Chapter 59-The Biosphere

Question 1

Northern Hemisphere winds

Answer 1

counterclockwise, winds curve to the right of their direction of motion (coriolis effect)

Question 2

Southern Hemisphere winds

Answer 2

clockwise, winds curve to the left, blow westward as well as towards the equator

Question 3

elevation

Answer 3

air temperatures fall 6 degrees C for every 1000m increase elevation

Question 4

Biome

Answer 4

major type of ecosystem on land
-defined largely bby sets of regional climatic conditions, climate conditions determine plants and microorganisms, these determine animal life

Question 5

Tropical rain forests

Answer 5

richest ecosystems on land

-1200 species of butterflies in single square mile

Question 6

savanna

Answer 6

-tropical or subtropical grasslands
seregeti of east africa
-transition btwn rain forests and deserts

Question 7

deserts

Answer 7

• unpredictable rainfall

- vegetation sparse, animals adapted to little water availability

Question 8

termperate grasslands or prairies

Answer 8

• rich soils
• grasses with roots that penetrate deep into soil
• north america
• periodic fire
• grazing animals

Question 9

Deciduous forests

Answer 9

• mild but seasonal climates

- temperate evergreen forests

Question 10

Taiga

Answer 10

• think russia
• conifers, bears
• stretch in unbroken circles around globe

Question 11

tundra

Answer 11

• permafrost, moss
• little life
• stretch in unbroken circles around globe

Question 12

Photic zone

Answer 12

area where light penetrates and photosynthesis is possible in freshwater

Question 13

littoral zone

Answer 13

shallows at edge of lake

Question 14

aphotic zone

Answer 14

below light penetration level

Question 15

thermal stratification

Answer 15

warm water is less dense than cold water and tends to float on top, layering is stratification

Question 16

thermocline

Answer 16

-transition layer between warm and cold waters

Question 17

fall overturn

Answer 17

-wind forcing layers of water to mix

Question 18

average depth of ocean

Answer 18

4000-5000 m deep

Question 19

trenches are how deep

Answer 19

11000 m

Question 20

principle primary producer in ocean

Answer 20

phytoplankton

Question 21

open ocean productivity

Answer 21

low

Question 22

oligotrophic ocean

Answer 22

low nutrient levels, biological deserts

Question 23

neritic waters

Answer 23

waters over the continental shelves

• high concentrations of nitrates and other nutrients
• 99% of ocean food supply comes from neritic waters

Question 24

Estuaries

Answer 24

shelf ecosystems where fresh water from streams mix with ocean water

Question 25

intertidal habitat

Answer 25

area that is exposed to air at low tide but is under water at high tide

Question 26

salt marshes

Answer 26

in intertidal zone

Question 27

banks and coral reefs

Answer 27

• banks=fishing grounds on shelves
• coral reefs occur in subtropical and tropical latitudes
• -defined by stony corals

Question 28

deep sea

Answer 28

seasonless, 2-5 degrees celcius

-food originates from photosynthesis in sunlit waters

Question 29

hydrothermal vent sommunities

Answer 29

large bodied animals

• depend on sulfur oxidizing bacteria
• high temperature