4.4 Earth’s Atmosphere

Ecosystem services

The processes by which life supporting resources, such as clean water, timber, fisheries, and agriculture crops, are produced

Bio diversity

The diversity of life forms in an environment

Genetic diversity

A measure of the genetic variation among individuals in a population

Species

A group of organisms that is distinct from other groups in its morphology (body form and structure), behavior, or bio chemical properties

Speciation

The evolution of new species

Theory of island biogeography

A theory that demonstrates the dual importance of habitat size and distance from island mainland in determining species richness

species richness

the actual number of different species in a community

species abundance

The actual number of individuals of each species in an area

Close island proximity to the mainland will....

-increase migration to and from mainland to island

-increase species diversity that can migrate to the island

Distant island proximity to the mainland will...

-decrease migration to and from mainland to island

-decrease species diversity that can migrate to the island

island size, distance from mainland, immigration, extinction

all factors that affect species richness and species abundance on islands

Increased island size will...

-increase species richness and species abundance

-decrease extinction rates

Decreased island size will...

-decrease species richness and species abundance

-increase extinction rates

troposphere

0-17 km above Earth's surface, site of weather, organisms, contains most atmospheric water vapor. (temperature decreases with increasing altitude, pressure decreases)

stratosphere

2nd layer of atmosphere; extends from 10 to 30 miles up; location of ozone layer; absorbs 95% of Ultraviolet radiation; temperature increases with altitude increase.

mesosphere

3rd layer of the atmosphere

thermosphere

the region of the atmosphere above the mesosphere and below the height at which the atmosphere ceases to have the properties of a continuous medium. The thermosphere is characterized throughout by an increase in temperature with height.

exosphere

The outer layer of the thermosphere, extending outward into space.

As altitude in the troposphere increases, temperature

decreases.