Climate and Natural Vegetation Flashcards
How does latitude influence temperature in the hot desert
Further away from the equator = colder as further away from the sun’s rays.
Deserts generally between 10° and 30° from the equator.
More concentrated energy from the sun hat equator
How does altitude influence temperature in the hot desert
The higher the altitude, colder it gets as the air is thinner.
Lower down, air is compact so it retains heat.
Top air is less dense so it can’t retain heat
Every 100m up, it gets 1°C cooler
How does distance from the sea influence temperature in the hot desert
Water heats up and cools down slower than the land
Warmer by the sea at night, cooler by day.
Gulf stream
Water takes longer to loose or gain heat than land
How do cold ocean currents influence the temperature in the hot desert
Cold ocean currents act like a conveyer belt
Transports cold water currents, mostly from poles to tropics, cooling it down.
If it goes onto the land, wind can bring down the temperature on the land, so it cools the desert down.
Cold currents
Cold air
Cold air holds little moisture
Dry deserts on the coast e.g Namibia, still very hot
How does a lack of cloud cover influence the temperature in the hot desert
No clouds = hot day + cold night
Deserts have few clouds
Big diurnal temperature range
How does aspect influence temperature in the hot desert
Aspect is the compass direction of a slope.
Not much effect on a desert.
In the Southern Hemisphere, dunes facing North will heat up more than dunes facing South.
How does atmosphere pressure influence precipitation in the hot desert
High pressure = fewer clouds + dry climate
Not humid so less rain
Large diurnal temperature range
Deserts have high pressure
How does cold ocean currents influence precipitation in the hot desert
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Cold ocean currents cool air above the ocean
When the winds blow on West coast of deserts, it is all cold air.
Air cools + condenses which causes fog
Condensation removes moisture from air
Cold air holds less moisture
How does relief influence participation in the hot desert
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Moist air from sea cools and condenses
Hills or dunes act as rain rainshadows
Air descends, warms, and become drier
How does temperature influence participation in the hot desert
Deserts are generally hot and dry as is the air
Very limited moisture in the air - very little evaporation occurs so very little precipitation occurs
If it does rain in the desert, heat means that storms are normally quite violent.
What is an ecosystem
It’s an area in which plants and animals live in their environment in balance and are interlinked with it.
What is a habitat
The ‘home’ of a plant or animal
What is leaching
The removal of nutrients and other minerals from the soil as rainwater washes the minerals downwards through the soil.
What is Humus
Soil material rich in nutrients due to the decomposition of animal and vegetable material
What is Biodiversity
The full range of plant and animal species that exist within an ecosystem
Give the nutrients cycle in tropical rainforests
Lots of fallen leaves | Leaves decay rapidly | Nutrients added to the soil | Soil retains it's fertility | Dense vegetation growth
Where are most nutrients stored in the rainforest ecosystem
Trees/vegetation
Why is nutrient recycling so important in the tropical rainforest
So that new trees will constantly grow for ever, if there are no influencing activities.
No resting period (no seasons)
Not enough nutrients to support any new plants if the nutrients aren’t put back into the soil.
Soil in rainforests are generally quite poor.
