Energy in the Earth System Section 2:2

Objectives Compare an open system with a closed system. List the characteristics of the earth’s four major spheres. Identify the two main sources of energy in the Earth system. Identify the 4 main processes in which matter and energy cycle on Earth.

Earth-System Science A system is an organized group of related objects or components (parts) that interact to create a whole order. Synonyms (words with the same meaning) Scheme network complex Organism economy universe

Systems are linked Energy Matter The ability to do work Heat, light, vibrations, waves Matter Anything that takes up space and has mass Protons, neutrons Atoms & Molecules Living Organisms, rocks even Planets

Systems Open Closed Energy but NOT matter is exchanged Energy and Matter are exchanged with the surroundings Closed Energy but NOT matter is exchanged

Systems are described by how matter and energy are transferred within them or to and from other systems

Energy and matter are exchanged Open Systems Example: Lake Water molecules Streams, rainfall, evaporation, heat, wind, waves, absorption Energy and matter are exchanged

Closed Systems A closed system is a system in which energy, but not matter is exchanged with the surroundings.

Matter on Earth Occurs as either a; Solid Liquid Gas

Earth, Open or Closed System? WHY?

Earth is an open System Almost Closed Matter leaves when we send satellites, probes or astronauts into space Matter enters as dust and rock from space

Earth is made of 4 Spheres Atmosphere Hydrosphere Geosphere Biosphere

Atmosphere: a mixture of gases that surround a planet or moon. Jupiter Venus Mars www.worldbook.com/.../venus/html/atmosphere.html Earth: 78% nitrogen 21% oxygen 1% all others www.lesedwards.com/gallery/sf/atmosphere.htm http://www.harmsy.freeuk.com/images/mars-atmosphere.jpg

Hydrosphere: All of the earth water except the water that is in gaseous form in the atmosphere Approximately 70.8 percent (97% of it being sea water and 3% fresh water[1]) of the Earth is covered by water and only 29.2 percent is landmass.

Geosphere: This sphere includes all of the rock and soil on the surface of continents and on the ocean floor www.agiweb.org www.brunowerneck.com/ http://les.web.psi.ch/images/Mtebild4.gif

Biosphere : The part of the Earth where life exists; including all the living organisms on earth http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/biospher_reserves/images/Small_Skipper_Thy7sm.jpg http://www.foogle.biz/rainforest/rainforest_undergrowth.jpg

Earths Energy Budget is predictable 1st Law of Thermodynamics Energy is transferred between systems but cannot be created or destroyed. 2nd Law of Thermodynamics When energy transfer takes place, matter becomes less organized with time.

Internal Sources of Energy Convection & Radioactive Decay

Convection: heat transfer through circulation http://www.mercator-ocean.fr/images/produits/buoc/buoc_n08/fig1.gif http://www.abtelectronics.com/images/products/GE-Convection-Oven.gif

Radioactive Decay: The random break down of an atom’s nucleus over time. http://www.ieer.org/decay.gif

External Energy Sources Solar radiation most important. Generates movement of air and water masses, and provides energy to fuel plant growth, the base of the biosphere. Gravitational pull of sun and moon drive tides and currents.

Cycles in the Earth System Reservoir: a place where matter or energy is stored. Cycle: a group of processes in which matter and energy move through a series of reservoirs. Time frames vary on storage.

Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen Cycle The nitrogen cycle is one of Earth's most important nutrient cycles. 78% of Earth's atmosphere is made up of nitrogen in its gas phase.

Nitrogen Needed For Plants and animals to make amino acids, proteins and DNA, but the nitrogen in the atmosphere is not in a form that they can use.

Nitrogen Must Be Altered Nitrogen becomes fixed in two ways. The first is through bacteria (nitrogen-fixers) in the soil that form nitrates out of nitrogen in the air. They live in the soil and on the roots of certain plants. www.ucar.edu/news/backgrounders/nitrogen.shtml

2nd Way - Lightning Nitrogen is united with water to produce an acid that falls to Earth in rainfall and deposits nitrates in the soil. www.ucar.edu/news/backgrounders/nitrogen.shtml

Nitrogen Cycle Plants take up the nitrates and convert them to proteins that then travel up the food chain through herbivores and carnivores. When organisms excrete waste, the nitrogen is released back into the environment. When they die and decompose, the nitrogen is broken down and converted to ammonia.

Denitrification Nitrates and ammonia are converted back to gaseous nitrogen and returned to the atmosphere, continuing the cycle.

The Carbon Cycle http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/C/CarbonCycle.html

Carbon Carbon is an element essential to life. http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org/labs/star_life/images/carbon.jpg

The Carbon Cycle Carbon (C) provides the foundation for the organic molecules of all living things. http://www.phong.com/tutorials/mask.tree/tree.jpg http://www.wallpaperbase.com/wallpapers/animals/cows/cow_1.jpg http://www.scsc.k12.ar.us/2000backeast/ENatHist/Members/Reynolds/mvc-002f.jpg

In The Carbon Cycle Carbon interacts with all 4 of the Earth’s major spheres.

Short-term cycle Carbon dioxide (CO2)is converted by plants into carbohydrates. Animals eat the plants, break down the carbos and release some of the carbon back as CO2. Carbon also released by organic wastes and the decay of organisms.

Long-term Cycle Stored in the geosphere in buried remains and in a type of rock called carbonates, which forms directly from ocean water or by making up the shells and bones of organisms.

The Phosphorus Cycle http://ridge.icu.ac.jp/gen-ed/ecosystem-jpgs/phosphorus-cycle.jpg

Phosphorus An essential nutrient, part of molecules that organisms use to build cells. http://www.smeddum.net/images/phosphorus.jpg http://www.hsc.usf.edu/FAMILY/research/dna%20and%20skeleton.gif http://www.phimatrix.com/images/s-teeth.jpg http://www.lenntech.com/phosphorus-cycle.htm http://www.lenntech.com/phosphorus-cycle.htm

In the Phosphorus Cycle It moves through every sphere except the atmosphere. Enters soil and water when phosphate rocks break down. Plants absorb it into their tissues and animals get it from the plants and each other.

The Phosphorus Cycle Lets see some phosphorus released!!! Phosphorus cycles through plants and animals much faster than it does through rocks and sediments. When animals and plants die, phosphates will return to the soils or oceans again during decay. Lets see some phosphorus released!!!

The Water Cycle

The Water Cycle The movement of water, in one form or another, is always taking place. www.urbanrivers.org/water_cycle.html

Earth’s Water Is always changing states, from liquid to vapor to solid and back again. http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercyclesummary.html

Evaporation The sun drives the water cycle. Liquid water absorbs energy and is turned into vapor. http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercyclesummary.html

Transpiration The release of moisture from plants. http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercyclesummary.html

Condensation Water vapor loses energy and forms water droplets (clouds). http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercyclesummary.html

http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercyclesummary.html Precipitation Water returning to Earth’s surface (rain, dew, snow, etc.).

Humans and the Earth System All natural cycles can be altered by human activities. Carbon: Use of fossil fuels. Nitrogen and phosphorous: Fertilizers Water: Obvious!!!!

Assignments Today: Key Terms, Graphing Skills, due BOP tomorrow. Tomorrow: Directed Reading due EOP.