GEOG 200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Landscape Ecology, Photosynthesis
Document Summary
The atmosphere is our planet"s gaseous envelope: atmosphere = the air, mainly nitrogen and oxygen, carbon dioxide essential for life, transfer of heat and light. Surface and near-surface waters compose the hydrosphere: hydrosphere = all water, salt or fresh, liquid, ice, or vapour, surface waters, glaciers, and ground water, cryosphere is the perennial frozen parts. The biosphere is the living sphere: biosphere = all the planets living organisms, as well as recently deceased and decaying organic matter, unique feature of our planet. The anthrosphere is the human realm: encompasses parts modified by humans. Interaction of the anthropshere with other subsystems of earth = environmental science. Nutrient availability limits primary productivity: nurtients = elements and compounds required for survival that are consumed by organisms, macronutrients = nutrients required in relative large amounts (nitrogen, carbon, Phosphorous: micronutrients = nutrients needed in smaller amounts.