Biophysical Interactions

Question 1

What does biophysical interactions encompass?

Answer 1

The biosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere

Question 2

What are physical, chemical and biological processes that form the topography of an area?

Answer 2

Geomorphic processes

Question 3

What is the geological process that compacts deposited sediment?

Answer 3

Lithification

Question 4

What processes are associated with rivers and streams?

Answer 4

Fluvial processes

Question 5

What is the name for loose clay, silt, sand, or gravel that has been deposited by running water in a stream?

Answer 5

Alluvium

Question 6

What processes are associated with the movement of water?

Answer 6

Alluvial processes

Question 7

What processes are associated with gravity?

Answer 7

Colluvial processes

Question 8

What processes are associated with the movement of wind?

Answer 8

Aeolian processes

Question 9

What is a vertical succession of horizons?

Answer 9

Soil profile

Question 10

What is silviculture?

Answer 10

Silviculture is the art and science of managing forests for desired outcomes, such as wildlife habitat, aesthetics, and timber production

Question 11

How is the Wollemi Pine significant?

Answer 11

Located in the Wollemi National Park in the Greater Blue Mountains Heritage area, there is a small stand of Wollemi Pines which are one of the worlds oldest living plants. It therefore has heritage value.

Question 12

What conditions will a high pressure system produce?

Answer 12

Stable weather and clear skies

Question 13

What conditions will a low pressure system produce?

Answer 13

Unstable weather and precipitation

Question 14

What conditions will a trough produce?

Answer 14

The formation of clouds, precipitation and a cold air mass

Question 15

What conditions will a ridge produce?

Answer 15

Warm and dry weather

Question 16

How does orographic rainfall occur?

Answer 16

As air rises over mountain ranges the air cools and causes rainfall. This creates wetter mountains on the windy side and drier conditions (also known as rain shadow) on the other side.

Question 17

What are the 4 features of urban microclimates? (THINK: urban heat islands)

Answer 17

1. Higher temperatures
2. less sunlight
3. lower humidity (less evapotranspiration)
4. increased cloud formation and precipitation

Question 18

What are aspect-induced microclimates?

Answer 18

Northerly slopes receive more direct sunlight than Southerly slopes (equator). Slopes with an easterly aspect receive direct sunlight during the morning and Western-facing slopes receive their direct sunlight during the afternoon. Slopes not exposed to direct sunlight have a cooler, moister microclimate than those exposed to longer periods of direct sunlight (causes wet sclerophyll pockets to form)

Question 19

What are the 5 values of contemporary environmental management?

Answer 19

1. Natural change
2. Resources (utility value)
3. Intrinsic values
4. Heritage values
5. Biodiversity values

Question 20

How do land surfaces create microclimates in forests?

Answer 20

• Forested areas absorb and trap larger amounts of incoming radiation compared with more exposed surfaces. The canopy of leaves acts as a blanket. As a result, forests have a small diurnal range of temperature.
• Forests have a higher level of relative humidity due to evapotranspiration.
• Precipitation is also higher due to the moisture pumped into the air by trees.
• Wind velocities are reduced in forests because trees act as a windbreak

Question 21

What are examples of fluvial (related to rivers and streams) processes?

Answer 21

• Hydraulic action (The power of flowing water itself)
• Abrasion (This occurs when rock particles that are carried by the swift-flowing current strike channel walls. As they do so they grind off chips of rock and earth)
• Corrosion (Due to the chemical solution of material from rocks being exposed to the stream by solvents carried in the river.

Question 22

What is the distribution of biomes related to?

Answer 22

Latitude

Question 23

What are the four types of factors that interact to create a biome?

Answer 23

Climactic, topographic, edaphic and biotic

Question 24

What is an edaphic factor?

Answer 24

A factor related to soil.

Question 25

What are examples of climactic features?

Answer 25

Precipitation, temperature, light availability and winds

Question 26

What are examples of topographic features?

Answer 26

Altitude, slope and aspect

Question 27

What is secondary succession?

Answer 27

Secondary succession occurs when a community is removed or destroyed by human activities or natural events.

Question 28

What is wave refraction?

Answer 28

Wave refraction or bending occurs when the waves encounter an uneven coastline. The direction of the wave is changed. This can cause the formation of landforms such as arches.

Question 29

What are wave-cut platforms?

Answer 29

Areas where a wave-cut notch has been eroded and the above rock collapses, leaving a platform.

Question 30

What s a fire regime?

Answer 30

The pattern, frequency, and intensity of the bushfires and wildfires that prevail in an area over long periods of time.

Question 31

What is the Fuel Dryness Level (DL)?

Answer 31

A quantitative measure of fuel moisture and receptability to ignition

Question 32

What is a crown fire? (THINK: hazard reduction burning)

Answer 32

A forest fire that advances often at great speed from crown (canopy) to crown often well in advance of the fire on the ground.

Question 33

What is epicormic growth?

Answer 33

An adaption of trees in fire-prone ecosystems: The growth of shoots from previously dormant epicormic buds, stimulated by fire.

Question 34

What are lignotubers?

Answer 34

Adaptation to fire, the swelling of the base root crown to prevent the destruction of plant stems from fire. Found on eucalyptus trees in Australia.