Chapter 6 - Global Systems

Question 1

Atmosphere

Answer 1

The layers of gases surrounding the planet

Question 2

Biosphere

Answer 2

All living things on earth

Question 3

Biodiversity

Answer 3

The variety of ecosystems in the biosphere, the variety of species within those ecosystems and the genetic variation within those species

Question 4

Carbon Cycle

Answer 4

The process by which carbon is recycled

Question 5

Climate

Answer 5

The long term average of weather conditions

Question 6

El Niño

Answer 6

An extreme of the southern oscillation that causes drought in parts of Australia

Question 7

Fossil Fuels

Answer 7

Fuels that contain the carbon of plants and animals that died and were preserved millions of years ago

Question 8

Greenhouse Effect

Answer 8

The warming of earth caused by greenhouse gases

Question 9

Hydrosphere

Answer 9

All the liquid water on the earth’s surface

Question 10

Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)

Answer 10

A variable and irregular cycle of warming and cooling of waters in the equatorial area of the Indian Ocean

Question 11

La Niña

Answer 11

An extreme of the southern oscillation that causes significant rainfall in parts of Australia

Question 12

Leguminous Plants

Answer 12

Plants that can take nitrogen from the air and fix it in their tissues

Question 13

Lithosphere

Answer 13

The land masses on earth

Question 14

Nitrogen Cycle

Answer 14

The process by which nitrogen cycles between the living and non-living environments

Question 15

Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria

Answer 15

Bacteria that absorb nitrogen from the air and convert it into ammonia and then into nitrates

Question 16

Permafrost

Answer 16

Areas on earth where the temperature in layers of soil or rock beneath the surface never rises above freezing point

Question 17

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Answer 17

A measure of the southern oscillation calculated using the difference in air pressure between Tahiti and Darwin

Question 18

Sustainable Ecosystems

Answer 18

Ecosystems that are diverse and provide for the needs of the organisms that live there

Question 19

Thermohaline Circulation/ Global Conveyor Belt

Answer 19

A continuous circulation of water that can be tracked around the whole earth

Question 20

Weather

Answer 20

The conditions in the atmosphere

Question 21

Dentrifying Bacteria

Answer 21

Bacteria that convert nitrates back into gaseous nitrogen (N2), which is then released back into the atmosphere

Question 22

Fossils

Answer 22

The preserved remains of once-living organisms

Question 23

Climate Change

Answer 23

Change to the averages of aspects of climate that persists for decades or longer

Question 24

Global Warming

Answer 24

A time when the average world temperature is increasing

Question 25

Greenhouse Gases

Answer 25

Gases that trap heat close to the earth’s surface

Question 26

Gyers

Answer 26

The circular pattern shown by the weather currents in the major ocean basins

Question 27

Interglacials

Answer 27

Periods between glaciations

Question 28

Ocean currents

Answer 28

Continuous movements of ocean water

Question 29

Southern Oscillation

Answer 29

A sequence of changes to the atmosphere and ocean circulation across the Pacific Ocean and Indonesian Islands

Question 30

Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

Answer 30

An increase in the natural greenhouse effect caused by human activity