Earth Systems, Matter Cycles, and Energy Flow

Vocabulary flashcards covering Earth systems, global energy flow, non-living matter cycles, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, and combustion.

Biosphere

The global Earth system that encompasses all living organisms, including plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi.

Geosphere

The global Earth system comprising solid and molten rock, soil, sediments, and landforms like mountains.

Atmosphere

The layer of gases surrounding Earth that drives short-term weather patterns and long-term climate.

Hydrosphere

The Earth system containing all liquid water, including oceans, lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater.

Cryosphere

The frozen portion of Earth's systems, consisting of ice, glaciers, snow, and frozen ground.

Weather

Short-term conditions of the atmosphere at a specific time and place, determined by wind, clouds, and temperature.

Climate

The long-term pattern of weather conditions observed in a region over an extended period, typically $30\text{ years}$.

Water cycle

The continuous movement and recycling of water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, transpiration, infiltration, and runoff across Earth systems.

Carbon cycle

The continuous process by which carbon moves through the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.

Deforestation

The removal or clearing of trees and plant life in an area, often to make space for agriculture or cattle farming.

Albedo

The measure of the proportion of incoming solar radiation across all wavelengths reflected by a surface feature or object.

Terrestrial radiation

Lower-energy, longer-wavelength infrared radiation emitted back into space by Earth's atmosphere, land, and water after absorbing solar energy.

Photosynthesis

A chemical reaction in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria that uses sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen.

Respiration

A cellular process in living organisms where glucose and oxygen react to release energy for life functions, producing carbon dioxide and water as waste products.

The Great Oxygenation Event

A major evolutionary event around $2.3\text{ billion}$ years ago when photosynthesizing cyanobacteria released large amounts of oxygen into Earth's oceans and atmosphere.

Carbon reservoir

A component or area of Earth's systems—such as oceans, fossil fuel deposits, soil, or forests—that stores carbon.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms interacting with one another and with the non-living physical components of their environment.

Combustion

A chemical reaction in which a carbon-based fuel reacts rapidly with oxygen to release heat and light energy, producing carbon dioxide and water.

Nitrogen fixing bacteria

Specialized microorganisms found in soil and root nodules that convert atmospheric nitrogen gas into usable forms for plants.

Global Earth Systems Overview

A diagram illustrating the interconnected major spheres of Earth: Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, and Geosphere.