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Geog Paper 3 > People and the Biosphere > Flashcards

People and the Biosphere Flashcards

1
Q

What is a biome?

A

A global scale ecosystem that exists throughout the world, categorised by similar environmental characteristics, like vegetation type and climate.

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2
Q

Where do biomes occur?

A

At latitudinal belts, meaning they are present across the world at similar latitudes

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3
Q

Why do similar biomes occur at similar latitudal points?

A

The climate across different latitudes is similar due to atmospheric circulation.
High pressure - dry
Low pressure - wet

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4
Q

What physical influences some variations in biome distribution?

A

Ocean currents
Winds
Land-sea temperature differences

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5
Q

What is an ecosystem?

A

All living/ non-living things in an area

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6
Q

Name some biomes

A

Tundra
Taiga
Temperate deciduous forest
Temperate grassland
Desert
Tropical rainforest
Savanna (tropical grassland)
Mediterranean

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7
Q

Where is the tundra biome located?

A

Far north in the Arctic Circle (to 60-70°N)
(not many in the southern hemisphere as there’s little land there)
e.g. Canada, North Russia, coastal Greenland

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8
Q

What are the characteristics of the tundra biome?

A

Extremely cold winters and short, mild summers
No trees - too cold and too dry
Low precipitation (~10-25cm/year)
Short growing season - lack of nutrients in soil and biodiversity
Migratory animals - move south in the winter
Soils are frozen permanently (permafrost)

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9
Q

Where is the taiga (coniferous/boreal forest) located?

A

Below tundra biome, between 50-70°N
e.g. North America, Russia, Scandinavia

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10
Q

What are the characteristics of taiga forests?

A

Coniferous forest - drought resistant cone shaped trees
Retain leaves year round to maximise photosynthesis, especially during short summers
Average rainfall (~50cm/yr) - more plants
Longer growing season - more plants
Small animals, migrating birds and wolves/bears/moose in the woods

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11
Q

Where is the temperate deciduous forest located?

A

40-50°N and S of the equator.
e.g. East US, Europe, UK, East Australia

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12
Q

What are the characteristics of temperate deciduous forests?

A

Deciduous vegetation - broad leaves that shed in the winter to retain moisture, including oak, maple and beech
Highly seasonal - cold winters and hot summers
Moderate precipitation - 75-150cm/yr
Deer, bears and small animals

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13
Q

Where is the temperate grassland located?

A

30-40°N and S of the equator, away from coastal areas
e.g. Central Europe, Asia and USA, some parts of South America

(Prairie - USA)
(Steppe - Europe/Siberia)
(Pampas - South America)

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14
Q

What are the characteristics of temperate grasslands?

A

Grasses is the dominant vegetation - due to periodic fires and precipitation being too low to support trees
Low precipitation (25-75cm/yr)
Hot summers, cold winters
Prairie dogs, bison (overhunted)

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15
Q

Where is the desert biome located?

A

30°N and S of the equator
e.g. Northern Africa, Australia, Eastern USA, Middle East

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16
Q

What are the characteristics of deserts?

A

Extremely low precipitation (<25cm/year)
Fluctuating temperature - well above 20°C at day and below 0°C at night
Low precipitation and poor nutrient soil (though high in salts) limit plant growth. Many cacti and sagebrush
Small animals - often nocturnal to regulate body temp.
(Cover 1/5 of the world’s surface)

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17
Q

Where are tropical rainforests located?

A

Near the equator
e.g. equatorial South America and South-East Asia

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18
Q

What are the characteristics of tropical rainforests?

A

Ecosystem is rich with species - >1/2 of the world’s species of flora and fauna
Warm, moist climate throughout the year with little variation - perfect for plant growth. Temp ~26°C
Extremely high precipitation (200-450cm/yr)
Quick nutrient cycle - nutrient poor soil but there is a thin layer of organic matter on top which makes plants very productive
Insects, reptiles, birds and amphibians

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19
Q

Where is the savanna (tropical grassland) located?

A

15-30°N and S (between desert and tropical rainforest)
e.g. India, Central Africa, Central South America

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20
Q

What are the characteristics of the savanna?

