M1 IQ2 Part 2 - Biophysical interactions

Question 1

what is the weather and climate in the equatorial region (atmosphere) (4)

Answer 1

• weather: heat, high humidity, heavy rainfall
• monotonous climate
• convection currents:develop daily thunderstorms
• annual rainfall 1500-2500 mm

Question 2

what role do haley cells play in the rainfall of the amazon

Answer 2

they cause the heated air along the equatorial region to rise creating a low pressure system (causing the amazons rainfall (allows easier evaporation/transpiration))

Question 3

how does the rainfall form from the low pressure system over the Amazon (equatorial region) (2)

Answer 3

• Convectional rainfall: forms from the transpiration of water( 50%) as well as evaporation, (hadley cells)
• Orographic rainfall: forms when moist air is swept to the Andes and cooled allowing for rain

Question 4

what determine the climatic variations of the amazon (4)

Answer 4

(D.O.L.L)

• Distance from the sea
• Ocean Currents
• Latitude
• Landform (mountains)

Question 5

draw an example of a hydrological process in the amazon and list some stats (4)

Answer 5

(The water cycle, see diagram to check)
The amazon river: 
- 6300 km long
- thousands of tributaries
-  mouth of the river is 300 km wide
- 11.3 billion L/min of water expelled

Question 6

what are geomorphic processes

Answer 6

how landforms are created

Question 7

list examples of geomorphic processes in the amazon (3)

Answer 7

• weathering and erosion: river erodes rock carrying sediment
• oxbow lakes: originally part of the river water flow to slow, soil settled creating a lake
• sedimentation: builds up near the mouth, creating braiding, water weaves into smaller channels to find the fastest route to sea

Question 8

what are the biogeographical processes occuring in the amazon

Answer 8

• Invasion
• Succession
• Modification
• resilience

Question 9

whats is invasion and what is an example of it in the amazon

Answer 9

• Invasion: the process of one type of animal/plant coming into an area and pushing another out
• Liana vines: they use the tree trunks to slither up to the canopy of water and sunlight preventing the tree from growing

Question 10

what is succession

Answer 10

• Succession: the process where a species of plant is replaced by another over time

Question 11

what is modification and what is an example of this in the amazon (2)

Answer 11

• Modification: a human initiated change of vegetation

- cattle ranching, soybean farming

Question 12

what is resilience and what is an example of this in the amazon

Answer 12

• Resilience: The environments ability to adapt/resist change
• The Amazon’s high species diversity gives it high inertia = high resistance to alteration. (Land clearing reduces resistance disrupts the nutrients cycle.)

Question 13

what stresses are the canopy subject to (2) and how has it adjusted to the natural stress (3)

Answer 13

• Stresses: Windy, harsh Sunlight
  Adaptations:
• Small leaves: reduce moisture loss through transpiration
• Light seeds: (kapok tree) allows seeds to be dispersed by the wind
• no trees interlocking: prevent infestation & disease spreading

Question 14

what stresses are the understory subject to (2) and how has it adjusted to the natural stress (2)

Answer 14

• Stresses: Little sunlight, heavy rainfall
  Adaptations:
• Large leaves: Increase sunlight absorption efficiency
• Drip-tip leaves: helps shed water, prevents growth of mosses & lichens

Question 15

what stresses are the Ground floor subject to (1) and how has it adjusted to the natural stress (1)

Answer 15

• Stresses: pour nutrients
  Adaptations:
• Buttress roots: spread out to increase uptake of soil & for tree stability

Question 16

What are some examples of animal adaptations in the Amazon (2)

Answer 16

• rainbow macaw: eat clay to buffer against the poisons found in the plants they eat
• Monkey: use tails, and ball socket limbs to swing between trees