The
process responsible for formation and change of Earth materials. Group of cycles: TECTONIC HYDROLOGIC ROCK BIOGEOCHEMICAL
Involves
creation and destruction of the solid outer layer of Earth, the lithosphere .
PLATE TECTONICS - slow movements of the several large segments of the lithosphere (Earths outermost rock shell) called plates. - rocks are deformed by spreading plates which produce ocean basins, and collisions of plates, which produce mountain ranges.
MAP OF THE EARTHS LITHOSPHERIC PLATES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF PLATE TECTONICS: Moving plates change the location and size of continents, altering climate. Created ecological islands by breaking up continental areas.
ECOLOGICAL ISLAND
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF PLATE TECTONICS:
Boundaries
between plates are geologically active areas, and most volcanic activity and earthquakes occur there. Types of Plate Boundaries that occur: [Link] PLATE BOUNDARY 2. CONVERGENT PLATE BOUNDARY 3. TRANSFORM FAULT BOUNDARY
HIMALAYAS in Asia
HIMALAYAS in Asia
ANDES in South America
SAN ANDREAS FAULT in California
SAN ANDREAS FAULT in California
The
transfer of water from the ocean to the atmosphere to the land and back to the ocean.
Of the total 1.3bil km of water on Earth.
97% are oceans 2% are glaciers and ice caps 1% are freshwater on land and in the atmosphere
Water in the atmosphere cycles quickly to produce rain and runoff for our water resources. Water on land is important in moving chemicals, sculpting landscape, weathering rocks, transporting sediments and providing our water resources.
The rates of transfer of water on land are small relative to whats happening into the ocean.
Most of the water that evaporates from the ocean falls again in precipitation into the ocean. Most of the water on land that falls as precipitation comes from evaporation of water from land. Bringing water into semi arid cities by pumping groundwater or transporting water from distant mountains through aqueducts may increase evaporation, thereby increasing humidity and precipitation in a region.
DRAINAGE BASIN (watershed or catchment)
The fundamental hydrologic unit of the
landscape. Area that contributes surface runoff to a particular stream or river.
Consists of numerous processes that produce rocks and soils. Depends on the tectonic cycle for energy and on the hydrologic cycle for water.
TYPES OF ROCKS:
IGNEOUS SEDIMENTARY METAMORPHIC
Through
the addition of organic carbon, rocks such as limestone, as well as fossil fuel resources such as coal, are produced. Plate Tectonic processes of uplift and subsidence of rocks, along with erosion, produce Earths varied topography.
GRAND CANYON Of the Colorado River in Arizona
AERIAL VIEW
TOWER KARST In Arizona
TOWER KARST In Arizona
Complete path a chemical takes through the four major components, or reservoirs of Earths system: ATMOSPHERE, HYDROSPHERE, LITHOSPHERE, and BIOSPHERE. Chemical, because it is chemicals that are cycled, Bio, because cycle involves life Geo, because a cycle may include atmosphere, water, rocks and soils.
PROBLEM OF POTENTIAL GLOBAL WARMING
Calls
for the understanding of the cycling of carbon transferred into and out of Earths atmosphere. The average residence time of chemicals is long in rocks, short in atmosphere and intermediate in the hydrosphere and biosphere.
Chemical elements whose biogeochemical cycles include a gas phase and that are stored in the atmosphere tend to cycle rapidly. Those without an atmospheric phase are likely to end up as deep-ocean sediments and recycle slowly.
All
living things are made up of chemical elements, but of the 103 known elements, only 24 are required for life processes.
MACRONUTRIENTS-elements required in large amounts by all life MICRONUTRIENTS-elements required either in small amounts by all life or in moderate amounts by some forms of life and not at all by others.
6 ELEMENTS THAT FORM THE FUNDAMENTAL BUILDING BLOCKS OF LIFE CARBON-basic building block of organic compounds PHOSPHORUS-energy element; important in the transfer and use of energy within cells. NITROGEN HYDROGEN OXYGEN SULFUR
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
For any forms of life to persist, chemical elements must be available at the right times, in the right amounts, and in the right concentrations relative to each other.