Notes on Biophysical Environment PDF

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idk what this even is im not going to ile this lijeht hduh...

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Geo Notes: Biophysical Environment 

Atmosphere: The transparent, odourless mass of air surrounding the Earth. o The troposphere supports all life, extending upwards about 10km from the ground and around the same temp. as Earth. o Insolation is solar radiation and provides Earth with light and heat. It drives all systems, processes and cycles. o Some areas on Earth receive maximum insolation and minimum insolation due to the distance from the sun/latitude caused by the earth’s axis. o The global heat budget is maintained by horizontal and vertical transfers of heat from the tropics towards the poles and to higher altitudes. o Heat transfers occur through wind and ocean currents, terrestrial radiation, conduction, convection currents. o Temperatures decrease with increasing latitude and altitude. Environmental lapse rate: -6.5C per 1000m.

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Air pollution: The presence in or introduction into the air of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects. o Main causes are pollution from road dust, open fires, vehicle exhaust fumes, industrial emissions, biomass combustion, and the burning of crop residues. o Indonesia: Primarily caused by burning forests for land clearing to prepare for palm plantations. Other causes include vehicle + industrial emissions due to growing population generating a higher demand.

o China: Primarily caused by burning coal especially during winter months when low temps cause electricity levels to soar. Coalfired power plants release particles of charred dust into the air. o India: Main causes include biomass burning, vehicle emissions (which make up 65% of Indian air pollution), and fuel adulteration. Organic material is used for burning which releases harmful particulates and gases. Vehicles lack catalytic converters that make emissions less toxic. Alternative petrols that create higher emissions are cheaper and therefore more popular. o Air pollutants cause smog, a mixture of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides under the influence of sunlight. o Smog causes damage to trees/forests near urban areas. o The ozone in smog inhibits plant growth. o Air pollution also causes acid rain, which combines oxides and water. o As acid rain falls, it damages vegetation and the acidic water reaches lakes/rivers through runoff + percolation. o High acidity levels in lakes + rivers cause fish and other organisms in the ecosystem to die. 

Hydrosphere: Water in all its forms and all its locations. o Water stores include:  Oceans: 97% of all water  Ice caps and Glaciers: >76% of world’s fresh water  Groundwater: nearly 23% of fresh water  Rivers and lakes:...