Climate Flashcards
What’s a climatic region
An area of the world that shares the same climate
What’re the 5 factors effecting climate
Latitude
Ocean currents
Prevailing winds
Altitude
Human activity
What is latitude
An areas distance from the equator
What’s the difference between weather and climate
Weather updates daily while climate is a collected average of weather of a long time
What’s the relationship between latitude and temperature
Sun rays are more concentrated near the equator whereas further from the equator they need to travel larger distances due to the sun being at a lower angle
How does altitude influence temperature
Increase in altitude leads to a decrease in temperature. Temp decreases by 1 degree per 100 meters in altitude
How does distance from the sea influence temp
Locations inland heat up faster in the summer and cool quicker in the winter since oceans heat and cool slower than land
How does aspect influence temp
In northern hemispheres the slopes facing south are warmer
What’re the characteristics of equatorial climates
- variable cloud cover
-reduced wind speed
-consistent high temperatures
-no seasons since its hot and wet all year round
-high humidity and rainfall
What’re the characteristics of hot desert climates
- irregular rainfall
-lack seasonal patterns
-hot days and cold nights
-only have summer and winter
-warm and dry winds which can cause sandstorms
Where are rainforests most commonly located
Near equator,usuallly in South America(named country),between the 2 tropics
What’re the characteristics of equatorial climates
They receive lots of sunshine are humid and rain all year round
Whatre the 3 layers in the rainforest
Emergent,canopy,under canopy,shrub level
Whatre the characteristics of emergent layer in rainforests
Tall trees with lots of sunshine. Epiphytes grow on top to get light and Lilian’s hand on trees to reach sunlight.
Whatre the characteristics of canopy layer in rainforests
Steady tree height,leaves shed water by having top is that direct water in areas.
Whatre the characteristics of under canopy layer in rainforests
Medium height and younger trees. Less dense so they survive in less sunlight.
Whatre the characteristics of forest floor layer in rainforests
Low shrubs.lots of shade, only fungi grows there due to limited light
What are the characteristics of vegetation in rainforests
Large biodiversity,species adapted to darker conditions,trees are either adapted to remove or collect water.
What’re the characteristics of animals in the rainforest
Some animals are arboreal (live within the trees and dont come down),highly camouflaged and can evolve to look scarier and bigger than they are.
Whatre the characteristics of soil in the rainforest
-deepest and most productive out of the ecosystems.
- lots of iron and usually infertile (increases in volcanic and flood plain areas)
-easily disrupted nutrient cycle.
What are the impacts of deforestation
- reduced biodiversity
-interception decreases which decreases evotranspiration which leads to precipitation decreasing - increased overland flow which leads to soil erosion
-sediment buildup in river beds which reduces capacity
-more co2 in atmosphere which increases the greenhouse effect
Where the majority of nurtrients in the tropic rainforest stored and what happens when its removed
In biomass, when removed the main nutrient store is removed
Whatre the social impacts of deforestation
-communities have less land to sustain traditional ways so land doesn’t recover and less food is grown
- improved quality of life due to improved income and job
-loss of culture and tradition since communicates will give up their ways of life
-risk of landslides which can destroy homes
-increased risk of flooding settlements
Whatre the economic impacts of deforestation
-more jobs avalible in agriculture and mining
-increased income since you can export the goods made
