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Podcast
Podcast
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Questions and Answers
Questions and Answers
What is the primary effect of human activity on the carbon cycle?
What is the primary effect of human activity on the carbon cycle?
Human activity has significantly increased carbon emissions by utilizing fossil fuels and causing deforestation.
Describe the feedback loop associated with melting ice sheets and permafrost.
Describe the feedback loop associated with melting ice sheets and permafrost.
Melting ice sheets and thawing permafrost release trapped greenhouse gases like CO2 and methane back into the atmosphere, enhancing the greenhouse effect.
What roles do nitrogen and phosphorus play in agriculture, and how do they impact biogeochemical cycles?
What roles do nitrogen and phosphorus play in agriculture, and how do they impact biogeochemical cycles?
Nitrogen and phosphorus are used in fertilizers, leading to nutrient runoff that disrupts natural biogeochemical cycles.
Identify the main sources of nitrogen used in fertilizers and their environmental impact.
Identify the main sources of nitrogen used in fertilizers and their environmental impact.
Discuss the role of coal, petroleum, and natural gas in the carbon cycle.
Discuss the role of coal, petroleum, and natural gas in the carbon cycle.
Explain what is albedo and how ice albedo affects local climate conditions.
Explain what is albedo and how ice albedo affects local climate conditions.
Discuss the environmental effects of deforestation in the context of albedo.
Discuss the environmental effects of deforestation in the context of albedo.
How do phosphorus and nitrogen fertilisers lead to a reinforcing feedback loop for farmers?
How do phosphorus and nitrogen fertilisers lead to a reinforcing feedback loop for farmers?
What environmental problem can arise from the runoff of excess fertilisers into bodies of water?
What environmental problem can arise from the runoff of excess fertilisers into bodies of water?
Questions and Answers
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Flashcards
Flashcards
Biogeochemical cycle
Biogeochemical cycle
A process that recycles elements on Earth, essential for understanding human impacts on climate and the environment.
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis
The process by which plants use sunlight, CO2, and water to produce sugars for energy and release oxygen.
Respiration
Respiration
The process by which organisms break down sugars for energy, releasing CO2 as a byproduct.
Decomposition
Decomposition
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Carbon Sink
Carbon Sink
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Carbon Source
Carbon Source
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Nitrogen Fixation
Nitrogen Fixation
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Nitrification
Nitrification
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Denitrification
Denitrification
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Study Notes
Study Notes
Biogeochemical Cycles
- Biogeochemical cycles are processes that recycle elements on Earth.
- These cycles are essential for understanding how human activities impact climate and the environment.
- Humans have disrupted these cycles by increasing the production of certain compounds, exceeding natural processes' abilities to regulate them.
Carbon Cycle
- Important terms:
- Carbon Sink: Processes or reservoirs that absorb carbon from the atmosphere, such as forests and oceans.
- Carbon Source: Processes or reservoirs that release carbon into the atmosphere, such as fossil fuel burning and deforestation.
- Fossil Fuels: Coal, petroleum, and natural gas formed from decomposed organisms over millions of years.
- Greenhouse Gas: A gas that traps heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.
- Important Processes:
- Photosynthesis: Plants convert carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere into organic compounds.
- Respiration: Organisms release carbon dioxide (CO2) back into the atmosphere during metabolic processes.
- Decomposition: Decomposers break down dead organisms, releasing carbon back into the atmosphere.
- Sinks:
- Forests
- Oceans
- Soil
- Sources:
- Fossil fuel burning
- Deforestation
- Respiration
- Volcanic eruptions
- Human Impact on the Carbon Cycle:
- Fossil Fuel Burning: Releases large amounts of stored carbon into the atmosphere as CO2.
- Deforestation: Reduces the ability of forests to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere.
- Increased atmospheric CO2: Warms the planet, contributing to climate change.
- Ocean Acidification: Increased CO2 absorption by oceans reduces their capacity to act as a carbon sink, while also harming marine life.
- Melting Ice Sheets and Thawing Permafrost: Releases trapped CO2 and methane, further enhancing the greenhouse effect.
Nitrogen Cycle
- Important Terms:
- Nitrogen Fixation: Conversion of atmospheric nitrogen gas (N2) into usable forms by certain bacteria.
- Nitrification: Conversion of ammonia (NH3) to nitrates (NO3-).
- Denitrification: Conversion of nitrates ( NO3-) back to atmospheric nitrogen (N2).
Phosphorus Cycle
- Important Terms:
- No technical terms, mainly involves biological processes.
Human Impact on Phosphorus and Nitrogen Cycles:
- Fertilizers: Excessive use of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers leads to:
- Soil Saturation: Build-up of nutrients in the soil, potentially harming plants and microorganisms due to toxicity.
- Nutrient Runoff: Excess fertilizers can leach into groundwater, contaminating it.
- Eutrophication: Runoff into lakes and other water bodies causes excessive plant growth and nutrient depletion, leading to oxygen depletion and harm to aquatic life.
- Nitrogen Specific Impacts:
- Loss of Symbiotic Relationships: Excess fertilizer-derived ammonia disrupts the symbiotic relationship between nitrogen-fixing bacteria and certain plants, making them dependent on fertilizers.
- Inefficient Nutrient Absorption: Fertilizer derived nutrients are not as efficiently absorbed by plants as naturally produced ones.
Additional Information
- Thermohaline Currents: Ocean currents driven by differences in temperature and salinity, playing a crucial role in global climate regulation.
- Albedo: The reflectivity of a surface, impacting the Earth's temperature balance.
- Darker surfaces absorb more light, while lighter surfaces reflect more light.
- Aerosols: Solid or liquid particles suspended in the air, influencing albedo by reflecting sunlight.
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