land cover change Flashcards
what are anthropogenic biomes
are biomes that are the result of sustained direct human interactions with the ecosystem.
they are also referred to as human biomes or anthrones. major anthropogenic biomes include urban, rural or villages, croplands and rangelands
what is a land cover change
refers to the changes that have taken place in natural environments due to a variety of natural and/or human-induced causes
natural causes include natural disasters, such as cyclones, bushfires or tsunamis
human-induced causes include changing land cover for agriculture in urban areas or for industrial purposes such as mining or forestry
what are ecosystem structure and dynamics
an ecosystem is a community of plants and animals in a non-living environment. the ecosystem has a structure made up of biotic and abiotic elements, with a hierarchy of organisms.
the ecosystem is dynamic, that is there are relationships between biotic and abiotic elements, which includes the flow of energy between the elements
what is biodiversity loss
is the extinction of species (plant or animals) worldwide, and also the local reduction of loss of species in certain habitat.
what is climate change
is a long-term change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods of time that range from decades to millions of years.
it may be a change in the average weather conditions or a change in the distribution of weather events with respect to an average. for example, greater or fewer extreme weather events.
what is sustainability
is meeting the needs of current and future generations through simultaneous environmental, social and economic adaptation and improvement
in order for anthropogenic biomes to thrive within their surrounding natural environment, not at the expense of natural biomes, they must be sustainable.
what is a remote sensing
it is the science of obtaining information about objects or areas from a distance, typically from aircraft or satellites
describe how remote sensing can be used to identify and measure land cover change
the location of land cover change can be examined at a range of scales, from local, and regional to global. the type refers to the category of landcover change occurring, processes such as deforestation or the expansion of agriculture are examples of the type of land cover change often studied and examined by geographers.
outline the impacts of world population growth on the type, rate and extent of land cover change
as the population becomes increasingly more affluent, there is an associated demand for more resources, including meat. the diets of people in more affluent countries tend to have higher rates of dairy and meat consumption, which then results in deforestation and the expansion and intensification of agriculture to cater for changing diets. currently, two-thirds of all croplands are used as food sources.
outline the impacts of advances in technology on the type, rate and extent of land cover change
since the industrial revolution, there have been significant technological innovations that have increased the rate of land cover change. one such example is the changes over time in machinery used to cut trees.
from hand saws to chainsaws to large efficient forest machines which have sped up the process of deforestation. it once took hours to cut one tree by hand but the whole forest can be cleared in the same time causing modern technology,.
what are earths four main components
lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and the biosphere
what are human forces which affect our planet
deforestation, agriculture , increasing levels of greenhouse gas emissions and urban land use have continued to create global land cover change
what is anthropogenic
the environmental change caused or influenced by people, either directly or indirectly
what is environment
environment means the living and non-living elements of the earth’s surface and atmosphere. it includes human changes to the earth’s surface.
for example croplands, planted forests, buildings and roads
what is a biome
a biome is a community of life forms adapted to a large natural area.
what is a natural biome?
natural biomes are those which have not had sustained direct human interactions.
what are 5 major types of biomes
aquatic , desert, forest, grassland and tundra
what are the sub-categories of biomes
freshwater, marine aquatic, tropical and temperate rainforests
what are different marine biomes
ocean, coral reefs and estuaries
what is climate influenced by
by latitude and abiotic factors, such as atmospheric processes (i.e heat and moisture), and geographic features (such as landforms)
what are anthropogenic biomes?
are biomes that are the result of sustained direct human interactions with ecosystems.
other names for anthropogenic biomes
human biomes, anthromes
what are major anthropogenic biomes
urban, rural, or villages, croplands and rangelands
what are the four key processes of land cover change?
deforestation
the expansion and intensification of agriculture
the growth of urban settlement
mining
what is an ecosystem
an ecosystem is a community of plants and animals in a non-living environment.
explain the ecosystem structure
the ecosystem has a structure made up of the biotic and abiotic elements, with a hierarchy of organisms, that is, trophic levels, which includes producers, consumers, and detritus (organic matter produced by the decomposition of organisms)
what are the four components an ecosystem is made up of
abiotic (non-living)
producers
consumers
decomposers
what is an abiotic (non living)
elements which consist of climatic features (such as sunlight and humidity), inorganic substances (such as water), and organic substances (such as protein)
what is a producer
as known as autotrophic organisms, convert solar energy into chemical energy which can be stored for later use
what is a consumer
known as heterotrophic organisms, are reliant on other organisms for nutrients and can be categorised into herbivores and carnivores
what is a decomposer?
are heterotrophic organisms that break down dead organic matter and waste matter, for example, fungi are decomposers
can biodiversity loss be caused by both natural and human processes
yes
what is an example of natural events that cause biodiversity loss
such as volcanic eruptions or fires, can change ecosystems and result in permanent biodiversity
what is an example of human-driven events that cause biodiversity loss?
largely been fuelled by the clearing of natural habitats for agriculture or urban uses
what effect does an increase in temperature have
including sea level rise, biodiversity loss and an increase in both the occurrence and strength of natural hazards
what are some strategies aimed at sustainability
protecting biodiversity, and natural waterways, reducing pollution in the atmosphere, improving the standard of living, services and amenities and ensuring economic viability and growth
what is the global forest land cover role
it is responsible for providing oxygen, absorbing carbon dioxide, regulating the earth’s temperature and weather patterns, and it provides habitat for up to 80 per cent of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity
what is deforestation
is the removal or clearing of forests generally for other uses, such as agriculture and urban development
what are the most common reasons for deforestation
are for agriculture, grazing, firewood and to make space for the expansion of urban areas
can deforestation be caused naturally
yes, through changes in the climate, such as spreading desert or desertification, and fires
what are the types of deforestation
include clear-cutting (removal of all the trees in an area if forest) and slash ad burn technique
what is slash and burn
where the forest are cut down and the vegetation is burned to create a field
