mock exam Flashcards
How has the climate changed during the Quaternary period
Fluctuated but more recently has increased and is now 1.2 degrees celsius above pre-industrial levels
what is the evidence for the climate changing during the quantinary period
Ice cores
Tree rings
Diaries
Old paintings of the Thames
What is the carbon cycle?
The transfer of carbon between the atmosphere and biosphere via the natural processes of photosynthesis and respiration.
Humans also add to this cycle by burning fossil fuels in cars, power stations etc.
What is the greenhouse effect?
Shortwave radiation heats the surface of the earth
The earth then radiates this heat out as longwave radiation
Some of this heat is trapped by a layer of greenhouse gases e.g. carbon dioxide.
Some of the heat escapes
What are the natural causes of climate change?
Orbital theory - the earth wobbles on its axis and is sometimes closer to the sun
Volcanic theory - ash blocks out sun reducing heat
Sunspot theory - areas of intense activity
What are the human causes of climate change?
Burning of fossil fuels in power stations and cars
Methane from cows
How does global circulation create areas of low and high pressure?
Over the Equator intense heat causes the air to evaporate and rise at the ITCZ
As it rises, it cools and condenses creating an area of low pressure
It then rains over the Equator
The air then moves north and south and sinks due to it being cold
It sinks over the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn
As it sinks it warms up, therefore condensation does not take place, and therefore there are no clouds.
This creates an area of high pressure
What is the distribution of areas affected by hurricanes/cyclones and how does this change over time?
They are found over the Equator
They move west and in the northern hemisphere they turn to the right and in the southern hemisphere they turn to the left
This is due to the Coriolis effect - the spinning of the earth
What are the causes and consequences for people, environment and economy of one located low pressure hazard?
Cyclone Pam
-Category 5 storm, wind speeds up to 155mph, peaking at 168mph
-11 people did
-90,000 made homeless
-80% of subsistence crops destroyed
-Coastal areas flooded
What are the responses to one located low pressure hazard?
-Emergency aid sent by Australia, Fiji, France, New Zealand and UK
-Repairs provided safe drinking water
-Blankets distributed
-153 temporary schools set up
-Foreign medical teams arrived
What is the location of areas affected by heatwaves and droughts
Along the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn
What is the location of areas affected by heatwaves and droughts and how does this vary over time?
he position of the Jet Stream determines where these droughts take place
It pushes the rains, particularly in the winter over California however in recent years this has not been happening.
What are the causes for people, environment and economy of one located high pressure hazard?
california drought
Causes
Low winter rainfall and not much in summer
High pressure remained stationary over California
2012-2015 - low air pressure pushed away due to jet stream
What are the consequences for people, environment and economy of one located high pressure hazard?
california drought
Consequences
Low river levels meant no hydroelectric power
Crop failure led to shortages and price rises
17,000 agricultural jobs lost
Salmon and trout died as river levels fell
Groundwater not recharged
What are the responses to one located high pressure hazard?
california drought
Compulsory water restrictions including ban on watering gardens/cars
Toilets, washing machines etc must use low water technologies
Reduction in electricity produced by hydroelectricity
Investment into desalination plants
Growing crops that don’t need so much water
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather is day to day changes in the atmosphere
Climate is the average conditions over a longer period of time normally 30 years.
How does climate vary in the UK?
The North of the UK is colder then the south
The West of the UK is wetter than the East.
factors that affect temperature and rainfall in the UK
lattitude
altitude
aspect
ocean currents
what is latitude
the earth’s rays are more concentrated the closer you are to the Equator therefore the warmer it is the further south you go.
what is altitude
the air is heated by heat radiated from the earth’s surface, therefore the higher you go the further you get from the heat source
what is aspect
north facing slopes are in the shade
what do ocean currents do in the uk
the Gulf Stream brings warmth and moisture to UK
What are the differences between depressions and anticyclones?
Depressions are areas of low pressure, rainfall and cloud. They tend to have stronger winds blowing anti-clockwise
Anticyclones are areas of high pressure, clear skies and sunshine, with calm conditions and winds blowing clockwise. In the summer they bring high temperatures but in the winter they can bring very cold weather, frost and fog.
How do air masses affect the UK?
Tropical Maritime - brings warm and wet weather to the UK
Tropical Continental - brings warms and dry weather to the UK
Polar Maritime - brings cold and wet weather to the UK
Arctic Maritime - brings cold and wet weather to the UK
Polar Continental - brings cold and dry weather to the UK
what are the types of air masses
tropical maritime
tropical continental
polar maritime
arctic maritime
polar continetal
- What factors affect microclimate?
