored as biomass

Ocean

What region has the highest net primary productivity?

Temperature, Water

What should be increased to get a larger NPP in terrestrial ecosystems?

Light, Nutrients

What should be increased to get a larger NPP in aquatic ecosystems?

Seasons

Photosynthesis requires sunlight, so these phenomena affect NPP

Biogeochemical Cycles

Nutrients move through living organisms and their nonliving counterparts. Matter is recycled. CHNOPS usually associated with organics

Flux

The rate at a nutrient moves into or out of a reservoir

Reservoir

Where nutrients are stored.

Sink

More nutrients flow in than out

Source

More nutrients flow out than in

Hydrologic Cycle

Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation, Collection. Driven by Sun

transpiration and sublimation

Alternate sources of H2O vapor

groundwater infiltration

water seeps into soil

aquifers

body of porous rock or sediment saturated with ground water

Remove plants, withdrawal of water for agriculture

How do humans affect the water cycle?

Carbon Cycle

Biological- exchange of atmospheric atmosphere during photosynthesis and respiration. Geological- fossil formation and limestone and other rock formation in ocean. Released through fossil fuels and rock weathering.

Fossil fuels, removing trees

How do humans affect carbon cycle?

Ocean acidification

some excess CO2 absorbed by ocean

Nitrogen cycle

Denitrifying bacteria convert N2 to NH3 in soil. More reactions, nitrogen either assimilated through roots and passed around food chain or returned to the atmosphere

fossil fuels, fertilizers

How do humans affect the Nitrogen cycle?

Eutrophication, acid rain, greenhouse gases

Effects of humans altering nitrogen cycle

Phosphorous Cycle

Rocks containing phosphorous weather; phosphorous sediment precipitates into soil. Plants take up P through roots and share it with food webs.

Sulfur Cycle

SO2 in atmosphere brought into soil by precipitation, fallout, weathering of sulfur containing rocks, or geothermal vents. Plants take up in roots, share with food web. Released to atmosphere by volcanoes, human emissions, Decomp of organic materials.

fossil fuels (coal), acid rain

How do humans affect the sulfur cycle?

Fertilizers, released into water as detergent

Humans affecting Phosphorous cycle?

Iron

The core of the earth is made of nickel and

Mantle

less dense elastic rock. Behaves as a viscous fluid

Plate Tectonics

Shape climate, geography, evolution by altering rain, wind, currents, heating, etc.

Pangaea

Kills many marine organisms by reducing coastal regions. One supercontinent

Infrastructure, not living in dangerous places, early warning systems, escape routes, awareness, physical barriers

How to minimize damages from geologic hazards?