APES Test 1 - Climate, Succession, Terrestrial, Aquatic Biomes and Ecosystem Services Flashcards
How does the angle of insolation vary with latitude? Describe average yearly temperature range as it relates to latitude.
- As latitude increases the angle of insolation decreases
- Winter in Northern Hemisphere and Summer in the Southern Hemisphere during the Winter Solstice (23.5°S)
- Summer in Northern Hemisphere and Winter in Southern Hemisphere during the Summer Solstice (23.5°N)
What causes seasons, varying angle of insolation and changing day length?
Tilted axis & Position of the Earth during revolution around the Sun
How may global winds affect the climate of a region? Give an example.
- Unequal heating of Earth’s surface
Circulates heat and moisture - Influenced by the rotation of the Earth
- Ex. Winds bring over warm moist air from an Ocean causing the climate in that region to be warmer and humid
Describe the qualities of high and low pressure.
- High pressure: higher pressure at the center, winds blow away from high pressure, swirls in the opposite direction from a low pressure system, the winds of a high pressure system rotate clockwise north of the equator and counterclockwise south of the equator
- Stable atmospheric conditions and fair weather
- Low pressure: air rises, leading to unstable air and poor weather
- Where the atmosphere is relatively
How may ocean currents modify the climate of a region? Give an example.
- Temperature of currents affect climate. Contribute to heat energy, nutrient and dissolved oxygen distribution
- Warm currents heat the air over the ocean and bring higher temperatures over land
- Ex. warm ocean currents such as the Gulf Stream warm entire continents, and help create and sustain global climate conditions
How does distance to water affect climate and temperature range?
- Water moderates temperature
- Farther from water: warmer summers, cooler winters, larger range in temperature
- Closer to the water: cooler summers, warmer winters, smaller range of temperature
What is the Orographic Effect? Explain and include a diagram.
Prevailing winds bring warm, moist air over high ground to cause formation of clouds and precipitation over the mountain side closest to the warm water. Then, the water creates a rain shadow and dry air descends and warms on the other side of the mountain (leeward).
Describe the factors that cause the Urban Heat Island Effect.
- Buildings materials heat up faster
- Human activities generate heat (energy use, transportation)
- Waste heat: Second law of thermodynamics
- Less permeable surfaces (leads to more runoff)
- Bioswale
- Building density causes less circulation
- Less air flow
Describe how various methods of mitigation would work to reduce temperature and runoff.
- Using renewable energy
- Trees and vegetation provide shade
- Balanced water cycle
- More infiltration/permeable surface: Less runoff
In what region does an El Niño event begin? Describe how global winds change during an El Niño event. What are the effects of an El Niño event?
El Niño begins off the west coast of South America and shifts trade winds in the Tropical Eastern Pacific Region
- Starting of weak trade winds
- Drought in Australia and Indonesia, air pressure increases
- South America, air pressure decreases, has less upwelling → less nutrients → less productivity
Describe Primary Succession, steps involved, stages and species involved.
- Begins on bare rock (no soil)
- Lichen - pioneer species (first that grows, mutualistic relationship with algae/fungus) breaks down rocks
- Early successional species - tolerate harsh conditions, establish right away, need a lot of sunlight herbal layer
- Mid Successional species - shade intolerant - trees, shrubs, grasses
- Late successional species/climax community = biome
a. Equilibrium: balanced system
- Able to maintain a variety of species (highest biodiversity)
Describe Secondary Succession. Contrast secondary succession to primary. Relate
to Stillwell. (Much faster than primary succession - already has soil)
- Occurs when an existing community is destroyed or disrupted.
- Relate to Stillwell: secondary succession - already has soil so it is easier develop
How are elevation and latitude related to terrestrial biome development?
- As latitude increases, temperature decreases and terrestrial biome development is difficult: Tropical rainforests → Temperate Forest → Taiga → Tundra → Polar Ice
- As Elevation increases, temperature decreases
Terrestrial Biomes: you should know the general locations of each, general characteristics, climate of each and be able to recognize the corresponding Climatogram.
- Tundra - average temperatures below freezing, permafrost, low precipitation
- Taiga (boreal forest/coniferous forest) - average temperatures hover around 32℉, greater rainfall during humid summer months
- Temperate Grassland (prairie/plain) - hot summers and cold winters, semi-arid rainfall in spring/summer but not enough to support trees
- Mid-Latitude Desert - warm and dry, leeward sides of mountain ranges
- Tropical Rainforest (jungle) - high average temperatures, small temperature range, abundant precipitation
- Temperate Deciduous Forest - average temperature ~ 50℉, 4 seasons, considerable rainfall
- Savanna (tropical grassland) - warm with distinct wet and dry seasons
- Chaparral - consists of various terrain, mountains and plains with forests, similar in desert dryness
- Polar Desert/Ice Sheet - covered in ice sheets, no vegetation
Identify and describe each of the 4 zones of a freshwater lake. Draw a labeled diagram that shows zonation.
Littoral: shallow water along the shore, productive area due to the input of nutrients, highest biodiversity, rooted and emergent (out) vegetation
Limnetic: away from the shore, sunlight penetrates, photosynthesis occurs
Profundal: no light penetrates
Benthic (Bottom): Bottom surface, nutrients and organic matter accumulate, is in ALL zones
