BIOL-2356EL Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Dimethyl Sulfate, Gaia Hypothesis, Sulfur Cycle
4 Mar 2020
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Document Summary
The totality of living beings on earth, as well as those parts of the oceans, atmosphere and lithosphere. Term coined by eduard struss and vladmir vernadsky. Many sedimentary rocks are formed by living organisms. The atmospheric composition is a result of life on earth (also part of biosphere) Includes not only living things, not also things influenced by living organisms. Artificial glasshouse as a closed system to test whether we can live on mars. 8 scientists closed in for 2 years in the 90s. Problem: regulating atmospheric concentrations of o2 and co2 (atmospheric conc. Large part of the original species went extinct remains relatively stable) The gaia hypothesis: life/ the biosphere regulates or maintains the climate and the atmospheric composition at an optimum for itself. Ex. if the sun is getting hotter, feedback mechanisms with life cools the planet down. Coccolithic algae emit volatile dimethyl sulfate (dms) Dms is oxidized to sulfate which increases condensation: more clouds.
