Chapter 4

Question 1

Climate

Answer 1

the average weather that occurs in a given region over a long period

Question 2

Troposphere

Answer 2

the layer closest to Earth’s surface

Question 3

Stratosphere

Answer 3

above the troposphere and extends roughly 16 to 50 km above Earth’s surface

Question 4

Albedo

Answer 4

the percentage of incoming sunlight that is reflected from a surface

Question 5

Saturation Point

Answer 5

the maximum amount of water vapor that can be in the air at a given temperature

Question 6

Adiabatic Cooling

Answer 6

as air rises higher in the atmosphere, the pressure on it decreases - the lower pressure allows the rising air to expand in volume, and this expansion lowers the temperature of the air

Question 7

Adiabatic Heating

Answer 7

when air sinks towards Earth’s surface, the pressure on it increases - the higher pressure forces the air to decrease in volume, and this decrease raises the temperature of the air

Question 8

Latent Heat Release

Answer 8

when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into liquid water, energy is released

Question 9

Hadley cells

Answer 9

the convection currents that cycle between the equator and 30 degrees N and S

Question 10

Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)

Answer 10

the area of Earth that receives the most intense sunlight, where the ascending branches of the two Hadley cells converge

Question 11

Polar Cells

Answer 11

these convection currents are formed by air that rises at 60 degrees N and S and sinks at the poles

Question 12

Coriolis Effect

Answer 12

the deflection of an object’s path due to Earth’s rotation

Question 13

Gyres

Answer 13

large-scale patterns of water circulation

Question 14

Upwelling

Answer 14

the upward movement of water toward the surface

Question 15

Thermohaline CIrculation

Answer 15

an oceanic circulation pattern that drives the mixing of surface water and deep water

Question 16

El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

Answer 16

periodic changes in winds and ocean currents

Question 17

El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

Answer 17

periodic changes in winds and ocean currents

Question 18

Rain Shadow

Answer 18

warm, dry air produces arid conditions on the leeward side of the range

Question 19

Biomes

Answer 19

terrestrial geographic regions with the presence of similar plant growth forms in areas possessing similar temperature and precipitation patterns

Question 20

Tundra

Answer 20

cold and treeless, with low-growing vegetation

Question 21

Permafrost

Answer 21

the underlying soil is an impermeable, permanently frozen layer that prevents water from draining and roots from penetrating

Question 22

Boreal Forests

Answer 22

forests made up primarily of coniferous evergreen trees that can tolerate cold winters and short growing season

Question 23

Temperate Rainforests

Answer 23

a coastal biome with moderate temperatures and high precipitation

Question 24

Temperate Seasonal Forests

Answer 24

more abundant that temperate rainforest

Question 25

Woodland/Shrubland

Answer 25

characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters

Question 26

Temperate Grassland/ Cold Desert

Answer 26

lowest average annual precipitation of any temperate biome

Question 27

Tropical Rainforests

Answer 27

biome is warm and wet, with little seasonal temperature variation

Question 28

Tropical Seasonal Forests and Savannas

Answer 28

marked by warm temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons

Question 29

Subtropical Deserts

Answer 29

at roughly 30 degrees N and S, hot temperatures, extremely dry conditions, and sparse vegetation prevail

Question 30

Subtropical Deserts

Answer 30

at roughly 30 degrees N and S, hot temperatures, extremely dry conditions, and sparse vegetation prevail

Question 31

Littoral Zone

Answer 31

the shallow area of soil and water near the shore where algae and emergent plants such as cattails grow

Question 32

Limnetic Zone

Answer 32

open water

Question 33

Phytoplankton

Answer 33

floating algae - the only photosynthetic organisms

Question 34

Profundal Zone

Answer 34

a region of water below the limnetic zone

Question 35

Benthic Zone

Answer 35

the muddy bottom of a lake or pond beneath the limentic and profundal zones

Question 36

Freshwater Wetlands

Answer 36

aquatic biomes that are submerged or saturated by water for at least part of each year, but shallow enough to support emergent vegetation throughout

Question 37

Salt Marshes

Answer 37

found along the coast in temperate climates - contain nonwoody emergent vegetation

Question 38

Mangrove Swamps

Answer 38

occur along tropical and subtropical coasts - contain trees whose roots are submerged in water

Question 39

Intertidal Zone

Answer 39

the narrowband of coastline that exists between the levels of high tide and low tide

Question 40

Coral Reefs

Answer 40

found in warm, shallow waters beyond the shoreline - represent Earth’s most diverse marine biome

Question 41

Coral Bleaching

Answer 41

a phenomenon in which the algae inside the corals die

Question 42

Photic Zone

Answer 42

the upper layer of water that receives enough sunlight to allow photosynthesis

Question 43

Aphotic Zone

Answer 43

the deeper layer of water that lacks sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis

Question 44

Chemosynthesis

Answer 44

Some species of bacteria have the ability to use the energy contained in bonds of methane and hydrogen sulfide to generate energy