Prepare for IB ESS SL 2.2.2 by tracing solar energy through reflection, absorption and transformations while applying conservation of energy to ecosystems.
Compare and contrast the pathways of energy through the atmosphere and the pathways of energy through an ecosystem.
In both (compare) [4 max]:
a. energy is not created or destroyed.
b. the source of energy is the sun.
c. energy is transformed from one form to another.
d. energy is lost as radiated heat.
e. sunlight energy is reflected, absorbed, radiated.
Contrast [4 max]:
f. energy from the sun is reflected by clouds in the atmosphere
g. ...and by light surfaces/ice in ecosystems.
h. energy from the sun is absorbed by clouds/GHG in the atmosphere
i. ...and by the earth's surface/organisms/soil/water in ecosystems;
j. the energy from the sun is used in photosynthesis by plants only in ecosystems (not in atmosphere);
k. energy is lost as the radiation of heat through respiration in ecosystems as it is passed through food chains
I. ...whereas in the atmosphere it is lost through radiation from resonating GHGs;
m. transfers/transformations of energy in ecosystems often go through living organisms, but not in the atmosphere;