Environmental Science H // Chapter 3
what are some characteristics of the geosphere?
- crust, mantle, & core - rocks & minerals - creates various landforms
what are some characteristics of the biosphere?
- living & once-living organisms - gases affect composition
what are some characteristics of the atmosphere?
- oxygen, ozone, & greenhouse gases - global sunscreen - keeps the Earth warm
what are some characteristics of the hydrosphere?
- salt water, fresh water : on surface, underground, & in atmosphere - water cycle through lithosphere, biosphere, & atmosphere
explain how macromolecules are involved in passing traits from parents to offspring.
DNA & RNA are both nucleic acids which store genetic information which eventually be passed on through the reproduction process
element
a chemical substance w/ a given set of properties that cannot be broken down
biochemical cycle
a complex cycle in which nutrients continuously circulate through the environment
water is an example of what?
a compound - 2 elements
feedback loop
a cyclical process that can be either positive or negative
tectonic plate
a large section of the lithosphere that moves across Earth's surface
tectonic plate
a large section of the lithosphere that moves over Earth's surface
aquifer
a layer of rock & soil that holds water underground
mantle
a layer of, not very but, mostly solid rock below the crust
pH
a measure of acidity of alkalinity of solutions
solution
a mixture in which all substances are evenly distributed
landform
a mountain, island, continent, or other feature that forms above & beneath oceans surface
landform
a mountain, island, or continent that forms above & below an oceans surface
macromolecule
a protein, nucleic acid, carbohydrate, or lipid
explain how a negative feedback loops works. use a thermostat as an example.
a thermostat is used to stabilize a room's temperature by turning on the furnace when it gets cold & is used to turn off the furnace when it gets hot.
what impact do humans have on the carbon cycle?
activities tend t increase carbon dioxide in the atmosphere beyond what they can absorb
biosphere
all planets living or once-living things & non-living parts of layers of gases
hydrosphere
all the water on & below Earth's surface & in the atmosphere
the amount of matter in the environment ...
always stays the same
give an example of how two of Earth's sphere overlap or interact.
an earthworm goes through soil in the ground
what term describes something where its' properties cannot be broken down any further?
an element
protein
an organic compound made up of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, & sometimes sulfur
hydrocarbon
an organic compound that contains only hydrogen & carbon
consumer
an organism that must eat other organisms to obtain nutrients
primary producer
an organism that produces its own food
primary producer
an organisms that can produce its own food
eutrophication
an overgrown of algae & other producers
eutrophication
an overgrowth of producers often caused by the release of phosphorus
aquifer
an underground water reservoir
matter
anything that occupies space
some precipitation & surface water soaks down through soil & rock to recharge underground reservoirs, or storage areas, known as... a) subduction zones b) aquifers c) mantles d) faults
aquifers
most of the nitrogen on Earth is located in the what?
atmosphere
what are two examples of substances that contain hydrocarbons?
auto emissions & smoke
what is the main organism responsible for nitrogen fixation?
bacteria
the sphere of the Earth that consists of all the plant's living or once-living things & the nonliving parts of the environment w/ which they interact is the ________________.
biosphere
systems do not have well-defined _____________, which makes it difficult to decide where one system ends & another begins.
boundaries
how are Earth's spheres defined?
by function, makeup, & location
how do people obtain phosphorus?
by plant roots it dissolved in water / people consume this by consuming theses substances
what are the end products of the process of cellular respiration?
carbon dioxide, water, & energy
nucleus
central core of a cell containing protons & neutrons
condensation
change in state: gas -> liquid
lipid
chemically diverse compound that doesn't dissolve in H2O
water has the property of ____________, which means it sticks to itself.
cohesion
molecule
combination of two or more atoms of the same type
a substance composed of atoms of two or more different elements is called a(n) what?
compound
evaporation
conversion of a substance from a liquid to gas
nitrogen fixation
conversion of nitrogen gas into ammonia, which makes nitrogen gas viable for organisms
deposition
depositions of eroded soil at a new location
the negatively charged part of an atom is what?
electron
water moved from bodies of water & moist soil into the atmosphere by ____________, the conversion of a substance from a liquid to a gas.
evaporation
TRUE OR FALSE: a human being is part of Earth's lithosphere.
false
TRUE OR FALSE: bacteria, fungi, & other organisms that break down waster are called consumers
false
TRUE OR FALSE: the products of photosynthesis are oxygen & carbon dioxide
false
TRUE OR FALSE: waste molecules adhere to each other through covalent bonds
false
a solution w/ a pH less than 7 is basic
false
an event that is both a cause & an effect is a cyclical process known as a ________________ ________, & can be either positive or negative.
