CH7 - Climate And Terrestrial Biodiversity

Question 1

Weather

Answer 1

Short term properties of the troposphere at a given place and time

Question 2

Climate

Answer 2

Average long term weather of an area

Question 3

Most important factors in climate

Answer 3

Temperature & precipitation

Question 4

Five main factors influencing climate (temperature + precipitation)

Answer 4

1) uneven heating of the Earth’s surface (heated at the equator, cooled at the poles)

2) seasonal changes (Earth’s axis is tilted —> opposite seasons in the N and S hemispheres)

3) Coriolis effect (rotation of the Earth) —> deflection of winds to the right in N hemisphere and to the left in S hemisphere

4) long-term variations in the amount of solar energy hitting Earth (due to orbital changes)

5) properties of air & water (evaporation of heated water —> low pressure systems on Earth’s surface)

Question 5

Greenhouse effect

Answer 5

• trapping of heat in the troposphere
• greenhouse gases allow light, infrared radiation, and some UV radiation from the sun to pass through the troposphere —> Earth’s surface absorbs this energy & radiates it back out as heat —> heat is absorbed by greenhouse gases/radiated back toward Earth —> heats up the atmosphere

Question 6

Greenhouse gases

Answer 6

Water vapour, carbon dioxide, ozone, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofuorocarbons

Question 7

El Niño - Southern Oscillation

Answer 7

• periodic climate change that can trigger extreme weather changes throughout the Earth
• during an El Niño, the westerly winds weaken in the Pacific Ocean —> surface water warms along the N and S American coasts

Question 8

Biome

Answer 8

Terrestrial region with characteristic natural, undisturbed ecological communities
- these communities are adapted to the climate of the region

Question 9

Desert Biomes

Answer 9

• evaporation > precipitation; typically <25cm precipitation a year
• cover about 30% of earth’s surface (between 30ºN and 30ºS latitude)
• plants: small or no leaves, wax-coated leaves, tap roots, spines
  
  • slow growth, low species diversity, slow nutrient cycling
• animals: nocturnal, thick outer coverings, dry/concentrated waste
• human impact:
  
  • habitat destruction- particularly harmful due to plant characteristics (above)
  • salinisation/irrigation- buildup of salt in soil due to the evaporation of water
  • aquifer depletion- causes deserts to subside/sink
  • extraction of natural resources- oil, iron, copper, gold, silver, diamond, sand

Question 10

Grassland Biomes

Answer 10

• enough precipitation to allow grasses to grow; not enough precipitation that drought/fires prevent large trees from growing
• human impact:
  • grazing of domesticated animals- mostly in Asia, Africa
  • conversion to cropland- due to fertile soils in grasslands
  • mining & drilling- oil, natural gas, natural resources

Question 11

Tropical Grasslands

Answer 11

• high average temperature, low to moderate precipitation, prolonged dry season
  
  • i.e. savannas

Question 12

Temperate Grasslands

Answer 12

• large temperature differences from season to season, uneven/erratic rainfall
  
  • i.e. prairies, pampas, veldt, steppes

Question 13

Polar Grasslands

Answer 13

• a.k.a Arctic tundra, alpine tundra
• very cold, little precipitation (snow)
• permafrost: perennially frozen layer of soil

Question 14

Chaparral Biomes

Answer 14

• a.k.a. shrubland
• along coastal areas, mild winters, long/hot/dry summers, moderate rain,
• plants: dense growth, spiny evergreen shrubs

Question 15

Tropical Rainforest

Answer 15

• warm temperatures, high humidity, heavy rainfall (almost daily)
• plants: broadleaf evergreen trees, grow in LAYERS
• animals: specialists, avoiding competition, high biodiversity

Question 16

Tropical Deciduous Forest

Answer 16

• a.k.a. tropical monsoon forests, tropical seasonal forests
• warm year-round, most rainfall occurs during monsoon season

Question 17

Tropical Rain Forest Plant Growth Layers

Answer 17

1) emergent layer
2) canopy layer
3) understory layer
4) immature layer
5) herb layer, or shrub layer

E-CU-ISH

Question 18

Temperate Rain Forests

Answer 18

• a.k.a. coastal coniferous forests
• moderate temperature, frequent rain

Question 19

Temperate Deciduous Forests

Answer 19

• moderate temperatures that change significantly between seasons, abundant precipitation throughout the year

Question 20

Boreal (Polar) Forests

Answer 20

• a.k.a. evergreen coniferous forests, taigas
• dry/cold climate, long winters, short summers

Question 21

Forest Biomes Human Impact

Answer 21

• logging: particularly tropical rain forests; dramatically decreases biodiversity
• clear-cutting: particularly temperate deciduous forests; for use as cropland/grazing
• hunting: loss of large predators
• mining: particularly boreal forests; peat, iron, gold, diamonds, other minerals
• air pollution
• acid deposition

Question 22

Mountain Biomes

Answer 22

• make up about 20% of Earth’s land surface
• dramatic changes in altitude, climate, soil, vegetation within short distances
• contain the majority of the world’s forests
• each 100m gain in elevation on a mountain = mountain km change in altitude
• human impact:
  
  • extraction of timber & mineral resources
  • hydroelectric dams & reservoirs: alters local ecosystems
  • recreational disturbances: skiing, trekking, tourism
  • air pollution: primarily from vehicle use
  • global warming: ozone depletion, climate change, UV radiation
  • war !!!

Question 23

Rain Shadow Effect

Answer 23

• windward side of the mountain receives rain; the rain in the troposphere must move up the mountain in order to continue moving; the rain doesn’t make it over the mountain; the leeward side of the mountain is dry/no rain hits it

                                        /                  \
                                      /  mountain  \ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_/                          \\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ water          windward                               leeward
                - wet                                        - dry  rain —> rain must go over mountain —> little rain makes it over mountain