A

Little variation in temperature, stays in high 20°Cs
Seasonal precipitation, distinct wet and dry seasons, with winter being wetter (76-150cm/yr)
Dry seasons are prone to wildfires and the vegetation is adapted to this
Wide expanses of grass, ecosystem is often used for animal grazing (farming)
Common hoofed animals and herds as well as large predators like lions

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21
Q

Where is the Mediterranean located?

A

40-45°N (around temperate deciduous forests)

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22
Q

What are the characteristics of the Mediterranean?

A

Mild, moist winters and hot and dry summers (precipitation ~50cm/yr)
Frequent wildfires with adapted vegetation
Dense growth of shrubs and fruit trees
Diverse wildlife- foxes, pumas, tortoises and lizards

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23
Q

What influences the characteristics of biomes?

A

Climate - Precipitation, Temperature, Sunlight exposure etc.

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24
Q

How does precipitation influence biomes?

A

Forest biomes are found in areas of low pressure, and thus receive more rainfall, supporting plant life
Grasslands and deserts are in areas of high pressure, as precipitation there is too low for forested ecosystems

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25
Q

What influences the temperature of a biome?

A

The average temperature of a biome is impacted by the angle of sun

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26
Q

Where on Earth is sunlight most concentrated and how does this impact the biomes there?

A

The equator, making it very warm, causing plants to be more productive as it increases the rate of photosynthesis and, with enough rain, creates a tropical rainforest biome.

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27
Q

Where is sunlight the least concentrated and how does it impact the biomes there?

A

At higher latitudes - sunlight is more seasonal due to the tilt of the Earth, influencing the type of vegetation that can grow. At the poles, low temperatures, lack of light and low precipitation affect plant growth

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28
Q

Other than climate, what local factors can influence biome distribution?

A

Altitude
Rock and soil types
Drainage

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29
Q

How does altitude influence a biome?

A

Temperatures get colder with increasing height (1000m increase = 6.5°C decrease), they can reach below freezing and stay cold for weeks/months.
Precipitation increases with height, altering the vegetation and soil quality with different altitudes

30
Q

What is altitudinal zonation?

A

The changing of the ecosystem with changing altitude.
- vegetation is split into different zones based on elevation, these patterns can sometimes mirror patterns of latitude

31
Q

How do rock and soil type influence a biome?

A

When rocks are broken down by weathering, they release chemicals and nutrients into the soils, affecting the pH and fertility of the soil, influencing what types of plants can grow there.
The bedrock of an area also influences soil composition and grain size (e.g. clay soil or sandy soil), affecting thins like permeability and drainage.

32
Q

What is drainage?

A

How fast water enters and leaves the soil
- well drained soils do not retain excess water, whereas poorly drained soils can be left waterlogged

33
Q

How does drainage influence a biome?

A

Ecosystems are adapted to different drainage types - thus affecting the vegetation growing there

34
Q

What 5 factors affect drainage?

A

Topology and relief
Soil type
Amount of vegetation
Precipitation
Temperature

35
Q

Why and how do topology and relief affect drainage?

A

Some areas receive more water due to the shape of the land, like valleys
Steep gradient = more drainage
Gentle gradient = less drainage

36
Q

How does soil type affect drainage?

A

More permeable soils, like sandy soils, are better drained as it is easier for water to enter and leave, where as impermeable soils, like clay, retain water

37
Q

How does the amount of vegetation affect drainage?

A

Plants intercept water and store it, thus reducing drainage as there is less water to drain

38
Q

How does precipitation affect drainage?

A

More precipitation results in wetter soils, thus increases drainage

39
Q

What is a biotic component?

A

Referring to the living components in a biome

40
Q

What is an abiotic component?

A

Referring to the non-living components which have influence in a biome,

41
Q

What is an example of the interaction between biotic and abiotic components?

A

Plants (biotic) take in carbon dioxide (abiotic) from the atmosphere to grow. They are then consumed by herbivores (biotic).

42
Q

What is the biosphere?

A

The living layer of the Earth, between the atmosphere and the lithosphere, where plants and animals are found

43
Q

Why is the biosphere essential for life?

A

It provides the goods (physical materials) and services (processes neseccary for life)

44
Q

What are the essential goods offered by the biosphere?

