Lecture 01 – Introduction to Earth System Science
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18 Terms
Q: What does Earth System Science (ESS) study?
ESS studies processes in Earth's different spheres; interactions and feedback between systems, (including the atmospheric, hydrological, and rock cycles, as well as biological and microbial processes in the biosphere and soil zone), help us understand climate and environment.
Q: Why are interactions between Earth systems important?
They create feedback that control climate and environmental changes
Q: Does global change occur naturally?
Yes, it has always occurred throughout history
Q: What are the causes of global change?
Natural and anthropogenic (human-induced) causes
Q: Why must we understand past changes?
To compare and understand modern global change
Q: Can Earth systems interact with each other?
Yes, all systems interact (bidirectional relationships)
Q: Major elements in the atmosphere?
N, O, Ar, C
Q: Major elements in the ecosphere?
C, O, H, N, P, S
Q: Major elements in the hydrosphere?
H, O, Na, Cl, Ca, Mg, C, S
Q: Major elements in the lithosphere?
Si, O, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, K, Na, C, S
Q: What is a source?
A process that releases a substance into a system
Q: What is a sink?
A process that removes a substance from a system
Q: What are the four "spheres" of the Earth system?
Atmosphere, ecosphere (biosphere and pedosphere), hydrosphere (oceans, lakes, rivers, glaciers, ice sheets), and lithosphere.
Q: Why is it important to understand the different processes elements undergo?
Because elements occur in different compounds and phases (gas, liquid, solid), so understanding processes is essential for tracing element cycles.
They explain how matter moves between Earth systems
Q: Describe the carbon cycle across Earth's spheres.
Atmosphere: CO₂ ↔ Ecosphere: organic C ↔ Lithosphere: CaCO₃ and organic C ↔ Hydrosphere: HCO₃⁻.
Q: Why is it important to know the time scales of element cycle processes?
Because time scales influence reservoir size — how much of an element accumulates in each reservoir depends on how fast it enters and leaves.
Q: In photosynthesis, what is the source and what is the sink?
Source: atmospheric CO₂. Sink: plants as organic carbon.
Q: In respiration, what is the source and what is the sink?
Source: plants as organic carbon. Sink: atmospheric CO₂ (the reverse of photosynthesis).