Lecture 3: Prairie Ecological Zone

Question 1

Impact of the Rockies

Answer 1

Prevent moisture from getting far past the mountains forming a rain shadow

Question 2

rain shadow

Answer 2

the moisture that is able to get past, making places past it more dry

Question 3

What are ecological classifications dependent on

Answer 3

average temperature and precipitation

Question 4

Average temp and precipitation in the prairies

Answer 4

temp: 1.5-5 C
precipitation: 300mm

Question 5

How do the winds affect the crops

Answer 5

it determines weather and temp patterns

Question 6

What can Chinooks do to crops

Answer 6

it can melt the snow meant to protect the crops which leaves the plants exposed

Question 7

How does frost affect agriculture?

Answer 7

it determines length of the growing season

Question 8

what does rainfall Anomaly Index measure

Answer 8

precipitation only

Question 9

what does palmer drought index measure

Answer 9

precipitation, temp, evapotranspiration, soil water capacity, weighted towards moisture state of previous month

Question 10

What does deciles measure

Answer 10

statistical distribution of precipitation totals

Question 11

How is the world meteorological organizations integrated drought management program measured

Answer 11

50 indices (measure drought in different ways)

Question 12

Impact of climate change

Answer 12

the temp is increasing, which alters moisture availability and increase heat stress and alter what crops can be grown
also could increase growing season

Question 13

what are some of the abiotic factors that limit production in the Canadian prairies

Answer 13

drought, moisture, wind, temp (frost/heat)