A

Food and water
Energy resources
Materials (raw materials to be processed into medicine, building materials etc.)

45
Q

What are the essential services offered by the biosphere?

A

Atmospheric regulation (greenhouse effect, respiration)
Soil formation and nutrient cycling (the transfer of nutrients between plants and animals and soils, allowing growth and reproduction)
The hydrological cycle (movement and purification of water throughout the biosphere, necessary for drinking and sanitation)

46
Q

How are humans exploiting the biosphere?

A

They are taking resources (namely energy and water) to the point where they will cease to exist

47
Q

What are mineral resources?

A

Naturally occurring elements or compounds that we benefit from.

48
Q

What are some commercial uses of mineral resources?

A

Consumer goods (e.g. makeup, jewellery, phones, televisions etc.)
Construction materials
Medicines
Fertilisers (to support crop supply and population growth)

49
Q

How does the biosphere regulate the atmosphere?

A

It maintains greenhouse gasses on the atmosphere which are important for keeping the plant warm
It regulates the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis
It regulates carbon dioxide and methane levels through carbon sequestration (locking carbon in soils, trees or permafrost)

50
Q

How does the biosphere maintain soil health?

A

Soils are kept fertile through nutrient cycling (the movement of nutrients across soils, biomass and organic matter (litter))

51
Q

What is the hydrological cycle?

A

How water is transferred throughout the world from different sources into different states

52
Q

How do trees maintain the hydrological cycle?

A

Trees can intercept, absorb and transpire water, which puts the water back into the atmosphere.

53
Q

What is the difference between weather and climate?

A

Weather - daily elements, such as rain, wind, temperature or sunlight
Climate - the changing weather patterns over the years

54
Q

What is a temperate climate?

A

Neither hot or cold, nor wet or dry
Very average

55
Q

What is an arid climate?

A

Throughout the year, the climate is dry and hot

56
Q

Describe the greenhouse effect

A

Certain gasses (greenhouse gasses) in the atmosphere trap sunlight energy, which makes the Earth warmer

57
Q

Define coniferous

A

Leaves don’t fall off in the winter
Produce cones

58
Q

Define deciduous

A

Shed leaves in the winter to retain moisture and spends less energy
Broad leaves

59
Q

How does the adaptation of needle-like leaves help plants?

A

Characteristic of plants growing in semi-arid conditions. They have a thick waxy cuticle to reduce water loss through transpiration

60
Q

What is a climate graph?

A

Divides average monthly rain fall and average monthly temperature to create one set of data - in the form of a bar graph for rainfall and a line graph for temperature

61
Q

What is atmospheric regulation?

A

The production and maintenance of gasses in our atmosphere for respiration, photosynthesis and the greenhouse effect

62
Q

What is nutrient cycling?

A

The transfer of nutrients through plants and animals into the soil and back into plants and animals, allowing growth and reproduction

63
Q

What is the issue with depleting groundwater resources?

A

Groundwater stores called aquifers (underground layers of water-bearing permeable rock, causing an issue with water security and many places may face water shortages

64
Q

What are 4 reasons for the growing demand of resources?

A

Growing population = bigger demand
Richer world = more people can afford cars and phones which require minerals
Urbanisation = requires more energy and construction resources
Increased industrialisation in poorer regions

65
Q

Why is rising affluence contributing to increased demand?

A

Higher standards of sanitation
More disposable income
Can afford electronics
Food people eat usually changes to fats, oils and sugars, requiring large spaces of land to mass produce

66
Q

How is industrialisation in poorer regions increasing the demand for resources?

A

The large-scale building of factories and people migrating to urban areas to work in them have contributed to increased urbanisation, demand for construction materials and materials for consumer goods

67
Q

What is Malthus’ theory?

A

Pessimistic - population increases exponentially, whereas resources increase linearly, thus will eventually run out of food and result in catastrophe

68
Q

What else can cause the population to decrease? (Malthus)

A

Positive and preventative checks

69
Q

What is a positive check? (Malthus)

A

Disease, war, famine - increased deaths.
An event or circumstance that shortens the human lifespan

70
Q

What is a preventative check? (Malthus)

A

A cultural choice to lower population e.g. choosing to have less children

Geog Paper 3 (4 decks)

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