Lecture 2 - The Tropics Tropical Farming Systems Flashcards

1
Q

where are the topics located on the earths surface

A

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

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2
Q

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

A

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

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3
Q

why is ag productivity so low in the tropics

A

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

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4
Q

at what degree is the earths axis rotated

A

66.5

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5
Q

parallelism of the axis

A

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

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6
Q

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

A

geometrical

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7
Q

revolution

A

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

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8
Q

average distance of the sun to the earth

A

93 million miles away

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9
Q

the time to travel 1 orbit around the sun

A

1 year

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10
Q

how many rotations of the earth are there in a year

A

365.25

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11
Q

climate determinants

A

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

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12
Q

factors determining the distribution of energy

A
  1. the intensity of solar radiation
  2. duration of solar energy
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13
Q

oblique rays deliver less energy because

A
  1. there energy is spread over a large surface
  2. they pass through a thick layer of absorbing atmosphere
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14
Q

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

A

lower

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15
Q

what are some main characteristics of the temperature in the tropics

A

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

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16
Q

how are trade winds created

A

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

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17
Q

where is the ITC

A

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

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18
Q

What does the ITCZ stand for

A

intertropical convergence zone

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19
Q

location of hot dry deserts and semi deserts

A

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

20
Q

soils of hot dry deserts and semi deserts

A

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

21
Q

how much rain does the hot dry desert and semi deserts

A

less than 250mm rain

22
Q

location of semi-arid shrubland steppe

A

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

23
Q

soils of the semi-arid shrubland steppe

A

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

24
Q

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

A

some irrigated ag, ranching

25
Q

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

A

little ag practiced

26
Q

crops grown in the semi-arid shrubland steppe

A

sorghum, millet, cowpea, and pigeon pea

27
Q

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

A

goats and camels

28
Q

dry savanna wet seasons

A

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

29
Q

wet savanna wet seasons

A

2 wet seasons

30
Q

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

A

rainfed and irrigated ag, grazing, perennial crops with irrigation

31
Q

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

A

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

32
Q

location of sub humid wet savanna

A

thialand, ghana, northern brazil

33
Q

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

A

7-9 humid months, 800-2000mm

34
Q

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

A

major ag land

35
Q

crops grown in the sub humid wet savanna

A

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

36
Q

location of the tropical forests

A

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

37
Q

precipitation in the rain forest

A

2000-3000mm; continuously wet

38
Q

precipitation in the seasonal forest (monsoon climate)

A

short dry season, 1000-2000 mm

39
Q

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

A

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

40
Q

agriculture potential of forests

A

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

41
Q

crops grown in tropical forests (perennials and annuals)

A

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

42
Q

location of swamp formations

A

Borneo, Sumatra, Malaysia, Guyana

42
Q

soils of swamp formation

A

histosols soils
drained for use, may be too acid

43
Q

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

A

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

44
Q

crops grown in tropical highlands

A

subtropical to temperate crops like tea and coffee and potatoes