3 Earth’s Environmental Systems CHAPTER

Lesson 3.2 Systems in Environmental Science Positive feedback loops can help erosion turn a fertile field to desert in just a few years. Dust storm, Stratford Texas, 1930s

Interacting Systems Lesson 3.2 Systems in Environmental Science Inputs into Earth’s interconnected systems include energy, information, and matter. Feedback loops regulate systems. Negative feedback loops: Result in stabilization of a system Positive feedback loops: Result in a system moving to an extreme Did You Know? Predator-prey cycles are negative feedback loops. If prey populations rise, predator populations can rise in response, causing prey populations to fall. Then predator populations may decline, allowing prey populations to rise again, and so on. Negative feedback loop

Spheres of Function Earth can be divided into spheres that are defined according to their location and function. Lesson 3.2 Systems in Environmental Science Pg. 75 in book draw out, label, and color layers

Lesson 3.3 Earth’s Spheres The movement of Earth’s plates has formed the deepest ocean trenches and the highest mountains.

The Geosphere Crust: Thin, cool, rocky outer “skin” Mantle: Very hot and mostly solid Core: Outer core is molten metal, inner core is solid metal Crust: Thin, cool, rocky outer “skin” Mantle: Very hot and mostly solid Core: Outer core is molten metal, inner core is solid metal Lesson 3.3 Earth’s Spheres Rocks and minerals on and below Earth’s surface: Rock formation, Ouray National Wildlife Refuge, Utah

Plate Tectonics Crust and mantle are divided into: Lithosphere: Crust and uppermost mantle; divided into tectonic plates Asthenosphere: Soft middle mantle; heated by outer core Lower mantle: Solid rock Convection currents in the asthenosphere move tectonic plates. Collisions and separations of the plates result in landforms. Crust and mantle are divided into: Lithosphere: Crust and uppermost mantle; divided into tectonic plates Asthenosphere: Soft middle mantle; heated by outer core Lower mantle: Solid rock Convection currents in the asthenosphere move tectonic plates. Collisions and separations of the plates result in landforms. Lesson 3.3 Earth’s Spheres Volcano lava

Tectonic Plates There are three major types of plate boundary: Divergent Transform Convergent There are three major types of plate boundary: Divergent Transform Convergent Lesson 3.3 Earth’s Spheres

Divergent and Transform Plate Boundaries Divergent boundaries: Rising magma pushes plates apart. -mid ocean ridges Transform boundaries: Plates slip and grind alongside one another. -Earthquakes (San Andreas Fault) Divergent boundaries: Rising magma pushes plates apart. -mid ocean ridges Transform boundaries: Plates slip and grind alongside one another. -Earthquakes (San Andreas Fault) Lesson 3.3 Earth’s Spheres Divergent plate boundary Transform plate boundary

Convergent Plate Boundaries Plates collide, causing one of two things to happen: Subduction: One plate slides beneath another. (Mount St. Helens in Washington) Mountain-building: Both plates are uplifted. (Himalayas) Plates collide, causing one of two things to happen: Subduction: One plate slides beneath another. (Mount St. Helens in Washington) Mountain-building: Both plates are uplifted. (Himalayas) Lesson 3.3 Earth’s Spheres

Biosphere: The part of Earth in which living and nonliving things interact Atmosphere: Contains the gases that organisms need, such as oxygen; keeps Earth warm enough to support life Biosphere: The part of Earth in which living and nonliving things interact Atmosphere: Contains the gases that organisms need, such as oxygen; keeps Earth warm enough to support life The Biosphere and Atmosphere Lesson 3.3 Earth’s Spheres Earth’s atmosphere, seen from space

The Hydrosphere Consists of Earth’s water Most of Earth’s water (97.5%) is salt water. Only 0.5% of Earth’s water is unfrozen fresh water usable for drinking or irrigation. Earth’s available fresh water includes surface water and ground water. Consists of Earth’s water Most of Earth’s water (97.5%) is salt water. Only 0.5% of Earth’s water is unfrozen fresh water usable for drinking or irrigation. Earth’s available fresh water includes surface water and ground water. Lesson 3.3 Earth’s Spheres Did You Know? If it is depleted, groundwater can take hundreds or even thousands of years to recharge completely. Greenlaw Brook, Limestone, Maine

The Water CycleWater Cycle The Water CycleWater Cycle Lesson 3.3 Earth’s Spheres

Lesson 3.4 Biogeochemical Cycles A carbon atom in your body today may have been part of a blade of grass last year, or a dinosaur bone millions of years ago. Fossilized bones in a Colorado dig.

