1. Chapter 5 Ecosystems and the Physical Environment

2. 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

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

4. The Carbon Cycle

5. Cycling of Materials within Ecosystems Nitrogen cycle: Atmospheric nitrogen (N 2 ) Nitrogen fixation by humans Biological nitrogen fixation Nitrification NH 3 & NH 4 - NO 3 - Assimilation Denitrification Plant & animal proteins Decomposition Internal cycling

6. The Nitrogen Cycle

7. Cycling of Materials within Ecosystems Phosphorus cycle: Phosphate rocks Phosphate mining Fertilizer containing phosphates Animals, crops Soil phosphates Internal cycling Erosion Dissolved phosphates Marine organisms Excretion / decomposition Internal cycling Marine sediments

8. The Phosphorus Cycle

9. The Sulfur Cycle

10. The Water (Hydrologic) Cycle

11. Solar Radiation 69% of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by atmosphere and earth What happens to the rest? What happens to the rest?Albedo The reflectance of solar energy off earth’s surface The reflectance of solar energy off earth’s surface Dark colors = ??? Dark colors = ??? Forests and ocean Forests and ocean Light colors = ??? Light colors = ??? Ice caps, glaciers, snow Ice caps, glaciers, snow Sun provides energy for life, powers biogeochemical cycles, and determines climate

12. Temperature Changes with Latitude 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

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

14. The Atmosphere Invisible layer of gases that envelopes earth Content 78% Nitrogen 78% Nitrogen 21% Oxygen 21% Oxygen 1% Argon, Carbon dioxide, H 2 O, Neon and Helium 1% Argon, Carbon dioxide, H 2 O, Neon and Helium Density decreases with distance from earth Shields earth from high energy radiation

15. Atmospheric Layers 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 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

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

17. Atmospheric Circulation 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 This occurs at higher latitudes as well Moves heat from equator to the poles Moves heat from equator to the poles

18. Surface Winds Winds blow from high to low pressure Large winds due in part to pressures caused by global circulation of air Low Low Low High High High High

19. Coriolis Effect 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 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

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

21. Global Ocean Circulation Prevailing winds produce ocean currents and generate gyres 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 Circular pattern influenced by coriolis effect

22. Global Ocean Circulation Trade winds Westerlies

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

24. Vertical Mixing of Ocean

25. Ocean Interaction with Atmosphere- ENSO 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 Alters ocean and atmospheric circulation patterns Normal conditions- westward blowing tradewinds keep warmest water in western Pacific

26. Ocean Interaction with Atmosphere- ENSO 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

27. ENSO Climate Patterns

28. Weather and Climate 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.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

29. Weather and Climate Precipitation: Atacama Desert in Chile = 0.05 cm / year Atacama Desert in Chile = 0.05 cm / year Mount Waialeale in Hawaii = 1200 cm / year Mount Waialeale in Hawaii = 1200 cm / year What is the annual precipitation in your area? What is the annual precipitation in your area? Kaiserslautern gets nearly 100cm a year. Kaiserslautern gets nearly 100cm a year.

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

32. Severe Weather Events: Tornadoes Powerful funnel of air associated with a severe thunderstorm 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 Wind velocity= up to 300mph Width ranges from 1m to 3.2km

33. Tornadoes Frequency of tornados annually per 100,000 km 2 Tornado Alley (US)40 Sydney, Australia8 United Kingdom1 Bangledesh0.6

34. Severe Weather Events: Tropical Cyclones Giant rotating tropical storms Wind >119km per hour 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 Damaging on land High winds High winds Storm surges Storm surges

35. Severe Weather Events: Tropical Cyclones Tropical cyclones Atlantic Ocean = hurricanes Pacific Ocean = typhoons Indian Ocean = cyclones

36. Internal Planetary Processes 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 Plate Tectonics- study of the processes by which the lithospheric plates move over the asthenosphere Plate Boundary- where 2 plates meet Common site of earthquakes and volcanoes Common site of earthquakes and volcanoes

37. Plates and Plate Boundaries

38. Internal Planetary Processes Volcanoes Most volcanoes occur along subduction zones

39. Internal Planetary Processes Volcanoes Some occur along spreading zones Few, such as Hawaiian Islands, not associated with plates.

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

41. Types of Plate Boundaries Transform Plate Boundary- Two plates move horizontally in opposite, parallel directions

42. Earthquakes 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 Focus- the site where the earthquake originates below the surface Epicenter- located on the earth’s surface, directly above the focus Richter scale and the moment magnitude scales are used to measure the magnitude

43. Tsunami Giant undersea wave caused by an earthquake, volcanic eruption or landslide Travel > 450mph Travel > 450mph Tsunami wave may be 1m deep in ocean Becomes 30.5m high on shore Becomes 30.5m high on shore 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