Exam 1 Class Review

OCS 3103

Relative Abundance

estimated abundances of the chemical elements in the Solar System

Most common elements in the Universe

Hydrogen then Helium

Most common elements on Earth

Iron → Oxygen → Silicon

2 General trends in elements

1. An alternation of abundance in elements as they have even or odd atomic numbers

2. a general decrease in abundance, as elements become heavier

What is an atom?

A fundamental piece of matter

An atom is made of 3 subatomic particles

protons

neutrons

electrons

Labels for characteristics of elements

Z = Protons

N = Neutrons

e = electrons

A = Atomic Mass = Z + N

Binding Energy (BE)

energy that would be required to disassemble the nucleus of an atom into its components

Binding Energy (BE) Formula

= ∆Mc² = (M_components - M_atom) * c² * 1 amu conversion

[Answer in Joules = 1 kg m²/s²]

Formula for mass of an atom

= (#_protons * m_protons) + (#_neutrons * m_neutrons)

Elemental Isotopes

same element (same number of protons), but different number of neutrons

Two types of isotopes

Radioisotopes (have a half-life and will decay)

Stable isotopes

Types of Plate Boundaries

Divergent

Convergent

Transform

How do we know the temperature of pure hydrothermal fluid?

End-member Mixing Model

Minerals

naturally occurring, solid crystalline substance

generally inorganic, with a specific chemical composition

Rock

an aggregate of one or more minerals

a body of undifferentiated mineral matter

Types of Rock

Igneous

Metamorphic

Sedimentary

Types of weathering

congruent dissolution

incongruent dissolution

Congruent Dissolution

minerals dissolve completely into their constituent ions

Incongruent Dissolution

minerals partially dissolve and leave behind a residual solid weathering product

Atmospheric Circulation Cells

Hadley

Ferrel

Polar

Hadley Cell

closest to equator

covers tropical and sub-tropical climates

Ferrel Cell

mid-latitude

Polar Cell

highest latitudes

Where do storms form in relation to cells?

where hot air rises (making sinking air dry)

(at the equator & higher latitudes of ferrel cells)

Development of Hurricanes requires

sea surface temperature > 26°C

Coriolis force

Types of Hurricanes in order of strength

1. Tropical Cyclone (lowest strength)

2. Tropical Depressions

3. Tropical Storms

4. Hurricane (highest strength)

How close to the equator can a hurricane form?

must be at least 5° away due to lack of Coriolis force at equator

Ozone absorbs

light in the higher energy ultraviolet range almost totally using oxygen molecules

CFC Compounds

anthropogenic

depletes ozone layer

Greenhouse Gases

Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)

Methane (CH₄)

Nitrous Oxide (N₂O)

CCL₂F (a CFC)

Which greenhouse gas contributes the most to GH effect?

CO₂ because it stays in the atmosphere for so long

Why is methane so dangerous despite a relatively low residence time?

it is more potent than CO₂ and can trap more heat

second largest contributor to GH effect

Wien’s Displacement Law

the peak wavelength of blackbody radiation is inversely proportional to temperature

hotter objects have smaller wavelength and vice versa

What does Wien’s Displacement law have to do with climate change?

high intensity, short wave radiation from the sun penetrates the atmosphere to get to Earth’s surface, some of which is absorbed

some of that radiation is re-emitted as lower intensity, long wave radiation, which can then be absorbed/reflected by GHG’s

GHG’s cause some of that radiation to be reflected back towards Earth, warming the planet

C3 Pathway

does not have photosynthetic adaptations to reduce photorespiration

(rubisco is directly in charge of selecting CO₂, however it also has a high affinity for oxygen)

C4 Pathway

light-dependent reactions and the Calvin Cycle are physically separated

PEP carboxylase, which has no affinity for O₂, is responsible for CO₂ uptake

What is the problem with having rubisco responsible for CO₂ uptake in C3 plants?

rubisco has an affinity for O₂

the more it uptakes O₂ instead of CO₂, the longer the stomata have to stay open

this leads to more transpiration

Climate Change for C3: Trend for Temperature Increase

will not be able to increase in productivity past a certain temperature due to the fact that it keeps its stomata open for so long and would lose even more water with temp increase

Climate Change for C4: Trend for Temperature Increase

will be able to increase productivity with higher temperatures up to the point of extreme temperatures, still higher, since it has reactions separated 

Climate Change for C3: Trend with CO₂ increase

rubisco becomes less likely to grab O₂ with more CO₂ in the air, productivity will increase

Climate Change for C4: Trend with CO₂ increase

already had good control over selection of CO₂, so it won’t increase in productivity nearly as much

Gross Primary Production (GPP)

total amount of carbon fixation by plants

Net Primary Production (NPP)

= GPP - R_p

R_p: plant respiration

Net Ecosystem Production (NEP)

accounts for heterotrophic respiration

= NPP - (R_h + R_d)

= GPP - (R_p + R_h + R_d)

p: plants

h: herbivores

d: decomposers