SUPA Earth system science quiz 3

albedo

a measure of the reflectivity of a surface

drought

a prolonged period of low precipitation and high evaporation

feedback

a loop system that responds to and produces changes

geothermal gradient

how temperature increases with depth in Earth's crust due to decaying radioactive elements

global climate

average weather conditions over a significant period of time

greenhouse effect

effect that traps infrared to keep earth at a livable temperature

greenhouse gases

gas in the atmosphere that trap infrared. Part of the greenhouse effect

Hindcasting

simulation on a model looking backwards to see how it matches with history

instrumental period

current era with access to temperature readings taken with instruments

Milankovitch cycles

regular patterns of variation in the shape of earth's orbit, the tilt, and direction of earth's axis

ocean acidification

ongoing decrease in the pH of oceans caused by absorbing Co2

Phenology

the study of seasonal timing of biological activities

proxy

observable and measurable phenomenon that serves as an indirect indicator of changes in the climate

thermal expansion

the expansion of something as it warms in particular the water in the oceans which increases sea levels

acid

a compound that yields H+ when dissolved in water

atom

the smallest unit of an element that retains all the characteristics of that element

base

a compound that yields OH- when dissolved in water

chemical bond

the force that holds the atoms in molecules together

chemical reaction

process by which one or more substances are converted into different substances

compound

a substance made of atoms of two or more elements bonded to each other

electron

negatively charged particle of an atom

element

a pure substance that can't be broken down into other substances

energy

the capacity to do work

entropy

a measure of the degree of disorder in a system

first law of thermodynamics

The principle of conservation of energy. Energy can be transferred and transformed, but it cannot be created or destroyed.

isotope

an atom of an element with a particular number of neutrons

kinetic energy

energy of motion

Law of Conservation of Mass

the law that states that mass cannot be created or destroyed in ordinary chemical and physical changes and mass remains unchanged

mass

A measure of the amount of matter in an object

molecule

what is formed when two or more atoms (the same or different) bond together

neutron

neutral particle of an atom

phase change

a change in matter from one state to another (solid. liquid, gas) without changing the chemical composition

Photosynthesis

autotrophs using sunlight, CO2 and water to produce glucose

polarity

imbalance of positive and negative charge within an atom/molecule

potential energy

energy in something that is yet to be released

primary consumer

an organism that eats plants (producers) directly

primary producers

an organism that converts sunlight into glucose

proton

a positive particle of an atom

second law of thermodynamics

with each energy transformation some energy is released as heat

temperature

how hot or cold something is or how fast the particles are moving

trophic level

organisms position in a food web or number of steps from the sun

work

the act of applying force to an object over some distance