Physical geog revision Flashcards
Average annual temperature in the tundra
-11.2
Impacts of low annual temperature
Long term
Large scale
Low photosynthesis
Low biomass store
High littering
Low decomposition
High soil stores
Temp range in the tundra
15 to - 36
Impacts of range of temp in the tundra
Short term changes
Large scale
Low photosynthesis
Low biomass store
High littering
Low decomposition
High soil stores
Geology of the tundra
90% shale and siltstone
10% sandstone
Stores of oil underground
Impacts of geology in the tundra
Moderate store of carbon in the shale, siltstone and oil
Long term
Vegetation in the tundra
No trees able to grow
Seasonal growth of shrubs, grasses and mosses
Impacts of vegetation in the tundra
Short term annual changes
Photosynthesis, decomposition, respiration and high biomass store in the summer
Not in winter
Explain features of the soil in the tundra
Most is frozen all year round
(has been constantly frozen for 500 000 years)
Impacts of soil in the tundra
Huge store of organic carbon
Long term
Decomposition releases CO2 and CH4
Impacts on global carbon cycle
Combustion (of fossil fuels)
Deforestation
Draining wetlands
Combustion stat
100 billion tonnes of CO2 released each year
Deforestation stat
10 million hectares per year
Draining wetlands stat
85% of wetlands from 1700 have been lost
How does nile delta change over time (interlinking landforms)
LSD (due to arcuate shape+NW waves) form spits (burullus) and bars (manzala) Which can from lagoons (manzala+burullus) and salt marshes
How does nile delta change over time (beach profile)
Waves push sediment up the beach
Creates steeper beach and coastal advance
However summer storms can breach the spit as waves can go above 2m
How could the coastal landscape change in a warmer climate
Thermal expansion and maelting of land ice and snow
Eustatic rise
Waves reach cliffs (WCP, WCN)
Arches could become taller
How has human activity affected sandbanks spit
Hold the line led to castal advance
Beach nourishment from offshore deposits
Steeper higher beaches
How many rock groynes were constructed at sanbanks spit
12
How much sediment has been added to sandbanks spit
3.5 million meters cubed
Major physical factors affecting saltburn to flamborough head
Limestone and sandstone - 0.1m erosion each year
Clay and shales - 0.8m per year
Fetch 1500km
Waves from NNE
Major landforms at saltburn to flamborough head
Filey brigg
Filey bay
Flamborough head
Selwicks bay
Robin hoods bay
Interrationship between landforms at high energy coastline
WCP dissipates energy leading to less abrasion and undercutting
Major physical factors at the nile delta
Small fetch 750km from NW over a calm sea
Avr 0.94m waves, summer storms - 4m
91.3million tonnes of sediment from nile river
Arcuate shape encourages LSD
landforms created at the nile delta
Arcuate shape causes waves to arrive perpendicular at Abu Qir Bay causing rip currents to offshore bars
Consequences of human acivity at Pakiri bay
0.4m retreat each year
Spit breached in 1978
Beach profile
What is the significance of the maximum temp in the tundra on the carbon cycle
Trees are unable to grow
Slows the rate of the cycles
How long is carbon stored as partly decomposed plant remains in the tundra
500,000 years
How do lorries on ice roads directly affect the water cycle in the tundra
Creation of ice roads by building on snow cover disrupts natural drainage and prevents infiltration
What is the tidal range at saltburn to flamborough head
4-6m
How long has fluvial deposition been exceeding marine erosion at the nile delta (before dam)
3000 years
What is the name of the last glacial period
Devensian period
How much colder was the last glacial period
5 degrees C
How were global sea levels different during the devensian period
100-150m lower
What are the terms for retreating sea levels exposing land and rising sea levels covering land
Marine regression and marine transgression
What is the impact of 1 degrees C on sea level
2m rise
On avr how much are sea levels changing each year
3.3mm per yr
How could greenlands ice sheets affect global sea levels
6m rise