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41 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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El Nino |
Occurs when currents in the tropical Pacific reverse bringing warm water to central america. Causes changes warmer wetter winters in SW united states. Prevents upwelling |
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weather |
condition of the atmosphere at one place and time |
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climate |
average weather conditions for a region over a period of decades |
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insolation |
incoming solar radiation (light) |
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albedo |
the ability of an object to reflect light smooth, light colored surfaces = high albedo dark, rough surfaces = low albedo |
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infrared energy |
heat the form of energy Earth loses to space Trapped and refelcted back to earth by greenhouse gasses |
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Greenhouse Gases |
Trap infrared energy in our atmosphere Cause climate change CO2, methane, H20... |
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positive feedback |
Amplifies change within a system |
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negative feedback |
Dampens change and returns system to normal |
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convection currents |
rising of warm, less dense air as it rises it expands allowing it to cool cool, more dense air sinks back down |
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Coriolis Effect |
bending of wind and water currents caused by Earth rotation Clockwise bend in N. hemisphere counterclockwise in S. hemisphere |
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troposphere |
bottom layer of atmosphre all water vapor is here All weather occurs here |
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stratosphere |
above troposphere ozone layer is here |
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ozone layer |
absorbs UV radiation Is in the stratosphere |
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Thermohaline conveyor |
massive current that connects all of the world's oceans driven by differences in salinity sinks near greenland |
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upwelling |
cold, nutrient rich water rises to oceans surface occurs on W. coast of continents important for fish populations |
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biomes |
areas with similar climate and plant types |
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Tundra |
frozen biome in far north latitudes Soil is permafrost very short growing season |
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Taiga / Boreal Forest |
coniferous forest - trees with needles Canada and Siberia Largest source of wood for timber companies |
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Temperate Deciduous forest |
deciduous trees - lose their leaves in winter leaf litter makes soil rich |
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Tropical Rainforest |
equitorial forests with lots of rain nutrient poor soil most diverse biome |
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Savanna |
African grassland biome Fire maintains soil fertility wet and dry seasons |
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Chapparal |
Shrubland near the coast dry plant leaves contain flamable oils depends on fire to burn away competition |
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Littoral zone |
shallow area near the shore emergent plants grow here most life is here |
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Limnetic zone |
shallow area far from shore phytoplankton and zooplankton are base of food chain here |
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Benthic zone |
the bottom of a river / lake / pond decomposers live here |
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Wetlands |
Very valuable biome, but most have been destroyed Important ecosystem services - spawning + nesting habitat for fish/birds - filter pollution out of water - source of crops like cranberries - control stormwater runoff |
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Mangrove swamp |
Trees with roots that can grow in salt water roots provide important habitat for many fish prevent coastal erosion |
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Coral reefs |
most diverse marine biome mutualistic relationship between coral polyp and bacteria inside corals bleach and die when stressed |
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Nitrogen fixation |
N2 is taken out of the air and converted to ammonium (NH4+) by soil bacteria |
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Ammonification |
Decomposers break down dead tissue and adds ammonium (NH4+) to the soil |
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Nitrification |
Ammonium is converted to Nitrate and Nitrite by soil bacteria |
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Assimilation |
N is absorbed by plants and animals |
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Denitrification |
Nitrate is converted to N2 and goes back into the air |
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Photosynthesis |
CO2 and H2O are combined to form glucose and oxygen done by autotroph |
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Cellular respiration |
glucose and oxygen are broken apart to produce CO2, H2O and energy done by all living things |
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Sedimentation |
Organic carbon is burried and compacted to form carbon rich rocks like coal |
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Combustion |
burning produces CO2 which goes into the atmosphere |
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Exchange |
CO2 enters ocean by - Absorbed by plankton during phosynthesis - Dissolves into water though wave action C goes through sedimentation becoming carbonate in shells, corals, and limestone |
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Carbon sinks |
Forests and oceans absorb and store large amounts of carbon Deforestation destroys carbon sink |
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Phosphorous cycle |
Comes from rocks Essential plant nutrient Causes eutrophication in water |
