GEOL 102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Salinity, Photosynthesis, Euryhaline
Document Summary
Previous classes- physical features and development of the earth. Directly affects the features and development of life on earth. Physical and chemical properties of an environment limit the distribution and abundance of biological activity. 70% of earth"s surface is covered by water. Earth has retained an ecosystem with liquid water from its earliest beginnings. Required component in biologically important chemical reactions. Hydrostatic pressure- physical support for aquatic organisms. Low temperatures- chemical reactions (including biologically important ones) slow down. Provide energy for biologically important chemical reactions. Because the earth is a sphere, sunlight is more direct at the equator and more diffuse towards the poles. Earth"s tilt affects seasonality which regions get more sunlight during different parts of the year. Albedo- the percent of solar radiation reflected from earth"s surface. Goldilocks zone- possible presence of liquid water. Affects global carbon dioxide levels by affecting its solubility in water. Together with temperature, affects ocean circulation- thermohaline circulation.
