Lecture 2 - The Tropics Tropical Farming Systems

Question 1

where are the topics located on the earths surface

Answer 1

between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5 N of the equator) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 S of the equator)

Question 2

what percentage of the earths and ocean surface does the tropics represent

Answer 2

36% of the earth’s surface
20% of the land surface
43% of ocean surface

Question 3

why is ag productivity so low in the tropics

Answer 3

no winter so crops are grown all year with no breaks. This causes increase in pests and disease problems

Question 4

at what degree is the earths axis rotated

Answer 4

66.5

Question 5

parallelism of the axis

Answer 5

the angle of inclination of the earth’s axis is constant

Question 6

the _______ relationship between the earth and sun is responsible for the earths climate

Answer 6

geometrical

Question 7

revolution

Answer 7

is the movement of the earth in an elliptical orbit around the sun

Question 8

average distance of the sun to the earth

Answer 8

93 million miles away

Question 9

the time to travel 1 orbit around the sun

Answer 9

1 year

Question 10

how many rotations of the earth are there in a year

Answer 10

365.25

Question 11

climate determinants

Answer 11

solar radiation
surface receiving solar radiation
earth’s rotation
land/sea configuration and topography

Question 12

factors determining the distribution of energy

Answer 12

1. the intensity of solar radiation
2. duration of solar energy

Question 13

oblique rays deliver less energy because

Answer 13

1. there energy is spread over a large surface
2. they pass through a thick layer of absorbing atmosphere

Question 14

is there higher or lower temperature variation the closer you get to the equator

Answer 14

lower

Question 15

what are some main characteristics of the temperature in the tropics

Answer 15

little annual variation
daily range typically higher than monthly mean
cooler temp at higher altitudes
warmer temp in continental interiors

Question 16

how are trade winds created

Answer 16

high solar input heats up the air, causing it to rise. that creates a low pressure area and causes air flow from the higher pressure zone at higher latitude

Question 17

where is the ITC

Answer 17

slightly to the north of the equator and moves with the second path of the sum

Question 18

What does the ITCZ stand for

Answer 18

intertropical convergence zone

Question 19

location of hot dry deserts and semi deserts

Answer 19

sahara, large parts of egypt, libya, algeria, mauritania, central australian

Question 20

soils of hot dry deserts and semi deserts

Answer 20

Aridisols soils
- may have problems with salt accumulation
- generally alkaline
- can be fertile if irrigated

Question 21

how much rain does the hot dry desert and semi deserts

Answer 21

less than 250mm rain

Question 22

location of semi-arid shrubland steppe

Answer 22

southern border of Sahara desert, west, southern mexico, australia

Question 23

soils of the semi-arid shrubland steppe

Answer 23

aridisols soil
-may have a problem with salt accumulation
-generally alkaline
-can be fertile if irrigate

Question 24

what ag practices are done on semi-arid shrubland steppe land, if any

Answer 24

some irrigated ag, ranching

Question 25

what ag practices are done on hot dry deserts and semi deserts land, if any

Answer 25

little ag practiced

Question 26

crops grown in the semi-arid shrubland steppe

Answer 26

sorghum, millet, cowpea, and pigeon pea

Question 27

what are the most traded animals on the livestock market in the tropics

Answer 27

goats and camels

Question 28

dry savanna wet seasons

Answer 28

2 wet seasons - short wet season and long wet season (monsoon

Question 29

wet savanna wet seasons

Answer 29

2 wet seasons

Question 30

what ag practices are done on dry savanna lands, if any

Answer 30

rainfed and irrigated ag, grazing, perennial crops with irrigation

Question 31

what crops are grown in the dry savanna (annual and perennial)

Answer 31

annual - sorghum, sweet potatoes, common beans, and cowpea perennial - sisal, cashew, tea, groundnuts, cotton, sorghum, millet, maize, rice

Question 32

location of sub humid wet savanna

Answer 32

thialand, ghana, northern brazil

Question 33

how many months of humidity and precipitation does the sub himid wet savanna get

Answer 33

7-9 humid months, 800-2000mm

Question 34

what ag practices are done on sub humid wet savanna land, if any

Answer 34

major ag land

Question 35

crops grown in the sub humid wet savanna

Answer 35

coffee, tea, bananas, sugarcane, cacao, pineapple, sweet potato, cassava, sorghum

Question 36

location of the tropical forests

Answer 36

amazon basin, congo basin, SE asia, close to the equator

Question 37

precipitation in the rain forest

Answer 37

2000-3000mm; continuously wet

Question 38

precipitation in the seasonal forest (monsoon climate)

Answer 38

short dry season, 1000-2000 mm

Question 39

what ag practices are done on lowland tropical forests, if any

Answer 39

very little, as the soil is poor and it is difficult to clear land very intensive

Question 40

agriculture potential of forests

Answer 40

moisture - good, well-distributed amount soil - poor fertility, usually well drained elevation - lower yields than lowland, cooler=slower growth

Question 41

crops grown in tropical forests (perennials and annuals)

Answer 41

perennials - oil palm, cacao, coconut, banana, coffee annuals - cassava, yams, sweet potatoes

Question 42

location of swamp formations

Answer 42

Borneo, Sumatra, Malaysia, Guyana

Question 42

soils of swamp formation

Answer 42

histosols soils drained for use, may be too acid

Question 43

crops grown in swamp formations (deep peat and moderate peat)

Answer 43

deep peat: pineapple moderate peat: oil plam, coconut, coffee, cacao

Question 44

crops grown in tropical highlands

Answer 44

subtropical to temperate crops like tea and coffee and potatoes