Intro to Climate Change and Global Systems

Vocabulary flashcards covering topics on climate change, Earth's global systems, atmospheric layers, and biogeochemical cycles including the nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus cycles.

Biosphere

All living things and ecosystems on Earth.

Biota

All living organisms within an ecosystem or region.

Biomes

Large regions shaped by climate and environment, such as deserts, tundra, and tropical forests.

Ecosystem

The community of interacting organisms and their physical environment within a biome.

Atmosphere

The layer of gases surrounding Earth.

Troposphere

The atmospheric layer closest to Earth, containing $75\,\%$ of all atmospheric gases.

Stratosphere

The atmospheric layer $55\,\text{km}$ above Earth that contains the ozone layer.

Mesosphere

The atmospheric layer where temperatures range from 0\,\text{^\circ C} to -90\,\text{^\circ C}.

Thermosphere

The atmospheric layer located $80\,\text{km}$ to $600\,\text{km}$ above Earth's surface.

Exosphere

The outermost layer of the atmosphere, extending from $500\,\text{km}$ outward.

Hydrosphere

All water found above, on, and below Earth's surface.

Lithosphere

Earth's solid outer crust made of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Chemical compounds used in appliances that damage and break down the ozone layer.

Water cycle

The continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.

Photosynthesis chemical equation

$$6\,CO_2 + 6\,H_2O + \text{light} \rightarrow 6\,O_2 + C_6H_{12}O_6$$

Carbon cycle

The continuous movement of carbon through producers, consumers, decomposers, oceans, fossil fuels, and the atmosphere.

Main steps of the Carbon Cycle

1. Photosynthesis

2. Respiration

3. Decomposition

4. Combustion

5. Ocean absorption & sedimentation

Process in the carbon cycle that converts atmospheric $CO_2$ into organic sugars

Photosynthesis

Process in the carbon cycle that releases stored carbon by burning organic matter and fossil fuels

Combustion

Phosphorus cycle

The movement of phosphorus through rocks, soil, water, and living organisms to support plant growth.

Main steps of the Phosphorus Cycle

1. Weathering

2. Assimilation

3. Decomposition

4. Sedimentation

Step in the phosphorus cycle where rain breaks down rocks to release phosphate into soil

Weathering

Nitrogen cycle

The movement of nitrogen through the biosphere, essential for synthesizing DNA, proteins, and chlorophyll.

Main steps of the Nitrogen Cycle

1. Fixation

2. Nitrification

3. Assimilation

4. Denitrification

Step in the nitrogen cycle that converts atmospheric $N_2$ gas into usable ammonium

Fixation

Step in the nitrogen cycle that converts ammonium into plant-absorbable nitrates

Nitrification

Step in the nitrogen cycle that releases excess soil nitrogen back into atmospheric gas

Denitrification