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, takes place in 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, takes place in Mitochondria

Cellular Respiration word equation

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

Cellular Respiration chemical equation

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

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

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 and cons

PROS: Renewable, green

CONS: Weather dependent, large land use

Wind energy pros and cons

PROS: Renewable, green

CONS: Weather dependent, bird disrupting

Hydropower pros and cons

PROS: Green

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 and methane in the air

Lithosphere - Coal and oil deposits and rocks like limestone

Biota - Proteins, carbohydrates and lipids.

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.

Nitrogen cycle

Nitrogen moves through biosphere and is used for DNA, proteins, and chlorophyll. Bacteria are involved in waste breakdown and nitrification/denitrification.

Phosphorus cycle

Phosphorus moves between lithosphere and hydrosphere through food chains. Found in rocks, dissolved, in fertiliser, and in biota for growth and CO2 absorption

Factors influencing climate change

• Deforestation

• Mining

• CFCs

• Increases in human population (agriculture)

• Industrial wastes

• Travel

Deforestation effects

• More CO2

• Impact element cycles

• Likelihood of desertification (ecosystem becomes fry and arid; sun’s energy can’t evaporate water and instead heats ground and lower atmosphere

CFCs

Chlorofluorocarbons, once used greatly in refrigeration. React with ozone (O3), and destroy it. Stronger greenhouse gas than CO2.

Variation in climate patterns is caused by

• Tilt of Earth’s axis (amount of sun reaching Earth’s surface)

• Differing land and water abilities to absorb and emit thermal radiation

• Features of land

Earth tilt summary

23.5 degrees. Affects way sun passes through atmosphere and length of daylight

Heat absorption rate

Water heats and cools slower and less than land.

Land features

• Temperature of air (altitude)

• Sandy vs fertile soil

• Snow reflects

• Dark foliage absorbs

Albedo affect

Snow and clouds reflect heat, water absorbs. Therefore less ice = more heat

What causes wind?

Convection currents made by cold and warm air moving

La Nina vs El Nino

La Nina - Strong trade winds push warm water to Asia

El Nino - Weak trade winds bring warm water to America, leading to droughts in Australia

Main greenhouse gases and sources

Carbon Dioxide - Electricity and fuel, manufacturing and agriculture

Methane - Fossil fuel use and production, wetlands, agriculture

Nitrous Oxide - Fossil fuel combustion

Water Vapour - Warming of environment

Different types of biodiversity

Genetic diversity - variations within a species (colour, metabolic rate, leaf structures)

Species diversity - Variety of species on Earth (bugs, beetles, rhino beetle)

Geosequestration

Separating CO2 from other gases at fossil fuel plants and storing it underground.

Sustainable forests

Absorb carbon, release oxygen. When carbon storage plateaus, harvesting trees and turning them into wood products locks carbon, preventing immediate release into atmosphere.

Renewable resource examples

Solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, bioenergy

Afforestation vs reforestation

Afforestation is planting trees where they were not previously, reforestation is planting trees back where they have been lost.

Water cycle

Evaporated (water bodies) and transpirated (plants) water condenses into clouds, which deposit as snow and ice and precipitate as rain. There is also surface and subsurface flow (Infiltration to percolation).