OCEA 101 [CH. 1: The Water Planet]

Temperature has a greater influence on density than pressure.

False

Describe the origin of the solar system

Formed from stellar dust. Water, nutrients, and energy are necessary.

List the order of Earth's layers (from outter to inner)

Lithosphere -> Asthenosphere -> Mesosphere -> Outer Core -> Inner Core

List two possible sources of the water of the oceans

Outgassing or, extraterrestrial sources

Review how we have come to estimate Earth's age as 4.5 to 4.6 billion years

Relative dating-correlating rock strata with fossils Absolute dating- if you know half life, you can determine the exact date (rocks have radioisotopes)

Define Photosynthesis

The process of organisms converting CO2 and water into organic matter and free O2

Explain the "Big Bang Theory" of the origin of the universe, and describe its structure

This model envisions all energy and matter in the universe as having initially been concentrated in an extremely hot, dense singularity much smaller than an atom. Known as a single rotating interstellar cloud, of gas and dust

Gravity causes density stratification [T/F]

True

Describe the Extraterrestrial water Theory

Water is riding on comets, melts when entering Earth's atmosphere and vaporizes. The water vapor then disperses by winds and condenses into Earth's oceans.

Describe the Outgassing water Theory

Water trapped in the mantle gets released from volcanic vents. This in turn forms vapor to create clouds, rain, and eventually oceans.

[FITB] The evolution of photosynthetic organisms on the early Earth resulted in an increase in the levels of gas ______ in its free or "pure" form.

oxygen

What 3 things were essential to the formation of life?

-Atmosphere = H2O (water), CH4 (methane), NH3 (ammonia) -uv light -lightning

Explain where life may have originated, and how the evolution of photosynthesis changed the planet

-Surface Pools - Biosynthesis - evaporation of water in shallow pools may have concentrated organic building blocks. Energy supplied by sunlight (photosynthesis). -Deep Ocean - Around hydrothermal vents utilizing H2S as energy source (chemosynthesis), or perhaps infrared light. -Organisms that were photosynthesizing outcompeted others and spread rapidly. -Life evolved to a level of complexity in which photosynthetic organisms could convert CO2 and water with the energy of sunlight into organic matter and free O2

Describe the atmospheres that have existed on Earth

1. Initially: H, He [mostly gaseous; incapable of supporting life] (boiled away) 2. Earth cooled, formed crust -Volcanoes and outgassing -Water, carbon dioxide, ammonia 3. Oxygen-rich