Ecosystem and its Spheres - Review Flashcards

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the definitions and details of ecosystem components, the four spheres of Earth, atmospheric layers, and types of primary and secondary air pollutants based on the provided lecture notes.

Ecosystem

A geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscape, work together to form a bubble of life.

Biotic factors

Living organisms within an ecosystem, including plants, animals, and other organisms.

Abiotic factors

Non-living components of an ecosystem, such as rocks, temperature, and humidity.

Biosphere

The total sum of all ecosystems on the planet, including living (biotic) beings and physical (abiotic) components; it is made up of the lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere.

Lithosphere

The solid, outer part of Earth, including the brittle upper portion of the mantle and the crust.

Crust

The outermost layer of Earth's structure, extending from $0-100\,\text{km}$.

Mantle

The portion of Earth's structure beneath the crust, extending to a depth of $2900\,\text{km}$.

Outer Core

A layer of Earth's structure extending to a depth of $5100\,\text{km}$.

Inner Core

The deepest layer of Earth's structure, reaching a depth of $6378\,\text{km}$.

Hydrosphere

The total amount of water on a planet, including water on the surface, underground, and in the air, appearing as liquid, vapor, or ice.

Atmosphere

A mixture of gases surrounding the Earth that provides air for life, protects from ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and traps heat to regulate temperature.

Troposphere

The lowest part of the atmosphere where life exists, containing most weather phenomena like clouds, rain, and snow.

Tropopause

The top boundary of the troposphere.

Stratosphere

The layer extending upwards from the tropopause to about $50\,\text{km}$, containing ozone which absorbs ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

Mesosphere

The atmospheric layer extending to $80\,\text{km}$ ($262000\,\text{ft}$) where meteors are typically found.

Thermosphere

The layer extending from $80\,\text{km}$ to $700\,\text{km}$ ($2100000\,\text{ft}$) that contains the aurora and the space station.

Exosphere

The highest layer of the atmosphere, extending up to $10000\,\text{km}$ ($6200\,\text{mi}$) into space.

Air Pollution

The presence of harmful substances, mainly gases and particles, in the air caused by human activities such as industry and vehicles.

Primary Air Pollutant

A pollutant emitted directly from a source.

Secondary Air Pollutant

A pollutant formed when primary pollutants react within the atmosphere.

Particulate matter (PM)

Air pollutants made of solid particles and liquid droplets; sources include burning, dust, dirt, soot (black carbon), ash, and pollen.

PM10

Larger particulate matter that is dark enough to be seen with the naked eye.

PM2.5

Small particulate matter detected only with an electron microscope; more harmful as it can enter the lungs and bloodstream.

Carbon monoxide (CO)

A colorless, odorless, tasteless, poisonous, and flammable gas known as an asphyxiant or 'silent killer' gas.

Carboxyhemoglobin

A harmful compound formed when hemoglobin binds to carbon monoxide $200-300$ times more readily than oxygen.

Sulfur Oxides (SOx)

Pollutants from burning fossil fuels that contribute to sulfuric acid (sulfates), acid rain, and respiratory issues like bronchitis.

Nitrogen oxides

Critical components of photochemical smog that produce a yellowish brown color; indoors, they can come from gas stoves and heaters.

Photochemical SMOG

A mixture of pollutants, creating a brown haze above cities, formed when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react in sunlight.

Acid Rain

Formed when sulfur dioxide ($SO_2$) and nitrogen oxides ($NO_x$) react with water, oxygen, and chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acid.

Peroxyacyl Nitrates (PAN)

A family of compounds from photochemical reactions between $NO_x$ and VOCs that cause eye irritation and reduced respiratory functions like emphysema.