Chapter 5 Ecosystems and the Physical Environment

Overview of Chapter 5 o Biogeochemical Cycles o Solar Radiation o The Atmosphere o The Global Ocean o Weather and Climate o Internal Planetary Processes

Biogeochemical Cycles o Matter moves between ecosystems, biotic & abiotic environments, and organisms Unlike energy Unlike energy o Biogeochemical cycling involves Biological, geologic and chemical interactions Biological, geologic and chemical interactions o Five major cycles: Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulfur and Water (hydrologic) Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulfur and Water (hydrologic)

The Carbon Cycle

The Nitrogen Cycle

The Phosphorus Cycle

The Sulfur Cycle

The Water (Hydrologic) Cycle

Solar Radiation o 69% of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by atmosphere and earth Remainder is reflected Remainder is reflected o Albedo The reflectance of solar energy off earth’s surface The reflectance of solar energy off earth’s surface Dark colors = low albedo Dark colors = low albedo Forests and ocean Forests and ocean Light colors = high albedo Light colors = high albedo Ice caps Ice caps o Sun provides energy for life, powers biogeochemical cycles, and determines climate

Temperature Changes with Latitude o Solar energy does not hit earth uniformly Due to earth’s spherical shape and tilt Due to earth’s spherical shape and tilt Equator (a) High concentration Little Reflection High Temperature Closer to Poles (c) Low concentration Higher Reflection Low Temperature From (a) to (c) In diagram below

Temperature Changes with Season o Seasons determined by earth’s tilt (23.5°) o Causes each hemisphere to tilt toward the sun for half the year o Northern Hemisphere tilts towards the sun from March 21- September 22 (warm season)

The Atmosphere o Invisible layer of gases that envelopes earth o Content 21% Oxygen 21% Oxygen 78% Nitrogen 78% Nitrogen 1% Argon, Carbon dioxide, Neon and Helium 1% Argon, Carbon dioxide, Neon and Helium o Density decreases with distance from earth o Shields earth from high energy radiation

Atmospheric Layers o Troposphere (0-10km) Where weather occurs Where weather occurs Temperature decreases with altitude Temperature decreases with altitude o Stratosphere (10-45km) Temperature increases with altitude- very stable Temperature increases with altitude- very stable Ozone layer absorbs UV Ozone layer absorbs UV o Mesosphere (45-80km) Temperature decreases with altitude Temperature decreases with altitude

Atmospheric Layers o Thermosphere (80-500km) Gases in thin air absorb x-rays and short-wave UV radiation = very hot Gases in thin air absorb x-rays and short-wave UV radiation = very hot Source of aurora Source of aurora o Exosphere (500km and up) Outermost layer Outermost layer Atmosphere continues to thin until converges with interplanetary space Atmosphere continues to thin until converges with interplanetary space

Atmospheric Circulation o Near Equator Warm air rises, cools and splits to flow towards the poles Warm air rises, cools and splits to flow towards the poles ~30°N&S sinks back to surface ~30°N&S sinks back to surface Air moves along surface back towards equator Air moves along surface back towards equator o This occurs at higher latitudes as well Moves heat from equator to the poles Moves heat from equator to the poles

Surface Winds o Large winds due in part to pressures caused by global circulation of air Left side of diagram Left side of diagram o Winds blow from high to low pressure Right side of diagram Right side of diagram Low Low Low High High High High

Coriolis Effect o Earth’s rotation influences direction of wind Earth rotates from East to West Earth rotates from East to West Deflects wind from straight-line path Deflects wind from straight-line path o Coriolis Effect Influence of the earth’s rotation on movement of air and fluids Influence of the earth’s rotation on movement of air and fluids Turns them Right in the Northern Hemisphere Turns them Right in the Northern Hemisphere Turns them Left in the Southern Hemisphere Turns them Left in the Southern Hemisphere

Coriolis Effect o Visualize it as a Merry-Go-Round (see below)

