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Geography Year 11 > Biophysical Enviroment > Flashcards

Biophysical Enviroment Flashcards

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1
Q

Define Biophysical Interactions

A

Species connecting with their surrounding through the four spheres

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2
Q

Explain ONE case study for biophysical interactions and identify the spheres interacting

A

Loggers in Borneo (lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere)
- Chop down trees to sell for profit
- Carbon stored in trees are released
- Increased flooding
- Erosion occurs as the soil is no longer held by root system of trees and other vegitation
- Increased turbidity occurs in rivers (levels of sediment in water)
- Fish become diseased due to turbid waters, water lacks sunlight required for life

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3
Q

Define Insolation

A

(Incoming Solar Radiation)
Insolation refers to the incoming solar radiation that reaches the earths surface

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4
Q

Where is solar radiation highest?

A

The equator

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5
Q

Define Microclimate

A

A localised pattern of wather condition

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6
Q

Define Global Heat Budget

A

The balance between incoming and outgoing solar radiation

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7
Q

Define The Greenhouse Effect

A

Gases in the earth’s atmosphere absorbe some of the outgoing energy and return part of it to the earth’s surface. These gases act as a blanket trapping heat. The greater concentration of gases the more effectivly they return energy back to the earths surface. Traping even more heat and warming the earth like a greenhouse.

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8
Q

Define The Albedo Effect

A

The ratio of incoming radiation and the amount refected back into space
Expresses as a %

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9
Q

Defien Lapse Rate

A

As the altitude increases through the troposphere there is a decline in temprature

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10
Q

Define Weather

A

Local physical properties of the troposphere over a short period of time

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11
Q

Define Atmosphere

A

A thin, gaseous veil surrounding the Earth, held to the planet by the force of gravity

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12
Q

What is the atmosphere made up off?

A

A combination of nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), carbon dioxide, argon, water vapour and other trace gases

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13
Q

List The Layers Of The Atmosphere

A

Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere

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14
Q

Define Current

A

A large movement of water in regular patterns or directions

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15
Q

Define The Global Conveyer Belt

A

A circuit that slowly moves water all around the world. Driven by differences in density - temperature and salinity.

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16
Q

Define Rip Current

A

Narrow channels of water that form when waves of different intensities break on the shoreline

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17
Q

How Are Waves Caused?

A

Wind transferring its energy to the water

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18
Q

Define Tsunamis

A

A giant underwater wave

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19
Q

Define Tides

A

The biggest type of waves, cause the sea to rise and fall along the shores around the world

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20
Q

What Causes The Change In Tides?

A

Gravitational pull of the moon and sun

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21
Q

Define The Hydrological Cycle

A

Process that involves the continuous circulation of water in the biophysical environment

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22
Q

What Are The 7 Stages Of The Water Cycle

A

Evaporation, Transpiration, Condensation, Precipitation, Infiltration, Percolation, Surface Runoff

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23
Q

Define Hydrosphere

A

Total amount of water on a planet. Includes water on the surface of the planet, underground, and in the air.

24
Q

Define Water Scarcity

A

Occurs when the demand for water exceeds the available amount during a certain period of time

25
Q

Define Weathering

A

The process that breaks down rocks

26
Q

Define Erosion

A

The process of breaking down rocks further and then moving them. Water is key.

27
Q

List The Layers Of Soil

A

Topsoil, Subsoil, Bedrock

28
Q

List The Functions Of Soil

A

Biomass production, water and nurtient cycling, carbon storage, biodiversity, building, recreation, history

29
Q

Define Biomass And Explain It’s Importance

A

Biomass is renewable plant materials used as sources of fuel
- The world’s soils enables growth of plants and agriculture
- Sources of fuel that produce heat or electricity

30
Q

Explain Cyclyings Importance

A

Soil stores, filters, transforms nutrients and water

31
Q

Explain Carbon Storage Importance

A

Soil is one of the biggest holders of organic matter.
- 3x more carbon in soil than in atmosphere
- 4x more than in living organisms

