Patterns of Global Climate Change

Ecosystem

All living and non-living components in a certain community, along with all the interactions taking place between them

Biotic factors

Living parts of an ecosystem

Abiotic factors are

Non-living parts of an ecosystem, e.g. Light, water, salinity, pH

Earth's 4 systems

Hydrosphere - Water

Atmosphere - Air

Lithosphere/Geosphere - Soil and land

Biosphere - All living things and ecosystems

The carbon cycle

CO2 in air --> Photosynthesis --> Dead organisms and waste products --> Factory + vehicle combustion emissions --> CO2 in air

Photosynthesis

How plants convert the sun's light energy into chemical energy

Where photosynthesis takes place

Chloroplast of a cell

Photosynthesis word equation

carbon dioxide + water --light--> glucose + oxygen

Photosynthesis chemical equation

6CO2 + 6H2O --light--> C6H12O6 + 6O2

Cellular Respiration

the process by which cells in every organism use oxygen to produce energy from food

Where cellular respiration takes place

Mitochondria

Cellular Respiration word equation

glucose + oxygen --> carbon dioxide + water + energy

Cellular Respiration chemical equation

C6H12O6 + 6O2 --> 6CO2 + 6H20 + Energy (ATP)

Carbonic acid

When CO2 in the atmosphere is absorbed into water, helps build organism's shells

Combustion of carbon-based fuels equation

Carbon-based fuels + O2 --> CO2 + H2O + Energy

What is the greenhouse effect?

Greenhouse gases trap some infrared radiation in the atmosphere, keeping the Earth warm

What is the Enhanced Greenhouse Effect?

Global warming due to increased greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere due to humans

Methane emitting activities

- Agriculture (cattle)

- Mining of natural gas

- Wastewater treatment

- Decomposition in landfill

Global warming impact areas

Economic, Agriculture, Health, Culture

Renewable energy

An energy source that won't run out, or will replenish faster than it is used

Green energy

A sustainable energy source that doesn't produce pollutants

Solar energy pros

Renewable, green

Wind energy pros

Renewable, green

Hydropower pros

Green

Solar energy cons

Weather dependent, large land use

Wind energy cons

Weather dependent, bird disrupting

Hydropower cons

Steep valley needed, disrupts fish, weather dependent

Biodegradable

Able to be broken down naturally by bacteria

What is nuclear energy?

Energy made by splitting a uranium atom

How do the different spheres store carbon?

Atmosphere - Carbon in the air

Lithosphere - Coal and oil in the ground

Biota - Organic compounds and carbon in living things

Hydrosphere - Dissolved carbon dioxide

Biosphere

All living things and ecosystems, where materials are cycled within the different spheres through the nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus cycles.

Atmosphere layers (from highest to lowest)

Exosphere - Escaping gases into space, no protection to biosphere

Thermosphere - High energy radiation from sun is absorbed here

Mesosphere - Meteorites burn up here

Stratosphere - Ozone layer absorbs UV radiation

Troposphere - Higher Oxygen Pressure, weather events

Hydrosphere

All water, 97% in oceans, 3% freshwater in ice, underground and atmosphere

Lithosphere/Geosphere

Earth’s rocky crust (made of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rock), and the soil. Provides nutrients to biosphere.