feedback loop
the Haber-Bosch process enabled people to do what?
fix nitrogen artificially
Groundwater
fresh water found underground
what two spheres of Earth are primarily involved in the phosphorus cycle?
geosphere & hydrosphere
the _____________ is made up of all the rocks & minerals on or below Earth's surface. the outer part of the geosphere is called the _______________, which forms the land we live on as well as the ocean bottom. the hot rock beneath this layer is known as the ________________ & includes the uppermost lithosphere as well as the softer ______________. as this layer moves, it drags larger sections of lithosphere, called _____________ __________, across Earth's surface. Earth's center is called the ________ & is made up of molten & solid metals.
geosphere / crust / mantle / asthenosphere / tectonic plates / core
what tends to happen to plant & algae growth when phosphorus is added to their environments?
growth often jumps dramatically
lithosphere
hard rock on & just below Earth's surface - outermost layer
what factor is responsible for several of water's unusual & important properties?
hydrogen bonding
the _______________ encompasses all water - salt, fresh, liquid, ice, & vapor - on Earth's surface, underground, & in the air.
hydrosphere
where is phosphorus stored?
in rocks, sediments, soil, & the oceans
systems receive & process ___________ inputs of energy, matter, or information, & produce of energy, matter, or information.
inputs
Earth's spheres both overlap & ______________.
interact
how does water resist changes in temperature?
it absorbs energy w/o changing its temperature, due to the hydrogen bonds
how does the release of large amounts of phosphorus by humans cause problems?
it can cause eutrophication, which can lead to hypoxia, & then eventually to dead zones in bodies of water
describe the effects of a positive feedback loop.
it pushes a system to an extreme, making it less stable.
describe the special properties of water that allow it to support life on Earth.
it sticks to itself, allowing it to carry & transport materials / its resistant to temperature change, which results in the stabilization of aquatic systems & their climates / it's the universal solvent, which allows it to hold molecules together
what happens in the Carbon Cycle?
it uses the sun's energy to convert CO2 & H2O to oxygen & sugars / through cellular respiration, consumers take in oxygen & sugars & then release CO2 & H2O
why is phosphorus important to living things?
it's a key component of cell membranes & of DNA & RNA
why is cellular respiration important for life on Earth?
it's how organisms break down sugars to release chemical energy needed for life
why is water called "the universal solvent"
it's polar & can dissolve almost any molecule
atmosphere
layers of gases surrounding our planet
what increases the amount of usable nitrogen in soil?
legumes
all of the following macromolecules are polymers EXCEPT: a) lipids b) proteins c) nucleic acids d) carbohydrates
lipids
fats & oils used by the body to store energy do not dissolve in water & are therefore classified as what?
lipids
an earthworm tunneling through the soil is an example of the biosphere interacting w/ the _______________.
lithosphere
the hard rock on & just below Earth's surface is called the what?
lithosphere
the outermost layer of Earth & the geosphere is known as the _______________.
lithosphere
why is Earth's biosphere called "the living Earth"?
living & non-living things exist only on or near the surface
what materials make up Earth's biosphere?
living & once-living things & all non-living parts of the environment
nucleic acid
macromolecule that carries hereditary info & include both DNA & RNA
geosphere
made of all rock at & below Earth's surface
scientists divide Earth into spheres, which are often described by their ___________ rather than by their location.
makeup
systems may exchange energy, ____________, and/of information w/ other systems.
matter
law of conservation of matter
matter can be transformed but not created or destroyed
nutrient
matter needed by an organism to live
a(n) _____________ is a combination of two or more atoms of the same type or of different types joined covalent bonds.
molecule
_______________ feedback loops enhance stability by canceling an action once it reaches an extreme.
negative
a predator-prey relationship in which the two populations rise & fall in response to each other is an example of a ______________ feedback loop.
negative
contrast the two different types of feedback loops in terms of how they affect the stability of a system.
negative feedback loops stabilize systems, whereas positive feedback loops don't stabilize systems & instead, pushes them to its extreme.
which statement about the nitrogen cycle is true? a) nitrogen cycles only into large organisms, such as humans & trees b) nitrogen gas cannot cycle out of the atmosphere & into organisms c) nitrogen is abundant in the lithosphere, hydrosphere, & in organisms d) natural nitrogen fixation occurs at a fast rate
nitrogen gas cannot cycle out of the atmosphere & into organisms
what happens in the Nitrogen Cycle?
nitrogen gas is changed into usable forms naturally or artificially & taken by plants / consumers obtain the nitrogen foods / nitrogen is then released & returned to the atmosphere by denitrifying bacteria
is water an element? why or why not?
