Climate proxies and vegetation zones

Question 1

define proxy records

Answer 1

any line of evidence that provides an indirect measure of former climate and environments

Question 2

what is the principal of uniformitarianism

Answer 2

‘present is key to the past’

we have to assume geological processes observed at present have been occurring in same ways in the past

further we go back in time its harder to apply principal

Question 3

give example of 2 places that link to idea of uniformitarianism

Answer 3

Antarctica 25 million yrs ago is newzealand in present day - same climate /rain

similar leaf litter - proxy

Question 4

name 3 sources of proxy data

Answer 4

glaciology - ice cores - the proxy is what we measure in the ice core eg gases/ air bubbles

biological - tree rings - preserved layers

geological - oxygen isotopes or terrestrial - scatrches on rock indictae glacier

Question 5

where can we get proxys from?

Answer 5

ice core

sediment core

ocean drilling

Question 6

what does pollen do

Answer 6

carries male sex cells of flowering plannts (angiosperms) and cone producing plants (gymnosperms)

pollen distributed by wind or animals

pollen goes to female flower and fertilised egg whcih becomes a seed and produces plant

Question 7

why does pollen work for proxy record

Answer 7

distinct morphology - shape/size etc
“pollen and spores; natures finger prints of plants”

each location produces unique pollen so specific it can be used to identify a characterics of place

Question 8

what is the phsyiognomic approach

Answer 8

based on plant archetetcture constarined by env conditons eg temp/rainfall eg cacti

Question 9

define biome

Answer 9

worlds communities classified according to vegetation and adaptations of orgaism to the env

Question 10

idea of modern vs natural veg

Answer 10

modern is us today and human infulnces over land directly and indirectly so higher co2 conc and higher temps

natural - in past we didnt have higher co2 or warmer temps, less eroded soil less technology so would be very different

Question 11

taiga/boreal forest

Answer 11

D climate
average >10 degrees
conifers larch pine

Question 12

tropical rainfofrest

Answer 12

25 degrees constant
2000mm rain yr

high biodivesity

competition for light

brazil

Question 13

tropical savanna

Answer 13

semi arid- semi humid

150-1150mm rain

AW climate

grassland with trees shurbs
comp for water
more water - mor trees
less water - more shrubs

africa/india

Question 14

tropical climate zone

Answer 14

tropics of cancer at 23.5 degrees
brazil

all months above 18 degrres

can be rainforst/ decidous / savanna

Question 15

west african veg

Answer 15

all different eg sahel, sudainian, rainforest

this is due to intertropical covergence zone which controls rain

Question 16

what is the intertropical convergence zone

Answer 16

low presuusre

circumpolar equitorial band of clouds

convergence of winds

moves in seasonal cycling following zenith point

Question 17

temperate decidious forest

Answer 17

moderlate climate

growing seaosn 140-200 days during frost free months

C climate

maple chestnut

uk

Question 18

xerophytic desert shurbland

Answer 18

arid - evaporation over precipitation

150 mm rain

B climate

perennial veg thats survived 2 years semi desert

sahel

Question 19

Tundra

Answer 19

permafrost

growign season 50-60 days

winter -34
summer 3-10 degrees

E climate
low shurbs mosses grasses

tree growth hindered by low temps