Term
| first law of thermodynamics |
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Definition
| energy is neither created nor destroyed, but may be converted from one form to another. |
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| second law of thermodynamics |
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Definition
| when energy is changed from one form to another, some useful energy is always degraded into lower quality energy (heat) |
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Definition
radiation with enough energy to free electrons from atoms forming ions, may cause cancer. (UV rays)
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Definition
| organized and concentrated, can perform useful work. (fossil fuels) |
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Definition
| disorganized, dispersed (heat in ocean, wind) |
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Term
| Natural radioactive decay |
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Definition
| unstable radioisotopes decay releasing gamma rays, alpha and beta particles (radon) |
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Definition
the time it takes for 1/2 the mass of a radioisotope to decay. A radioactive isotope must be stored for apporximately 10 half lives unitl it decays to a safe level.
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Definition
| nuclei of isotopes split apart when struck by neutrons |
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Definition
| 2 isotopes of lighter elements (hydrogen) forced together at high temps till they fuse to form a heavier nucleus. Happens in the sun, rare on earth. |
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Definition
| rock that contains large enough concentration of mineral making it profitable to mine. |
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Definition
identified deposits currently profitable to extract.
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Definition
| cheaper, can remove more minerals, less hazardous to workers |
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Definition
| deposit of leached material in lower soil layers |
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Definition
organic, dark material remaining after decomposition by micro organisms.
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Definition
| removal of dissovled materials from soil by water moving downward through soil. |
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Definition
| perfect agricultural soil when equal portions of sand, silt, and clay |
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| soil conservation methods |
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Definition
| conservation tillage, crop rotation, contour plowing, organic fertilizers |
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Term
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Definition
| in arid regions, water evaporates leaving salts behind |
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Term
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Definition
| water completely saturates soil starves plant roots of oxygen, rots roots |
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Term
| Hydrologic cycle components |
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Definition
| evaporation, transpiration, runoff, condensation, precipitation, and infiltration. (water cycle) |
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Definition
| all of the land that drains into a body of water |
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Definition
| underground layers of porous rock allow water to move slowly |
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Definition
| lowering of the water table around a pumping underground well |
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Term
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Definition
| near the coast, overpumping of ground water causes saltwater to move into aquifer |
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Term
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Definition
| disrupting food chains, Northern US has mild winters, S has increased rainfall, less atlantic hurricanes. |
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Term
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Definition
| el nino souther oscillation, trade winds weaken and warm surface water moves toward south america. |
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Term
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Definition
| "normal year" easterly trade winds and ocean currents pool warm water in the pacific, allowing rich water off the west coast of south america. |
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Term
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Definition
| because nitrogen in atmosphere cant be used directly by plants, its first converted to ammonia by bacteria. |
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Term
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Definition
| decomposers convert organic waste into ammonia |
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Term
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Definition
| ammonia converted into nitrate ionns. |
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Term
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Definition
| inorganic nitrogen is converted into organic molecules such as DNA, amino acids, and proteins. |
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Definition
| bactervia convert ammonia back into nitrogen |
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Definition
| released by weathering of phosphate rocks, major limiting factor for plant growth. |
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Term
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Definition
| plants convert co2 into complex carbs (sugar) |
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Term
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Definition
| oxygen consuming producers, consumers and decomposers break down complex organic compounds and convert Carbon back into co2 |
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Term
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Definition
| living components of an ecosystem |
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Definition
| nonliving components of an ecosystem. |
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Definition
organisms that make thier own food, photysnthetic life (plants)
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Definition
| producers, primary consumer, secondary consumer, tertiary consumer (top of food chain) |
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Term
| enrgy flow throug food webs |
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Definition
| 10 percent of usable energy is transferred to the next trophic level. Reason: usable energy is lost as heat, not all biomass is digested and absorbed, predators expend energy to catch prey. |
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Definition
| development of communities in a lifeless area not recently inhabited by life |
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Definition
| life progresses where soil remains (clear cut forest, vacant lot) |
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| symbiotic relation where both organisms benefit. |
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Definition
| symbiotic relationshiop where one organisms benefits and other is unaffected. |
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