How the presence of life has changed the Earth's environment
- Created by: yaycharlie
- Created on: 23-01-14 16:48
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- How life on Earth has changed the environment
- The Water Cycle
- Atmospheric Oxygen
- How life on Earth has changed the environment
- The Water Cycle
- Concentration in atmosphere declined as it reacted with other elements
- Presence relies on processes that replace is while others remove it
- 1. Photolysis of water 2. Photosynthetic bacteria 3. photosynthetic plants
- Absorbed UV light from the sun causing the oxygen molecules to split
- Ozone formed
- Provided protection from UV light to living organisms on Earth
- Ozone formed
- How life on Earth has changed the environment
- e.g. oxidisation weathering
- Concentration in atmosphere declined as it reacted with other elements
- Before ozone layer developed, organisms lived in the oceans where water protected them from UV
- Ozone formed
- Provided protection from UV light to living organisms on Earth
- Ozone formed
- Rain
- Heat energy from absorbed sunlight cause water in sea to evaporate
- May be carried over land > falls > flows back to sea
- Heat energy from absorbed sunlight cause water in sea to evaporate
- Most rain falls near coast. Transpiration returns water to atmosphere = blown further inland
- May be carried over land > falls > flows back to sea
- Transpiration. Unavoidable as moist stomata must be open for gas exchange. Important for cooling plants & transport of dissolved minerals
- May be carried over land > falls > flows back to sea
- Atmospheric CO2
- Naturally released by volcanoes
- Essential green house gas, helping to retain heat in atmosphere
- Without it, Earth would be too cold to support life
- Excessive amounts = temp rise too high for life
- Living organisms help maintain suitable atmospheric temps
- By removing carbon dioxide from atmosphere & storing the carbon in fossil fuels & carbonate rocks
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