Climate, Climate and Vegetation

Question 1

Vegetation Zonation

Answer 1

Changes in vegetation across an enviornmental gradient due to changes in latitude and altitude which subsequently change temperature and pressure

Question 2

Biome

Answer 2

An ecological community extending over a large region that is dominated by plants of similar forms

Question 3

What three factors influence vegetation zonation

Answer 3

1. Temperature
2. Water avaliability
3. Soil type

Question 4

What is the main limitation of biome classification?

Answer 4

Using a classifcation that preserves a biome’s diversity but is still able to accurately and precisely quantify it

Question 5

What four atmospheric elements does vegetation influnece?

Answer 5

1. Atmospheric gases
2. Water avaliability at the surface
3. Surface albedo (less reflection)
4. Dust

Question 6

Palynology

Answer 6

The study of plant pollen in both living and fossil form

Question 7

Why is palynology important for studying climatology?

Answer 7

Fossilised pollen that has been preserved in wet environments can be used to infer the vegetation (and therefore climate) of a particular region. Such studies can illustrate the varying types of vegetation and biomes present at a given time

Question 8

Tree rings

Answer 8

A layer of annual growth within a tree trunk that reflects the growing condtions of a particular time (thicker rings indicate better growing conditions)

Question 9

What three elemets of climatolgy do tree rings reflect?

Answer 9

1. Temperature
2. Solar radiation
3. General growing conditions

Question 10

How can tree rings be used to create proxy climate data/climate reconstruction?

Answer 10

Growing conditions within certain regions can be measured over several centuries to infer biome-type and climate