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Understanding Earth Systems and Climate Cycles

Explore the complexities of Earth systems, including atmospheric, biospheric, and interior cycles. Learn about the impact of human activities on climate, from carbon and oxygen cycles to greenhouse gases and biodiversity. Discover how climate cycles and continental drift shape our planet.

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Understanding Earth Systems and Climate Cycles

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  1. Climate Systems Chapter 15

  2. Clicker Question • What is the approximate CO2 content of the atmosphere? • A. 0.004% (40 ppm) • B. 0.04% (400 ppm) • C. 0.4% (4000 ppm) • D. 4% (40,000 ppm) • E. 40% (400,000 ppm)

  3. Clicker Question • What is the approximate CO2 content of the atmosphere? • A. 0.004% (40 ppm) • B. 0.04% (400 ppm) • C. 0.4% (4000 ppm) • D. 4% (40,000 ppm) • E. 40% (400,000 ppm)

  4. Clicker Question • The CO2 content of the atmosphere has increased by more than 20% in the past 50 years. • A. True • B. False

  5. Clicker Question • The CO2 content of the atmosphere has increased by 19% in the past 50 years. • A. True • B. False

  6. Systems? • What is a system? • Geologic phenomena are complex. • All processes are related to, and interact with, other processes. • So it is useful to think of geologic processes as systems or cycles.

  7. Earth Systems • Earth Interior Systems • Mantle Convection and Plate Tectonics • Core Convection and Magnetic Field • Rock Cycle (weathering & metamorphism) • Atmospheric/Biospheric Systems • Hydrologic Cycle • Ocean Cycles (Circulation and El Niño) • Carbon Cycle (CO2 in atmosphere) • Oxygen Cycle

  8. Earth Interior Systems • Rock Cycle • Igneous-Weathering-Sedimentation-Metamorphism • Mantle Cycle • Mantle Convection, Crust Formation, and Subduction = Plate Tectonics • Water Cycling • Core Convection • Magnetic Field - Ozone shield

  9. Earth Interior Systems:Deep Water Cycle • Ocean crust hydrates on ocean bottom. • Crust and lithosphere subduct. • >90% of water is returned at arc volcanoes • 1 to 10% of this water goes deep. • This water is returned at mid ocean ridges.

  10. Earth Interior Systems:Deep Water Cycle • 0.2% H2O in subducting crust is sufficient to recycle the oceans once in 4 Gy. • Oceans (0.025% of Earth mass) is maintained by a deep cycle of H in high pressure minerals. • H solubility in rock is responsible for the style of plate tectonics.

  11. Atmospheric/Biospheric Systems: Human Impact • Hydrologic Cycle • Evaporation - Transport - Precipitation - Flow • Ocean Cycles • Global Circulation & El Niño • Carbon Cycle (Greenhouse Gas) • CO2 - Photosynthesis - Carbon - Carbonates • Oxygen Cycle • O2 in atmosphere is biogenic • Incompatible with methane (CH4)

  12. Hydrologic Cyclein 1000’s km3/y

  13. Carbon Cycle: Natural Sources and Sinks

  14. Carbon Cycle: Anthropogenic

  15. Carbon Cycle CO2

  16. Carbon Cycle

  17. Carbon Cycle

  18. Warming • Sea Level Rise • Thermal Expansion of water • Melting Glaciers • Increased Storm Intensity

  19. Warming: Vulnerable US Cities • New Orleans • Houston • Corpus Christi • Mobile • Orlando • Miami

  20. Climate Cycles:Eccentricity

  21. Climate Cycles: Tilt

  22. Climate Cycles: Precession

  23. Continental Drift and Ocean Circulation

  24. Ocean Cycle: El Niño

  25. Continental Drift

  26. Past Climate History • 18O/16O Variation in Ice Cores • Oxygen isotopes are fractionated by evaporation and precipitation. • The vapor prefers the lighter isotope. • Cold global temperatures deplete 18O in ice and enrich it in ocean water. • Isotope variation can be measured in ice cores and in ocean sediments. • CO2 variation can be measured in gas bubbles in ice. • Both methods provide evidence of large variation in global temperatures

  27. Atmospheric/Biospheric Systems: Human Impact • Hydrologic Cycle • Evaporation - Transport - Precipitation - Flow • Ocean Cycles • Global Circulation & El Niño • Carbon Cycle (Greenhouse Gas) • CO2 - Photosynthesis - Carbon - Carbonates • Oxygen Cycle • O2 in atmosphere is biogenic • Incompatible with methane (CH4)

  28. Earth Systems Terms • Carbon Cycle • Rock Cycle • Mantle Cycle • Greenhouse Gas • El Niño • La Niña

  29. Climate Learning Goals • Atmosphere is in equilibrium with surface • Cycles and Systems • Hydrologic Cycle: Surface, shallow, deep • Ocean circulation: heat transport • Carbon Cycle: Sources and sinks • Oxygen Cycle: Where does it come from? • Rock Cycle: weathering, transport.

  30. Climate Learning Goals • What is a greenhouse gas? • How does it trap heat? • How much CO2 do we have now? • What are main sources and sinks? • Do we have a record of past CO2? • Do we have a record of Earth temperatures?

  31. Next Chapter 16Weathering, Erosion,Mass Wasting • Does weathering of rock remove or add CO2 to the atmosphere? • A. Adds • B. Removes • C. No effect on CO2

  32. Next Chapter 16Weathering, Erosion,Mass Wasting • Does weathering of rock remove or add CO2 to the atmosphere? • A. Adds • B. Removes • C. No effect on CO2

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