Biophysical Interactions

Question 1

What is the atmosphere?

Answer 1

Combination of transparent,odourless gases and particles that surround the Earth

Question 2

What are the 5 basic properties of the Atmosphere?

Answer 2

1. Temperature
2. Density
3. Circulation
4. Weather
5. Climate variation

Question 3

What is the role of the sun in the atmosphere?

Answer 3

It drives circulation

Question 4

What are the 3 wave lengths that reach the Atmosphere?

Answer 4

Visible spectrum
Ultraviolet
Infrared

Question 5

What is a cold front?

Answer 5

Dense,colder air that forces hot air to rise, leading to clouds, thunderstorms, intense rain and then returning to calm normal weather.

Question 6

What are warm fronts?

Answer 6

Warm air that pushes cold air away. As a result rises over cold air creating weather to consist of lengthy periods of rain.

Question 7

Define the following:

• biotic

- abiotic

Answer 7

Biotic- living

Abiotic- non living

Question 8

What is the hydrosphere?

Answer 8

The interconnecting system of water storage on earth

Question 9

What is the biosphere?

Answer 9

The earths surface zone and its adjacent atmosphere in which all organic life exists

Question 10

What is the lithosphere?

Answer 10

Earths solid outer shell. The crust and upper mantle

Question 11

What is costal management?

Answer 11

A fragile and dynamic environment that is under constant change due to forces of the biosphere. Eg. Waves, tides, currents and winds

Question 12

How far do coasts extend?

Answer 12

As far as sea water and salt spray can reach. And goes as far into the ocean as where the waves and currents can move sediment.

Question 13

List the Processes that shape the coastline.

Answer 13

Lithosphere: movements in the earths crust, forces of erosion and deposition

Biosphere: biotic processes such as plant and animal life and the way they interact

Hydrosphere: wave action, tides and ocean currents

Atmosphere: caused by elements such as temperature change, storms and force of wind.

Question 14

List the processes that affect the Australian coastline.

Answer 14

Erosion
Weathering
Transportation
Deposition
Mass movement

Question 15

What is longshore drift?

Answer 15

Main way in which sediment is moved along a coastline

Question 16

Landforms are either…

Answer 16

Erosional: eg. Caves, stacks, headlands and rock platforms
Or
Depositional: eg. Spits and beaches

Question 17

What is swash?

Answer 17

When waves break on a beach and produces turbulent body or water to surge up the beach

Question 18

What is backwash?

Answer 18

When the water is making its way back to the ocean

Question 19

What are two types of waves and what do they do?

Answer 19

Constructive: moves sand and other sediment up and down the beach
And
Destructive: erodes or scours the beach downwards and moves materials out to sea

Question 20

What is long shore drift?

Answer 20

When a Coast is hit by strong on shore wind induced waves or swell there is an accumulation of excess water. This escapes as a current that runs parallel to the shore and away from the wind.

Question 21

What is costal erosion?

Answer 21

Waves,tides, and winds that shape and erode the coast and create sediment.

Question 22

What is hydraulic pressure?

Answer 22

Waves smash against headlands, small particles are trapped in cracks in the cliff face. Air becomes compressed, over time, break off pieces of rock. This creates erosion all landforms.

Question 23

What is abrasion?

Answer 23

Breaking waves which hurl sand, fine rock particles or even boulders at the cliff face and rock plate form, wearing them down

Question 24

What are the main four layers that make up the Atmosphere?

Answer 24

Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere

Question 25

What is the Troposphere?

Answer 25

Contains all weather systems

Question 26

What is the Stratosphere?

Answer 26

Where the Ozone is found

Question 27

What is the Mesosphere?

Answer 27

No water vapour or dust cloud to absorb radiation making temperatures fall rapidly in this layer.

Question 28

What is the Thermosphere?

Answer 28

The fourth and highest layer where space stations and satellites are found.

Question 29

What determines how much solar radiation [isolation] is received within the atmosphere?

Answer 29

The distance from the sun, the latitude and how long the days and nights are.

Question 30

What is an air mass?

Answer 30

A body of air with horizontally uniform levels of temperature, humidity, and pressure

Question 31

What is a Synoptic chart?

Answer 31

Is a weather map which provides information on the distribution, movement and patterns of air pressure, rainfall, wind and temperature.

Question 32

What are the consequences of human interactions with the atmosphere.

Answer 32

The release of gases and pollutants into the atmosphere disturbs the existing atmospheric balance and get moved around due to weather patterns. This can then lead to Air pollution which can cause acid rain and Smog, or poor air quality.

Question 33

How is life sustained on earth?

Answer 33

Life on earth can only be created and sustained in the presence of moisture, sunlight and nutrients.

Question 34

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 34

a complex network or interconnected system. Or a community of species and their non living habitat.

Question 35

What is a terrestrial ecosystem?

Answer 35

An ecosystem found only on landforms. Communities of plants and animals spread broadly over the surface of the continent.

Question 36

What is an aquatic ecosystem?

Answer 36

An ecosystem in a body of water. Ecosystems of marine and freshwater environments.

Question 37

What is a biome? List the different types.

Answer 37

Very large ecosystems made up of specific vegetation types and their associated fauna. Biomes recur on different continents in areas with similar climates.

Question 38

List the factors affecting the global pattern of vegetation.

Answer 38

Climatic, such as water supplies, temperatures, light and aspect - Topographical, such as altitude, angle of slope and aspect - Edaphic (related to soils) - Biotic (related to the living environment)

Question 39

Explain how climatic factors affect the global pattern of vegetation.

Answer 39

Water is very important to plant growth and development because it is vital to processes such as photosynthesis, germination and the transport of nutrients. Without water, light and certain temperatures vegetation would not be able to survive.

Question 40

Explain how topographic factors affect the global pattern of vegetation.

Answer 40

With rising elevation, there is a decrease in both soil depth and air temperature and an increase in the exposure to wind. As altitude increases there is a noticeable decrease in the: 1. Number of plant species 2. Height of plants 3. density of plants 4. growth rate of plants 5. length of the growing As one moves up very high mountains a distinct vertical zoning of vegetation is revealed.

Question 41

Explain how edaphic factors affect the global pattern of vegetation.

Answer 41

Most plants are dependent on soils as a medium in which to grow because soils provide them water, air and nutrients necessary for growth. Vegetation, in turn, has an impact on a soil’s characteristics.

Question 42

What is biodiversity?

Answer 42

the variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat, a high level of which is usually considered to be important and desirable.

Question 43

Why is biodiversity important?

Answer 43

Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play.

Question 44

How are human interactions threatening the biodiversity existing on earth?

Answer 44

humans alter ecosystems either by removing specific organisms. Humans are destroying other species as a result of population growth, consumption, and technology. Human destruction of habitats through direct harvesting, pollution, atmospheric changes, and other factors is especially threatening current global biodiversity.