no bc it's made up of two elements
DNA & RNA are two main types of _____________ that carry hereditary information & are responsible for passing traits from parents to offspring.
nucleic acids
carbohydrate
organic compound that consists of atoms of carbon, hydrogen, & oxygen
decomposer
organisms, such as bacteria & fungi, that break down waste & feed organisms
Earth's ____________ is made of molten metals such as iron & nickel that are almost as hot as the surface of the sun.
outer core
which four nutrients cycle through all of Earth's spheres & organisms?
oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, & phosphorus
what gas in the atmosphere protects the biosphere from the sun's radiation?
ozone
define ozone & explain it's purpose.
ozone is a gas made of oxygen molecules that have three oxygen atoms that function to protect the biosphere from the sun
core
part of the Earth beneath the mantle - Earth's center
all of the following are part of a carbohydrate EXCEPT: a) carbon b) oxygen c) hydrogen d) phosphorus
phosphorus
how do the hydrosphere & geosphere participate in the phosphorus cycle?
phosphorus is stored in the geosphere which is later released when H2O in the hydrosphere which gets ride of rock / then it's ready to become part of the lithosphere again
what process do most producers use to create their own food?
photosynthesis
what happens in the Phosphorus Cycle?
plants take phosphorus through roots / consumers obtain phosphorus from plants & H2O is released it in waste / decomposes then return it to soil
erosion is an example of a ________________ feedback loop.
positive
the process of erosion is an example of a(n) what? a) positive feedback loop b) system w/ no feedback c) stabilizing process d) negative feedback loop
positive feedback loop
cellular respiration
process by which organisms use oxygen to release energy in food, CO2, & H2O
photosynthesis
process by which producers use CO2, H2O, & sunlight to make their own food
positive feedback loops are relatively __________ in nature but _____________ in environmental systems that people have changed.
rare / common
transpiration
release of water vapor through leaves of plants
Earth's geosphere is made up of all the ____________ at & below the surface of the Earth.
rock
what are the components of Earth's geosphere?
rock at & below Earth's surface
the characteristic that best defines a macromolecules is its what? a) size b) function c) life cycle d) chemical makeup
size
erosion
soil removal by water, wind, ice, or gravity
inputs into Earth's systems can include both __________ energy & geothermal energy.
solar
a mixture in which all the ingredients are evenly distributed is called a(n) what?
solution
compound
substance composed of atoms of two or more different elements
a ________ is a network of parts, elements, or components that interact ab & influence one another.
system
organisms expel gases into the air - this is an interaction between the what?
the atmosphere & biosphere
atom
the basic unit of matter
which cycle plays a role in all of the biogeochemical cycles?
the water cycle
describe how organisms in the biosphere affect the atmosphere & vice versa.
they affect the atmosphere by expelling gases & wastes / they protect & support the biosphere bc they are living things
how does photosynthesis & cellular respiration help drive the carbon cycle?
they help by taking H2O, CO2, & sunlight & Chang's it into oxygen & carbohydrates / respiration then puts carbon back into air as CO2 waste
how do greenhouse gases innEarth's atmosphere affect our environment?
they keep the Earth warm enough to support all forms of life
why do scientists think there is an undiscovered carbon sink somewhere?
they measure how much CO2 is released & how much is brought back to the atmosphere / a large amount is uncounted for so therefore, must be going somewhere else
crust
thin layer of relatively cool rock that forms Earth's outer skin both on land & in the ocean
when two tectonic plates meet, they may slip & grind alongside one another, forming a _____________ plate boundary.
transform
define the three types of plate boundaries.
transform: areas where plates slip & grind against each their divergent: areas where molten rock pushes plates apart convergent: areas where plates move toward each other
TRUE OR FALSE: its cohesion allows water to transport nutrients & wastes in plants & animals
true
TRUE OR FALSE: only a producer can use the sun's energy or chemical energy to make food
true
TRUE OR FALSE: the hydrosphere includes water in Earth's atmosphere.
true
TRUE OR FALSE: the lithosphere is part of the geosphere.
true
the hydrosphere includes all water on Earth, including all forms of liquid, solid, & _______________.
vapor
precipitation
water returns from atmosphere to Earth's surface
if the human brain used only positive feedback loops, its response to an input of being too hot would be to what? a) drink cool water b) wear more clothes c) seek shade d) sweat
wear more clothes
how does plate tectonics influence the characteristics of Earth's surface?
when tectonic plates move, they combine, separate, & recombine w/ the end result of changing land forms that affect climate, soil, & plants/animals
