Expert Group 1: Member 2 Allison Warham (apologies for format. Wiki formatting is not my friend today)
The Earth’s Surface
Characteristics
Human Impact on Sustainability
Biosphere
Includes all living organisms and dead organic matter
The biosphere interacts with other ‘spheres’ on Earth e.g. photosynthesis
Organisms live everywhere on the land mass and throughout the oceans. At higher altitudes, UV radiation and low temperatures do not support life.
Carbon
release from fossil fuel burning and deforestation contributes to global
warming. All living organisms and their life cycles are only sustainable within
the Earth’s lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere. All systems interact with
and rely on the sustainability of each other.
Lithosphere
This is the outer solid part of Earth, Earth’s crust
It is composed of tectonic plates that glide over the upper mantle
The oceanic crust is thinnest. The mountains are the thickest part
Deforestation and land pollution contribute to erosion of the lithosphere. This affects future ability to sustain plant life (root structure footing) then atmosphere (oxygenation through photosynthesis).
Hydrosphere
This is the total amount of water on Earth
It includes liquid, vapour and ice
Water moves through the hydrosphere in a cycle – the water cycle
Human impact on the atmosphere (global warming) impacts on the hydrosphere by affecting the water cycle (weather patterns and rainfall). Water pollution also affects the biosphere then in turn the lithosphere and atmosphere (plant life and oxygen content in the air).
Atmosphere
This is the air around Earth
Atmospheric gasses scatter blue light more than other wavelengths
Composition is roughly 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.09% argon, 0.03% carbon dioxide, with traces of neon, helium, methane, krypton, hydrogen, xenon and ozone.
Atmospheric sustainability is affected by human carbon release (fossil fuel burning and deforestation). Atmospheric composition changes contribute to global warming. This will affect weather conditions the food supplies through crop growth and environmental changes due to climate change worldwide.
Consists of living organisms (plant, animal, fungi);
Encompasses land, ocean;
Determinants of perimeters can include oxygen, light, water and nutrient supply, temperature, UV radiation.
Outermost layer of the earth’s crust (60-400km);
Cold, solid and rigid - sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks;
Consists of large tectonic plates, which move.
Includes all of the earth’s water – lakes, oceans, rivers, underground, frozen, evaporated
Interacts with and is influenced by all the other spheres throughout the water cycle
Large bodies of water regulate the earth’s temperature
Consists of gases surrounding the earth, pulled toward the earth by gravity
Comprising gases consist of nitrogen (approx. 78%), oxygen, about (21%), then water vapour, argon, co2
Protects living organisms from the sun
ONE WAY THAT HUMANS CAN IMPACT ON THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THIS SPHERE
ONE WAY THAT HUMANS CAN IMPACT ON THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THIS SPHERE
ONE WAY THAT HUMANS CAN IMPACT ON THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THIS SPHERE
ONE WAY THAT HUMANS CAN IMPACT ON THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THIS SPHERE
Commercial agriculture
Commercial / sustainable agricultural practices
Dry land salinity caused by tree removal for cattle or crops, etc.
Cycle of soil erosion, soil impoverishment, nothing can grow anymore
“green deserts” where forests are removed for commercial crops which depletes the soil because of a lack of biodiversity
Open Cut Mineral Mining
Sustainable mining can positively impact the land, as replanting of vegetation prevents erosion during and after mining processes
unsustainable mining practices in relation to open cut mines directly alter the lithosphere via soil erosion, which is a secondary problem after mining ceases
Coal Seam Gas Mining
In order to extract natural gas a large number of harmful chemicals are directly released into the water system of surrounding areas, negatively impacting the immediate environment, and potentially spreading throughout underground water systems, and causing the widespread death of fauna
Air Pollution
Pollutants in the air and/or greenhouse gases diffuse globally, and interact in the atmosphere
Main causes are industrial emissions, transport
Climate change results from emissions of greenhouse gases
How does an understanding of Tectonic plates help to predict areas of high risk from earthquakes and volcanoes? Explain how Australia can still experience ‘mild’ earthquakes from time to time.
An understanding of Tectonic plates aids the prediction of high earthquake or volcano risk areas, since these natural phenomena occur along fault lines where there is tectonic activity (notably where two plates meet / collide). So knowledge of where this occurs, and knowledge of current plate activity will provide some indication of location and time.
Select an example from each of the 3 rock types. How do humans use this resource? Explain whether it is a renewable or non-renewable resource
SEDIMENTARY
IGNEOUS
METAMORPHIC
Limestone - can be used for a variety of purposes including highway and building construction
Non-renewable
Pumice – used as abrasive products for cosmetic purposes or as lightweight insulating in buildings
Non-renewable
Quartzite – used to cover walls, as roofing tiles, as flooring, stairs, countertops etc., and as railway ballast
Expert Group 1: Member 2 Allison Warham (apologies for format. Wiki formatting is not my friend today)
release from fossil fuel burning and deforestation contributes to global
warming. All living organisms and their life cycles are only sustainable within
the Earth’s lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere. All systems interact with
and rely on the sustainability of each other.
- This is the outer solid part of Earth, Earth’s crust
- It is composed of tectonic plates that glide over the upper mantle
The oceanic crust is thinnest. The mountains are the thickest part- This is the total amount of water on Earth
- It includes liquid, vapour and ice
Water moves through the hydrosphere in a cycle – the water cycle- This is the air around Earth
- Atmospheric gasses scatter blue light more than other wavelengths
Composition is roughly 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.09% argon, 0.03% carbon dioxide, with traces of neon, helium, methane, krypton, hydrogen, xenon and ozone.Tectonic Plates and Earthquake predictions: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/topics/plate_tectonics/rift_man.php
The Rock Cycle:
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/investigations/es0602/es0602page03.cfm?chapter_no=investigationSedimentary Rocks - How do humans use this resource?
http://www.sciences360.com/index.php/sedimentary-rocks-are-important-and-have-a-wide-variety-of-uses-961/Igneous Rocks - How do humans use this resource?
http://www.sciences360.com/index.php/what-are-igneous-rocks-used-for-2-13533/Metamorphic Rocks - How do humans use this resource?
http://www.sciences360.com/index.php/facts-metamorphic-rocks-954/THE EARTH’S SURFACE
EXPERT GROUP 2: Member 2 - Judy Carling
- How does an understanding of Tectonic plates help to predict areas of high risk from earthquakes and volcanoes? Explain how Australia can still experience ‘mild’ earthquakes from time to time.
An understanding of Tectonic plates aids the prediction of high earthquake or volcano risk areas, since these natural phenomena occur along fault lines where there is tectonic activity (notably where two plates meet / collide). So knowledge of where this occurs, and knowledge of current plate activity will provide some indication of location and time.