2023 T1 Flashcards
Tectonic forces
driven by the heat (and therefore movement) radiating from the Earth’s liquid mantle/core.
Example of tectonic forces
folding moutnains, volcanoes, earthquakes
Gradational forces
external forces which are driven by Earth’s gravity and heat energy from the Sun. These modify the lithosphere by smoothing it.
Examples of gradational forces
Weathering, erosion, mass movement, deposition
global patterns of climate
variations in isolation, earths rotation and revoltion on the axis, composition of atmopshere, distrubution of ocean currents, topography
examples for each pattern of climate
distance from sun (equator compared to poles) and global heat budget, seasons changing each year, greenhouse effect and enhanced, warm currents higher evaporation rate and proximity to oceans, rainshadow and orographic rainfall
Evaporation
the sun shines on water and heats it, turning it into gas called water vapour which rises into the atmosphere.
Precipitation
when water droplets fall from the sky as rain, snow or hail.
Condensation
water vapour in the air cools and turns back into a liquid, forming tiny water droplets in the sky.
Accumulation
the process of water collecting in rivers, lakes, streams, oceans and other bodies of water.
Transpiration
the sun warms people, plants and animals and they release water vapour into the atmosphere.
Surface Run off
when water flows over the ground and into creeks, rivers and oceans.
Infiltration
when water falls on the ground and soaks into the soil.
percolation
when water seeps deeper into tiny spaces in the soil and rock.
Orographic rainfall
produced when moist air is lifted as it moves over a mountain range. As the air rises and cools, orographic clouds form and serve as the source of the precipitation. lots of biodiversity and diversity
Most of the rain will fall on the windward side of the mountain ridge. On the leeward mountain range side rainfall is usually low and the area is said to be in a rain shadow. arid and dry, not much vegetation
Factors of vegetation
climate, topographic, edaphic, biotic
Climate vegetation factor
certain moisture and temperature condition to grow (precipitation, light, temperature, wind)
Topographic vegetation factors
Effected indirectly by altitude, aspect, and degree of slope (
Edaphic vegetation factors
Mature soils vary in different biomes
Biotic vegetation factors
relationship between plants and animals in ecosystem (symbiotic relationships, human impacts on environments)
Polyps
Polyps are essentially the many digestive systems of a single coral animal. Polyps form in colonies on an individual coral skeleton
Polyps perform 3 main functions to aid in coral survival:
1. The microalgae inside them photosynthesize to provide the polyp with most of its energy.
2. Using their tentacles around their mouths to catch food to supplement their energy.
3 . Polyps use their energy to:
A. Continue seeking energy and,
B. Grow the stony limestone skeletons which provide their structure.
Examples of human impacts
fracking affects all spheres, pollution, enhanced greenhouse effect, carbondioxide being absorbed by ocenans, ice caps, oil spills, deep sea drilling, open cut mining, farming, deforestation, overfishing, introducing new species
water cycle
the continuous transfer of water throughout the four spheres.
atmosphere
the combination fo gases and patrticles that envlope the globe
lithosphere
Earth’s outer geological layer
hydrosphere
the interconnecting system of water storage among the four spheres
biosphere
all the living organisms on the Earth
photosynthesis
Photosynthesis refers to the process whereby green plants take in water, and CO2, and use UV from the sun (light energy) and chlorophyll to turn it into food (carbohydrates/glucose) for the organism and oxygen which is released into the atmosphere.
Coral species furthest north
Japan (34 degrees N)
Coral species furthest south
Lorde Howe (32 degrees S)
New coral species furthest south
Cabbage Tree Bay Sydney (34 degrees S)
coral reefs percentage of ocean surface
Indo- pacific region percentage
0.1%
91.9%
Where do coral reefs generally form
Between 30 degrees south and north of the equator
What temp do corals need
23-29 degrees
What depth of water do corals need
Up to 50m in depth
How many species use coral reefs as a habitat
1/4 of marine species
Examples of hard corals
Staghorn Elkhorn
barrier reefs
run parallel to a coastline, barrier between shoreline and open sea
fringing reefs
linked to coastline
atolls reefs
ring shaped islands
Where is the Great Barrier Reef and how long is it
off the east coast of Australia
2,300km long
not single structure, collection of 200 reefs
Example of weathering
Wave Rock, WA
Grand Canyon, US
Example of erosion
the 12 Apostles, SA
Example of mass movement
2014 Oslo mudslide
rainsoaked hillside, 18 million tons of sand , till and clay, destroyed community
Example of deposition
sanddunes?
weathering
the physical disintergratuon and chemical deposition of a rock or mineral at or near the earth’s surface by atmospheric or biological agents.
coral reefs
a ridge or elevated platform ranging in depth from the surface of the water downwards
coral
an animal that can exist as an individual coral or cluster
erosion
transportation of the weathered material.
mass movement
another form of transportation for weathered material, however the primary agent for mass movement is gravity.
deposition
final resting place for the weathered and eroded material.
