1. ENERGY IN ECOSYSTEMS Chapter 1.10

2. The sun is the source of all energy for the earth and its ecosystems. What happens to the suns energy? What is it used for?

3. 30% of the sun’s rays are reflected back and do not reach the Earth 44% of the sun’s rays heat the Earth’s land surface and air 25% heat the water and evaporate some of the water 1% creates wind Less than 1% is used by Photosynthesis. PHOTOSYNTHESIS – The process by which green plants use sunlight to produce sugar.

4. ALBEDO EFFECT ALBEDO EFFECT  When sunlight strikes an object, some of the energy is absorbed, and some is reflected.  ALBEDO – is a measurement of the percentage of light that an object reflects.  The higher the albedo – the greater the object’s ability to reflect sunlight.

5.  For the Earth For the Earth, the higher its overall albedo, the less energy will be absorbed and available for maintaining the global temperature Example: You’ve probably noticed how bright snow is when sunlight is falling on it – snow has a high albedo. Snow contributes to the low temperatures of winter by reflecting energy from the Sun back into space.

6. Cloud cover also increases the albedo of the Earth. If is more water vapour, or more dust for water vapour to condense on, there will be more clouds Higher temperatures cause more water to evaporate.

7. Snow and Clouds therefore cause colder days. Colder days decrease the energy for producers in the ecosystem Therefore a decrease in the ecosystem quality.