Global Ocean Circulation o Prevailing winds produce ocean currents and generate gyres o Example: the North Atlantic Ocean Trade winds blow west Trade winds blow west Westerlies blow east Westerlies blow east Creates a clockwise gyre in the North Atlantic Creates a clockwise gyre in the North Atlantic o Circular pattern influenced by coriolis effect

Global Ocean Circulation Trade winds Westerlies

Position of Landmasses Very little land in the Southern Hemisphere Large landmasses in the Northern Hemisphere help to dictate ocean currents and flow

Vertical Mixing of Ocean

Ocean Interaction with Atmosphere- ENSO o El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Def: periodic large scale warming of surface waters of tropical eastern Pacific Ocean Def: periodic large scale warming of surface waters of tropical eastern Pacific Ocean o Alters ocean and atmospheric circulation patterns o Normal conditions- westward blowing tradewinds keep warmest water in western Pacific o ENSO conditions- trade winds weaken and warm water expands eastward to South America Big effect on fishing industry off South America Big effect on fishing industry off South America

ENSO Climate Patterns

Weather and Climate o Weather The conditions in the atmosphere at a given place and time The conditions in the atmosphere at a given place and time Temperature, precipitation, cloudiness, etc. Temperature, precipitation, cloudiness, etc. o Climate The average weather conditions that occur in a place over a period of years The average weather conditions that occur in a place over a period of years 2 most important factors: temperature and precipitation 2 most important factors: temperature and precipitation Earth has many climates Earth has many climates

Rain Shadows o Mountains force humid air to rise o Air cools with altitude, clouds form and precipitation occurs (windward side) o Dry air mass moves down opposite leeward side of mountain

Tornadoes o Powerful funnel of air associated with a severe thunderstorm o Formation Mass of cool dry air collides with warm humid air Mass of cool dry air collides with warm humid air Produces a strong updraft of spinning air under a cloud Produces a strong updraft of spinning air under a cloud Spinning funnel becomes tornado when it descends from cloud Spinning funnel becomes tornado when it descends from cloud o Wind velocity= up to 300mph o Width ranges from 1m to 3.2km

Hurricanes, Typhoons, Cyclones o Giant rotating tropical storms o Wind >119km per hour o Formation Strong winds pick up moisture over warm surface waters Strong winds pick up moisture over warm surface waters Starts to spin due to Earth’s Starts to spin due to Earth’s rotation rotation Spin causes upward spiral Spin causes upward spiral of clouds of clouds o Damaging on land High winds High winds Storm surges Storm surges

Internal Planetary Processes o Layers of the earth Lithosphere Lithosphere Outermost rigid rock layer composed of plates Outermost rigid rock layer composed of plates Asthenosphere Asthenosphere Lower mantle comprised of hot soft rock Lower mantle comprised of hot soft rock o Plate Tectonics- study of the processes by which the lithospheric plates move over the asthenosphere o Plate Boundary- where 2 plates meet Common site of earthquakes and volcanoes Common site of earthquakes and volcanoes

Plates and Plate Boundaries

Types of Plate Boundaries o Divergent Plate Boundary-2 plates move apart o Convergent Plate Boundary- 2 plates move together (may get subduction)

Types of Plate Boundaries o Transform Plate Boundary- 2 plates move horizontally in opposite, parallel directions

Earthquakes o Caused by the release of accumulated energy as rocks in the lithosphere suddenly shift or break Occur along faults Occur along faults Energy released as seismic wave Energy released as seismic wave o Focus- the site where the earthquake originates below the surface o Epicenter- located on the earth’s surface, directly above the focus o Richter scale and the moment magnitude scales are used to measure the magnitude

Tsunami o Giant undersea wave caused by an earthquake, volcanic eruption or landslide Travel > 450mph Travel > 450mph o Tsunami wave may be 1m deep in ocean Becomes 30.5m high on shore Becomes 30.5m high on shore o Magnitude 9.3 earthquake in Indian Ocean Triggered tsunami that killed over 230,000 people in South Asia and Africa Triggered tsunami that killed over 230,000 people in South Asia and Africa