Nutrient Cycling Matter cycles through the environment. Law of Conservation of Matter- Matter can be transformed, but cannot be created or destroyed. Nutrients, matter that organisms require for life process, circulate throughout the environment in biogeochemical cycles. Macronutrients- needed in large amounts Micronutrients in small amounts Matter cycles through the environment. Law of Conservation of Matter- Matter can be transformed, but cannot be created or destroyed. Nutrients, matter that organisms require for life process, circulate throughout the environment in biogeochemical cycles. Macronutrients- needed in large amounts Micronutrients in small amounts Lesson 3.4 Biogeochemical Cycles Did You Know? Organisms require several dozen nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon, to survive.

Biogeochemical Cycles Nutrients circulate endlessly throughout the environment in complex cycles Carbon, Oxygen, phosphorous Nitrogen. Water plays a part in all cycles Nutrients circulate endlessly throughout the environment in complex cycles Carbon, Oxygen, phosphorous Nitrogen. Water plays a part in all cycles

The Carbon CycleCarbon The Carbon CycleCarbon Lesson 3.4 Biogeochemical Cycles

Producers Primary Producers- Organisms that make their own food (Plants & Algae) Photosynthesis- producers pull CO2 out of the environment and combine it with water in the presence of sunlight to produce carbohydrates (sugar) and oxygen

Consumers & Decomposers Consumers- organisms that must eat other organisms to obtain nutrients Decomposers- organisms such as bacteria and fungi that break down wastes and dead organisms Role in Carbon Cycle: Carbon in the producer may be eaten by consumer or broken down by decomposer and released back into environment Consumers- organisms that must eat other organisms to obtain nutrients Decomposers- organisms such as bacteria and fungi that break down wastes and dead organisms Role in Carbon Cycle: Carbon in the producer may be eaten by consumer or broken down by decomposer and released back into environment

Cellular Respiration Process by which organisms use oxygen to release chemical energy of sugars and release CO2 and water. -Releases Carbon back into atmosphere -Opposite of Photosynthesis. Process by which organisms use oxygen to release chemical energy of sugars and release CO2 and water. -Releases Carbon back into atmosphere -Opposite of Photosynthesis.

Carbon Sinks Not all carbon organisms take in is released it is used for life processes Plants make so much carbon  Carbon sink Reservoir of a substance that accepts more of that substance than it releases. Not all carbon organisms take in is released it is used for life processes Plants make so much carbon  Carbon sink Reservoir of a substance that accepts more of that substance than it releases.

Carbon in Sediments Organisms die in water- settle on ground. Layers of sediment accumulate above it. Soft tissue organisms can become fossil fuels over long periods of time. Shells and skeletons- Sedimentary rocks (limestone) TONS of Carbon -Releases Carbon through volcanic eruption and erosion. Burning fossil Fuels. Organisms die in water- settle on ground. Layers of sediment accumulate above it. Soft tissue organisms can become fossil fuels over long periods of time. Shells and skeletons- Sedimentary rocks (limestone) TONS of Carbon -Releases Carbon through volcanic eruption and erosion. Burning fossil Fuels.

Carbon in Oceans Second largest carbon reservoir Absorb carbon from atmosphere, runoff, undersea volcanoes, and wastes and remains of organisms. Second largest carbon reservoir Absorb carbon from atmosphere, runoff, undersea volcanoes, and wastes and remains of organisms.