32
Q

Explain Soil Biodiversity Importance

A

A large fraction of the Earth’s biodiversity can be found underground

33
Q

Define Lithosphere

A

The solid, outer portion of the earth

34
Q

List The Layers Of The Planet

A

Core: solid iron in the centre; molten iron in the outer core
Mantle: less dense, elastic rock
Crust: thin, brittle, low-density layer of rock

35
Q

Explain Continental Drift

A
  • 225 million years ago: the lithosphere was joined as one supercontinent, Pangaea
  • 135 million years ago: Pangaea broke into two large continents, Laurasia and Gondwana
  • 65 million years ago: these two large continents broke into smaller continents again, drifting/moving as a result of plate tectonics
36
Q

List The Movement Of Plates From The Mantle

A

Convergent boundaries: when two plates collide
Divergent boundaries: when two plates move apart
Transform/Conservative boundaries: when plates slide past each other

37
Q

Define Folding

A

When two or more of Earth’s tectonic plates are pushed together

38
Q

Define Faulting

A

Faults or cracks form in the crust

39
Q

Define Subduction

A

When one plate bends and slides underneath the other, curving down into the mantle

40
Q

Define Aeolian Processes

A

The study of geology and weather

41
Q

Give ONE example of a aeolian processes

A

Suspension
- The wind moves the finer sand particles, which travel thousands of kilometres before they land on Earth again
- When they land, it is often because they have combined with raindrops and fall with the rain

42
Q

Define Biodiversity

A

The variety of living organisms on earth

43
Q

Define Ecosystems

A

A system formed by the interactions of all living organisums within each other and the physical elements of the enviroment in which they live

44
Q

List The Three Levels Of Biodiversity

A

Genetic diversity
Species diversity
Ecosystem Diversity

45
Q

Explain Genetic Diversity

A

The variety of living organisms on earth

46
Q

Explain Species Diversity

A

Species diversity is the variety of species within a habitat or region

47
Q

Explain Ecosystem Diversity

A

Ecosystem diversity is the varitey of ecosystems in a given place

48
Q

List Issues Effecting Biodiversity

A

Invasive species, migratory species, habitat loss and fragmentation

49
Q

Explain The Issues Brought Around Invasive Species

A

A species occuring, as a result of human activities, beyond its acepted normal distribution and which threaten valued reasources by the damage it causes

50
Q

Give Examples Of Some Invasive Species

A

Crown of thorns starfish, cane toads

51
Q

Explain Migratory Species

A

Many animals migrate to Australia and its external territories, or pass through or over Australian waters during their annual migrations. As climatic conditions change, so does the migration activities of animals such as birds, whales, dolphins, turtles and sharks.

52
Q

List Factors Affecting Global Patterns Of Vegetation

A

Climatic Factors: Precipitation, Temperature, Light, Winds
Topographic Factors: Altitude, Slope, Aspect
Biotic Factors: Plant competition, Plant and animal relationships, Human activities
Soil-related Factors

53
Q

Precipitations Importance To Global Patterns Of Vegetation

A

Water is important for plant growth and development as it is important for processes such as photosynthesis, germination and nutrient transportation.

54
Q

Temprature Importance To Global Patterns Of Vegetation

A

Each plant species there is an optimum temperature range. Most vegetation prefers temperatures between 10 and 35 degrees celsius.

55
Q

Altitude’s Importance To Global Patterns Of Vegetation

A

As altitude (elevation) increases, there is a decrease in:
Number/variety of plant species
Height of plants
Density of plants
Growth rate of plants

56
Q

Slope And Aspect Importance To Global Patterns Of Vegetation

A

Slope - influences the stability of surface material and water retention in the soil
Aspect - affect the amount of sunlight received

Geography Year 11 (4 decks)

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