Chapter 7 + 8

Question 1

What factors influence an areas climate?

Answer 1

• incoming solar energy
• earth’s rotation
• global patterns of air and water
• gases in atmosphere
• earth’s surface features

Question 2

Weather

Answer 2

set of physical conditions in the lower atmosphere over hours or days. includes: temp, precipitation, humidity, wind speed, cloud cover.

Question 3

Climate

Answer 3

general pattern of atmospheric conditions in an area from at least 3 decades to over thousand years.
(sum of weather conditions averaged over a long period of time)

Question 4

ocean currents

Answer 4

mass movements on the surface water driven by winds blowing over ocean

Question 5

Three major factors that affect the circulation of air in L.A.

Answer 5

1. uneven heating due to sun
2. rotation of earth on its axis
3. properties of air, water and land

Question 6

the earth major ocean currents help to..

Answer 6

redistribute heat from the sun, influencing climate and vegetation

Question 7

Desert

Answer 7

• soil is low in organic material but high in mineral content
• drastic temp changes over 24 hours
• tropical, temprate and cold

Question 8

Attic tundra

Answer 8

• low fertility soil
• permafrost
• low species richness
• 10-25cm of rainfall
• cold winters, short summers

Question 9

Taiga/ Boreal forest

Answer 9

• acidic soil, few minerals
• patchy permafrost
• 50cm of precipitation
• cold winters
• south of tundra

Question 10

Temperate rain forest

Answer 10

• nutrient rich soil from decaying needles
• acidic soil
• evergreens
• 125cm of precip
• mild winters, cool summers

Question 11

Deciduous forest

Answer 11

• rich top soil, clay rich lower layer
• trees shed annually
• 75-150cm precip
• hot summers, cold winters

Question 12

temerate grass land

Answer 12

• thin soil, not fertile
• fire resistant plants
• lots of precipitation
• usually converted to farmland
• mild winter, abundant rain
• Mediterranean climate

Question 13

Savanna

Answer 13

• soil, nutrients, and minerals filtered from top soil
• grasses and trees resistant to fire
• hooved and migratory animals
• seasonal temperatures
• 75-150cm precip

Question 14

tropical rainforest

Answer 14

• poorest soil of all biomes because plants take it up so quickly
• highest species richness
• 3 layers
• daily rain, 100-400 in annually
• 77-88% humidity, 70-85 degrees year round
• no winters

Question 15

biomes change with…

Answer 15

climate. they cannot be fixed.