Human Impacts Extracting fossil fuels Burning them Cutting of forests and burning of forests to plant farm fields **Producers cannot absorb enough carbon to keep up with human activities.** Extracting fossil fuels Burning them Cutting of forests and burning of forests to plant farm fields **Producers cannot absorb enough carbon to keep up with human activities.**

Missing Carbon Sink Scientists have measured the amount of CO2 that humans have released into the atmosphere and oceans, tons of carbon is unaccounted for. They believe it is taken up by the northern forests Scientists have measured the amount of CO2 that humans have released into the atmosphere and oceans, tons of carbon is unaccounted for. They believe it is taken up by the northern forests

The Nitrogen Cycle Lesson 3.4 Biogeochemical Cycles

Nitrogen Cycle Makes up about 78 % of our atmosphere Essential ingredient in the proteins, DNA, RNA that build our bodies Essential for plant growth Nitrogen gas cannot cycle out of the atmosphere lithosphere, hydrosphere, and in organisms. - Chemical changes need to occur- in order for it to become useable Makes up about 78 % of our atmosphere Essential ingredient in the proteins, DNA, RNA that build our bodies Essential for plant growth Nitrogen gas cannot cycle out of the atmosphere lithosphere, hydrosphere, and in organisms. - Chemical changes need to occur- in order for it to become useable

Nitrogen Fixation N2 or Nitrogen gas- Fixed into a usable form (ammonia) Can occur through intense energy of lightning strike or when air in the top layer of soil comes in contact with particular nitrogen fixing bacteria. Nitrogen fixing bacteria- live freely in soil (soy beans, legumes- Bacteria lives on roots) N2 or Nitrogen gas- Fixed into a usable form (ammonia) Can occur through intense energy of lightning strike or when air in the top layer of soil comes in contact with particular nitrogen fixing bacteria. Nitrogen fixing bacteria- live freely in soil (soy beans, legumes- Bacteria lives on roots)

Nitrification and Denitrification Some bacteria living in soil use ammonium ions from nitrogen fixation or from the waste of decomposers to perform nitrification Nitrification- process where ammonium ions are converted into nitrite ions and then into nitrate ions. Plants can take up nitrate ions. Denitrifiying bacteria- convert nitrates in soil or water back to nitrogen gas. Some bacteria living in soil use ammonium ions from nitrogen fixation or from the waste of decomposers to perform nitrification Nitrification- process where ammonium ions are converted into nitrite ions and then into nitrate ions. Plants can take up nitrate ions. Denitrifiying bacteria- convert nitrates in soil or water back to nitrogen gas.

Human Impacts Natural nitrogen fixation is slow so it limits flow of nitrogen out of atmosphere and into biosphere Humans can fix nitrogen through the Haber-Bosch process.  increases plant productivity. Burning forests  atmospheric nitrogen Burning fossil fuels  increase rate of nitric oxide formation goes into atmosphere  acid rain. Fertilizer  Eutrophication Natural nitrogen fixation is slow so it limits flow of nitrogen out of atmosphere and into biosphere Humans can fix nitrogen through the Haber-Bosch process.  increases plant productivity. Burning forests  atmospheric nitrogen Burning fossil fuels  increase rate of nitric oxide formation goes into atmosphere  acid rain. Fertilizer  Eutrophication

The Phosphorus Cycle Lesson 3.4 Biogeochemical Cycles

Phosphorous Cycle Involves mainly the lithosphere and the oceans Key component of cell membranes, DNA, RNA Most phosphorous is in rocks, soil, sediments, and oceans Released by rocks being worn down by water or wind Low amount available Involves mainly the lithosphere and the oceans Key component of cell membranes, DNA, RNA Most phosphorous is in rocks, soil, sediments, and oceans Released by rocks being worn down by water or wind Low amount available

Organisms in the Phosphorous Cycle Plants take up phosphorous through roots Consumers acquire it through water and other organisms they eat Waste of consumers contains phosphorus and decomposer return to the soil Plants take up phosphorous through roots Consumers acquire it through water and other organisms they eat Waste of consumers contains phosphorus and decomposer return to the soil

Human Impacts Mining phosphorous  fertilizer Release phosphorous rich waste water from houses and businesses (Detergents- have it to improve cleaning power). Runoff with wastewater and fertilizer go into waterways Eutrophication occurs addition of phosphorus to bodies of water can lead to an overgrowth of producers(algae) Lead to low levels of oxygen in water (hypoxia) as decomposers break down all dead producers Mining phosphorous  fertilizer Release phosphorous rich waste water from houses and businesses (Detergents- have it to improve cleaning power). Runoff with wastewater and fertilizer go into waterways Eutrophication occurs addition of phosphorus to bodies of water can lead to an overgrowth of producers(algae) Lead to low levels of oxygen in water (hypoxia) as decomposers break down all dead producers