life on land Flashcards
why is the climatic variation across the earth
it is due to the sun’s uneven heating of the earth’s surface. CUases by the tilt of the axis, the earths sphere shape and the uneven rotation of the sun
what causes a change in seasons
the shifts in lattitude in proportion to the incoming radiation. higher latitudes receive the same amount of energy as lower lat, but it is spread over a larger SA.
at higher lat the summer days are long and hot while the winter days are short and cold.
at the equator, the day length and temp don’t vary much, but precipitation can vary due to the movement of air across the latitudes
what are cells
the resulting atmospheric conditions obtained through the movement of air inside a confined latitude.
it is a looping pattern to which the warm air rises and cool air will decent, displacing air at the bottom and the cycle continues
air can travel north or sound, relative tp the equator.
Ferrel cell vs Hadley cell
H= 0-30 lat
F= 30-60 lat
what type of air creates which climates
rising moist air= moist climate
descending dry= dry climates
how many circulatory cells are on each side of the equator? what are they?
Polar ferrel and hardley
what are soils
mixutred of living nd non living material of which terrestrial life depends on
what are the soil horizons?
LFH (humus/ organic layer)
A( some organinc matter and clay)
B (the deposite zone for minerals leached from the A zone. may form banding patters)
C(parent rock that has been weathered)
what are biomes
common division of land bases on specific climates and common plant speices within the area
what are the biomes found in the Canadian region
boreal forest
temperate grassland
woodland/ shrubland
tundra
temperate seasonal forest
Alpine
what is a transition zone
the area that joins 2 biomes together (an intermediate stage that encompasses both biome conditions) as the envrionemnt will change following a gadient
what is an ecotone
the transition state between 2 ecosystems or biomes. termed when there is an abuript change in the ecosys conditions
generally there will be more orgs in this area and in either of the adjacent ecosys
what is the edge effect
when there is a grater biodiversity in a transition state than there is in an adjacent ecosystem (in an ecotone)
what are the effects of human settlement
fragmentation of the environment
decrease food availability for orgs
alteration of climate
increased flood risk
what is a n agricultural ecosystem
the plot of land that has been altered to participate in mono-crop culture and is kept in a constant state of high primary productivity
in general, all. biodiversity is reduced
fertizilarese and chemicals are used which increase GHG and algal blooms
and the hydrilogical cycle of the area is disrupted often increasing flooding and drought risk
