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Geography 2020 > Biophysical Environment :(: > Flashcards

Biophysical Environment :(: Flashcards

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1
Q

define atmosphere

A

the blanket of gas that contains the air we breathe and also protects us from the blasts of heat and radiation from the sun

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2
Q

facts about the atmosphere

A 
it is 480km thick 
air pressure decreases with altitude 
the layers of the atmosphere are (from top to bottom)
exosphere
thermosphere
mesosphere
stratosphere
troposphere
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3
Q

troposphere

A

layer closest to the earth’s surface
7-20km thick (contains half the atmosphere)
nearly all the water vapour and dust are in this layer

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4
Q

stratosphere

A

above the troposphere
ozone is abundant - heats the atmosphere and absorbs the harmful radiation from the sun
air is dry and thin (1000x thinner than at sea level)

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5
Q

atmospheric processes

A

energy: sun provides the earth with its main source of energy (insolation)
sun exposure affects the climate (distance from the equator, aspect)

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6
Q

global patterns of climate

A
  • variations in insolation (increased closer to the equator)
  • rotation (on axis) and revolution (seasons)
  • composition of the atmosphere (green houes gases, volcanic eruptions)
  • distribution of the continents and oceans (warm and cold ocean currents, proximity to ocean)
  • topography (eg mountain ranges, orographic rainfall)
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7
Q

comparing climates (sydney and prague)

A

Sydney:
high level of consistent precipitation
temperature is moderate / mild, lows of 12, highs of 22
coordinates: 33.9oS, 151.2oE (closer to equator)

Prague:
less rain, highs of 81ml, lows of 20ml
temperature: wide diurnal range (-1o to 18o)
coordinates: 80oN, 14oE

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8
Q

Weather

A

determined by air pressure, moisture and movement of air masses

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9
Q

what do synoptic charts measure

A

air pressure, rainfall, wind, temperature

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10
Q

Air

A

measured using a barometer (hPa)
isobars join places of equal pressure
the closer the isobars, the stronger the wind

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11
Q

Low Pressure System

A

area of increasing air, measures below 1013hPa
wind moves clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere
weather: unstable, chance of rain, cloudy

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12
Q

High Pressure system:

A

area of sinking air (above 1013)
direction = anti clockwise
weather: fine :)

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13
Q

Tropical cyclone

A

area of rapidly rising air (i.e. intense low pressure system), causing torrential rain, strong winds)
given names
need warm waters to form and generally disapate when hitting land

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14
Q

Cold front

A

air mass that separates cold and warm air, cold air behind
fall in temp, brings rain and storms
shows the direction in which its moving

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15
Q

warm front

A

air mass w warm air behind it (less common in Aus)

increase in temperature, light showers

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16
Q

Troughs - - - - and ridges

A

Regions of relatively low pressure that precede a cold front
associated with wet weather
winds in front of troughs

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17
Q

monsoon troughs

A

– - – - occur in NA through summer

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18
Q

Rainfall

A

/ / / /

/ / / rainfall in the last 24 hrs

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19
Q

oO

A

calm, no winds

20
Q

Wind barb

A

indicates wind direction and speed (easterly means from the east)
. where it has been recorded
___ direction from
/ speed km/hr

21
Q

aspect induced climates

A

face equator = more direct sunlights
(SH = northerly, NH = southerly)
easterly aspect = sunlight in the morning when the temperature is decreased
agricultural lands are found in areas of direct sunlight, ski slopes in Aus face east or south

22
Q

Hydrosphere

A

total amount of water on the planet, including water on the surface, underground and in the air in the form of liquid, vapour or ice

23
Q

Liquid, solid, gas

A

liquid: oceans, rivers, creeks + groundwater
vapor: clouds and fog
solid: icebergs, icecaps, glaciers

24
Q

Water cycle

A

condensation, evaporation, transpiration, precipitation, runoff, infiltration, percolation

25
Q

condensation

A

when water vapour in the air cools and turns back into a liquid

26
Q

evaporation

A

when sun shines on water and heats it, turning it to vapour

27
Q

transpiration

A

when the sun warms the biosphere and it releases water vapour into the air

28
Q

precipitation

A

water falls from the sky as rain, snow or hail

29
Q

run off

A

when water flows over the ground into creeks, rivers and oceans

30
Q

percolation

A

when water seeps deeper into tiny spaces in soil and rock

31
Q

water currents

A

warm water = anti cw from equator

32
Q

hydrosphere shaping lithosphere

A

rivers and streams, collecting and carrying particles to deposit them elsewhere
vegetation binds the soil together
hydraulic action, abrasion, corrosion, land form evolution

33
Q

hydraulic action

A

flowing water (dragging), excavating quantities of poorly consolidated alluvial materials

34
Q

abrasion

A

rock particles carried by water strike channel walls

35
Q

corrosion

A

chemical solution of material of rocks being exposed to the stream by solvents in the water

36
Q

land form evolution

A

long term
steep gradients, river erodes downwards creating valleys
low hills, rivers begin to broaden, meanders develop
flats - lateral erosion, valleys widen

37
Q

Biosphere

A

extends from a few kms into the atmosphere to hte deep vents of the ocean - composed of all living organisms and what gives them nutrients

38
Q

factors affecting vegetation patterns

A

climate (precipitation, temperature, light, wind)
topographic (altitude, slope, aspect)
edaphic (soil quality)
biotic: plant competition, human activity

39
Q

formation of land marks

A

erosion follows planes of weakness called joints, occuring in vertical sets
with progressive erosion, blocks of sandstone fall into the valleys, breaking off at joints
more erosion resistent rock such as narrabeen sandstone is left standing as the friable shales erode away

40
Q

shaping of the landforms

A

water, wind, gravity
weathering causes undercutting, therefore there are sandstone overhangs which are further disjointed due to vertical fractures by water and roots - they fall cos of gravity
erosion widens the space between joints, leaving turrets

41
Q

rainforests

A

moisture + steep terrain ensure protection
reliably moist, high levels of soil nutrients and minimal exposure to fire
closed canopy of soft horizontally held leaves and shade tolerant understory (ferns, vines)
coachwood, sassafras, cedar wattle, lilly pilly, mosses,
2m canopy, cool and shaded, southerly aspect, high biodiversity

42
Q

heath land

A 
shrubby, treeless, sparse
shallow, nutrient poor, sandy soils 
exposed (usually ridge tops) 
high plateau
3ha 
warm temp, low humidity 
dwarf sheoak, hairpin banksia
43
Q

comparing vegetation communities

A

temperature, humidity, aspect, topography, soil, vegetation type and diversity

44
Q

Blue Moutnains Dam

A
  • 3 small catchment areas feeding 6 dams (provides water for 41000 people)
  • special areas :protect water supply by acting as a buffer zone, managed by WaterNSW and Wildlife Service –> public access is restricted to ensure quality of water, protect bushland, flora and fauna, evidence of aboriginal occupation
45
Q

what do they want to do with the bm dam

A
  • $670m plan to raise the dam wall by 4m to prevent flooding in outer-western sydney, however raising the wall would flood 4700ha and threaten endangered species, + 50 Aboriginal sites

Geography 2020 (3 decks)

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