1. Ecosystems and the Physical Environment
Chapter 5
Ecosystems and the Physical Environment

2. Cycling of Materials within Ecosystems
Basics of biogeochemical cycling

3. Cycling of Materials within Ecosystems
Carbon cycle:

4. Cycling of Materials within Ecosystems
Nitrogen cycle:
Atmospheric nitrogen (N2)
Nitrogen fixation by humans
Biological nitrogen fixation
NH3 & NH4-
Decomposition
Denitrification
Plant & animal proteins
Internal cycling
Assimilation
Nitrification
NO3-

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

6. Cycling of Materials within Ecosystems
Sulfur cycle:

7. Cycling of Materials within Ecosystems
Hydrologic cycle:

8. Solar Radiation

9. Solar Radiation Temperature Changes with Latitude Like at poles
Like equator

10. Solar Radiation
Temperature Changes with Season

11. The Atmosphere Composition Nitrogen 78% Oxygen 21% Carbon dioxide
Argon
Water vapor
Pollutants
Helium
Etc. 1%

12. The Atmosphere
Layers of the
Atmosphere

13. The Atmosphere Atmospheric Circulation Prevailing winds
Circulation spawned by heating / cooling
Prevailing winds
Generated by pressure differences and Coriolis effect

14. The Atmosphere
The Coriolis Effect

15. The Global Ocean
Patterns of Circulation in the Ocean

16. The Global Ocean Patterns of Circulation in the Ocean Influenced by:
1) Coriolis Effect
2) Land Masses

17. The Global Ocean
Vertical Mixing of Ocean Water

18. The Global Ocean
Ocean Interactions with the Atmosphere

19. The Global Ocean Ocean Interactions with the Atmosphere Upwelling
This decreases during El Niño
Increases during La Niña

20. Weather and Climate
Examine the definitions for climate and weather. What is wrong with the following statement?
“Global warming cannot be occurring, we had a very cool summer.”

21. Weather and Climate Precipitation:
Atacama Desert in Chile = 0.05 cm / year
Mount Waialeale in Hawaii = 1200 cm / year
What is the annual precipitation in your area?

22. Weather and Climate
Rain shadows
Insert Fig 5.19 b

23. Weather and Climate Severe weather events: 1) Tornados
Source: University of Wyoming, Department of Atmospheric Science
Frequency of tornados annually per 100,000 km2
Tornado Alley (US) 40
Sydney, Australia 8
United Kingdom 1
Bangledesh 0.6

24. Weather and Climate Severe weather events: 2) Tropical cyclones
Atlantic Ocean = hurricanes
Pacific Ocean = typhoons
Indian Ocean = cyclones

25. Weather and Climate
But, all are the same severe weather event:

26. Internal Planetary Processes
Plate tectonics

27. Internal Planetary Processes
Plate boundaries

28. Internal Planetary Processes
Plate boundaries

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

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

31. Internal Planetary Processes
Earthquakes
caused by release of built up stress, typically along faults
movement releases seismic waves
Typical side effects include:
1) Landslides
2) Tsunamis