This is climate on a small scale
Urban heat islands tend to be warmer
The heat is trapped between the buildings
Darker surfaces absorb the heat making it warmer
Central heating systems warm the surrounding area
. Describe the distribution of biomes and their relationship with climate
Biomes are ecosystems found on a large scale
An ecosystem is where living and nonliving things interact in their natural environment
They are found in a linear pattern around the world
They are determined by rainfall and temperature
Describe the location and features of the tropical rainforest to include climate
Found on the Equator
2000mm rainfall and temperatures above 25 degrees celsius
Divided into 4 layers, emergents, canopy, under-canopy and shrub layer
Leaves have drip trips
Lianas hang between trees
Epiphytes grow on branches of trees
Buttress roots support trees
what is the water cycle
the transfer of water via precipitation, evaporation and condensation
what is the nutrient cycle
the transfer of nutrients via dead organic matter which decomposes and returns nutrients to the soil which are then taken up by the plants again. Animals eat the plants transferring the nutrients.
what is the food web
sun produces energy, plants (producers) convert this into glucose, primary consumers (herbivores) eat the plant, secondary consumers (carnivores) eat the primary consumers etc
How does human activity affect the tropical rainforest on a local scale
Local
Nutrients come from the plants (about 80%)
The leaves rapidly decompose because it is hot and wet
These are then taken up by the plant roots
The soil is not very fertile
Once you chop down the trees the cycle is interrupted and the soil becomes infertile, also due to leaching
How does human activity affect the tropical rainforest on a regional scale?
Regional
Precipitation is intercepted by the leaves, some of which evaporates
This slowly reaches the ground which allows for infiltration
The water is then taken up by the plants and is released through transpiration
Once the trees are cut down there is no interception, therefore the water reaches the ground at the same time and cannot infiltrate and therefore runs-off to the river.
Without the trees evapotranspiration cannot take place and therefore less precipitation
How does human activity affect the tropical rainforest on a global scale
Global
Trees absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and release oxygen
Once the trees are cut down carbon dioxide can no longer be absorbed therefore the amount of it increases
The forests are also cleared by burning which then releases even more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
How can the tropical rainforest be managed sustainably?
Talamanca, Costa Rica
Locals earning a living turning it into a small-scale tourist destination
Agroforestry – where different crops are planted amongst the trees e.g. bananas, cocoa
Seek out fallen trees
Use buffalo to remove them, therefore no roads
Timber is used to build tourist lodges
American pharmaceutical company Merck has been allowed to look for plants
Describe the location and features of the Savanna, to include climate
Between 5-15 degrees north and south of the Equator
22-28 degrees celsius
1000mm precipitation
Wet and dry season
Grassland - elephant grass which is green and 3-4m high, in the dry season yellow.
describe the baobab tree
30m high and 7m diameter, shallow roots spread out, bark fire resistant, few leaves, barrel-like trunk
describe the acacia tree
20m high and 2m diameter, broad, flat canopy, thorns, tap roots, small leaves with waxy skins.
What are the processes and relationships that link living and non-living parts together in the Savanna?
Water cycle - dry season no precipitation high levels of evaporation, wet season high rates of precipitation
Nutrient cycle - fewer nutrients than TRF due to fewer plants, thin humus layer, high rates of decomposition
How does human activity affect the Savanna on a local scale
Local
Desertification - degradation of the land and soil
Chemical fertilisers weakens the living organisms responsible for soil fertility,
regular ploughing dries out and compacts soil,
How does human activity affect the Savanna on a regional scale?
Regional
deforestation and over grazing strip soil of the vegetation that protects it from erosion without branches protecting it and roots supporting it, soil dries out and is carried away by wind and rain,
poorly managed irrigation can cause salinity, and climate change
Overabstraction of water from Lake Chad
How can the Savanna be managed sustainably?
Planting trees (slow down wind erosion),
Great Green Wall in Africa,
vegetation fences to anchor the soil,
farming without ploughing,
agroecology (sustainable farming that works with nature)
What is biodiversity
Biodiversity is the variety of different plants and animals.
how do ecosystems provide people with key services?
Timber for building
Medicines
Preventing soil erosion
Wildlife attracts tourists
Coastal defences e.g. sand dunes
LIfe on earth e.g. carbon cycle
How does human activity affect biodiversity, flows and cycles in one small scale ecosystem (sand dunes)?
Recreation - people are attracted to the dunes, but trample marram grass killing it, which means roots no longer hold the dune together, and a blow-out occurs
Economic - farmers use dunes for grazing animals which impacts the dunes with addition of fertilisers, soil compaction. Sand also removed for building.
Environmental - afforestation to prevent erosion has interrupted natural process. Introduction of rabbits preventing plant succession.
Management - fencing, boardwalks, signs etc trying to encourage people to stay off the dunes
What are the features of one located small scale ecosystem e.g. sand dunes?
Embryo dunes created around a piece of driftwood
Pioneer species colonise e.g. sea rocket
Marram grass with long tap roots colonise yellow dunes
Decaying plants add nutrients to soil becoming grey dunes
On the mature dune a wider range of plants leading to climax vegetation
How do people use one environment for energy production?
London Array
World’s largest offshore wind farm
40 square miles
175 turbines
Power for half a million homes
UK - 6th largest global producer
What are the potential impacts of this energy production on the environment and its ecosystems?
Construction temporarily displaces some fish and marine mammals
Tate up very small part of ocean
Fishing is limited so becomes a sanctuary
Valuable source of renewable energy
Birds migratory routes affected
Certain sharks hunting is disturbed due to transmission cables
Foundations become artificial reefs attracting plankton
Reduce the impact for people on the land
