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Geography Year 11 > Biophysical Enviroment > Flashcards

Biophysical Enviroment Flashcards

(56 cards)

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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

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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

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A

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

25
Define Weathering
The process that breaks down rocks
26
Define Erosion
The process of breaking down rocks further and then moving them. Water is key.
27
List The Layers Of Soil
Topsoil, Subsoil, Bedrock
28
List The Functions Of Soil
Biomass production, water and nurtient cycling, carbon storage, biodiversity, building, recreation, history
29
Define Biomass And Explain It's Importance
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
Explain Cyclyings Importance
Soil stores, filters, transforms nutrients and water
31
Explain Carbon Storage Importance
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
Explain Soil Biodiversity Importance
A large fraction of the Earth’s biodiversity can be found underground
33
Define Lithosphere
The solid, outer portion of the earth
34
List The Layers Of The Planet
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
Explain Continental Drift
- 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
List The Movement Of Plates From The Mantle
Convergent boundaries: when two plates collide Divergent boundaries: when two plates move apart Transform/Conservative boundaries: when plates slide past each other
37
Define Folding
When two or more of Earth’s tectonic plates are pushed together
38
Define Faulting
Faults or cracks form in the crust
39
Define Subduction
When one plate bends and slides underneath the other, curving down into the mantle
40
Define Aeolian Processes
The study of geology and weather
41
Give ONE example of a aeolian processes
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
Define Biodiversity
The variety of living organisms on earth
43
Define Ecosystems
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
List The Three Levels Of Biodiversity
Genetic diversity Species diversity Ecosystem Diversity
45
Explain Genetic Diversity
The variety of living organisms on earth
46
Explain Species Diversity
Species diversity is the variety of species within a habitat or region
47
Explain Ecosystem Diversity
Ecosystem diversity is the varitey of ecosystems in a given place
48
List Issues Effecting Biodiversity
Invasive species, migratory species, habitat loss and fragmentation
49
Explain The Issues Brought Around Invasive Species
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
Give Examples Of Some Invasive Species
Crown of thorns starfish, cane toads
51
Explain Migratory Species
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
List Factors Affecting Global Patterns Of Vegetation
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
Precipitations Importance To Global Patterns Of Vegetation
Water is important for plant growth and development as it is important for processes such as photosynthesis, germination and nutrient transportation.
54
Temprature Importance To Global Patterns Of Vegetation
Each plant species there is an optimum temperature range. Most vegetation prefers temperatures between 10 and 35 degrees celsius.
55
Altitude's Importance To Global Patterns Of Vegetation
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
Slope And Aspect Importance To Global Patterns Of Vegetation
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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