Science Unit 4: Regional Biodiversity Flashcards
Define Water Cycle
The continuous process by which water moves from Earth’s surface to the atmosphere and back
Define Evaporation
When liquid water turns to water vapor as it is heated
Define Precipitation
Any form of water that falls to the Earth from the clouds, such as rain and snow
Define Condensation
When water molecules in a vapor come together to form liquid water
Define Transpiration
The loss of water vapor from trees and plants; adds water to the water cycle
Define & Give Examples Of Climate
The general weather patterns in an area over a long period of time
EX. Snowy winters, hot and humid summers, average conditions
Define & Give Examples Of Weather
Weather is the day to day changes in temperature and precipitation or the condition of the atmosphere at a certain time and place
EX. Today will be 45 degrees, it rained this morning
Explain How Greenhouse Gases Affect Temperature
Greenhouse gases block some heat from leaving the atmosphere, making the Earth warmer
Explain Why The 23.5 Degree Tilt Of The Earth Is Important
As the Earth moves in it’s orbit around the sun, the North Pole is always pointing North. Because of the tilt of the Earth’s axis, the Northern Hemisphere points toward the Sun during the summer solstice and it points further away from the sun during the winter solstice. Without the tilt, there would be no seasons.
DC: Name Zones
Arid and Semi-Arid
DC: Location Of Zone
Semi-Arid is located on the outer edges of the Arid regions. They are called steppes. The Arid zones are located far from water, in rain shadows or places where evaporation
DC: What Is A Rain shadow? What Do They Have To Do With DC?
The mountain ranges have caused the area on the windward side of the mountain to drop its precipitation. The area on the leeward side becomes dry and desert-like.
DC: Is There A Pattern To Temperature? Describe
Hottest temperature of all regions, nighttime temperatures cooler than daytime temperatures
DC: Describe Effects Of Cloud Cover On Day/Night Temperature
Few clouds: Cooler nighttime temperatures
Many clouds: Warmer nighttime temperatures as the rising warm air masses get trapped between the clouds and the land surfaces
DC: TWO Survival Traits Of Animals
Estivation and being nocturnal (coming out at night when the sun goes down)
DC: Define And Give Examples Of Steppes
Found in dry climate regions in the semiarid zones. Called grasslands or prairies
DC: Define And Give Examples Of Windward
The side of a mountain that is located near the ocean and receives a lot of precipitation
DC: Define And Give Examples Of Leeward
The side of a mountain that is farther inland gets very little precipitation
DC: Define And Give Examples Of Estivation
The process by which animals slow down their body processes and sleep through the HOTTEST AND/OR DRIEST season when food and water are scarce
TCC: Name Zones
Humid Continental and Subarctic
TCC: Location Of Zone
Only found in the northern hemisphere
TCC: What Factors Influence Climate
Prevailing winds and air masses
TCC: Describe How Prevailing Winds Move Across US
They move from east to west at about 500 miles a day
TCC: Describe The Type Of Air That A Continental Air Mass Brings
A continental air mass brings dry air
TCC: Describe Where Maritime Tropical Air Masses Come From In US
They come from over the oceans. In the United States, the Gulf of Mexico is one such source region
TCC: Describe What Happened To Most Of The US Grasslands
They have been converted to farmland due to their rich soils and flat open spaces
Maritime Tropical
Moist, warm
Continental Tropical
Dry, warm
Maritime Polar
Moist, cool
Continental Polar
Dry, cool
Continental Arctic
Dry, extremely cold
TMC: Name Zones
Marine West Coast, Humid Subtropical, and Mediterranean
TMC: Location Of Zone
On the coast of continents between 23.5 degrees and 66.5 degree latitudes, and that have just 2 seasons
TMC: Describe Vegetation
Marine West Coast: Forests of tall coniferous trees (Sitka Spruce, Douglas Fir)
Mediterranean: Chaparral (shrubs and small trees), grasses with few large trees
Humid Subtropical: Oak, ash, hickory, and pine trees
TMC: Explain/Describe Factors That Influence Climate In Zone
Air masses moving over the ocean bring a lot of moisture to the lands of this region
TMC: Explain Seasons That Occur
All zones have two seasons: Cool winters and warm summers
TRC: Name Zones
Tropical Wet and Tropical Wet and Dry
TRC: Location Of Zone
Near the equator
TRC: Describe Precipitation
Tropical wet has highest of all zones as they are called rainforests
TRC: Describe Temperature
18 degrees Celsius or above
TRC: Compare And Contrast Zones
Tropical wet has one season: wet, while tropical wet and dry has 2 seasons: wet and dry. They are both located in the Earth’s tropical latitude zone
TRC: Describe Vegetation
Tropical wet: Rich in biodiversity of plant life
Tropical wet and dry: Grassland region that is being converted to plant crops such as corn
PC: Name Zones
Tundra and Ice Cap
PC: Location Of Zones
Greenland and Antarctica; near the poles
PC: Define Permafrost. Why Is It Important?
Permafrost is layers of soil that are always frozen. It is important because it does not allow water to drain through it. This keeps the wetlands across the tundra providing habitats for animals and plants
PC: Describe Vegetation
Lichen and few low growing plants; no trees
PC: Explain Why There Is Little Precipitation
Cold air holds little moisture as the air molecules are tightly packed together
PC: Describe How Polar Climate Impacts The Climate Of The Entire Globe
Water from the polar regions flows toward the equator, therefore the waters from this region flow around the world
H: Location Of Zone
On tops of high mountains and in areas of high elevation
H: Describe Vegetation
Vegetation above the tree line has mosses, lichens and low growing plants. Below the tree line there are coniferous trees
H: Describe Temperature
As altitude increases, temperatures go down; the higher up you go, the colder it gets
H: Explain How Air Masses Impact Precipitation
Precipitation increases when areas carrying moisture pass over highland areas because as they rise in altitude, they lose their moisture
H: Explain How Melting Glaciers On Land Impact Sea Level Rise
When glaciers melt on land and the water runs into the oceans, the added water increases the level of the ocean’s waters. When icebergs melt in water, they add little to the level of ocean water as their volumes were already present in the water to begin with
H: Explain How Altitude Impacts Temperature
As altitude increases, temperature falls
Places In Highlands:
Plateau of Tibet
Andes Mountains
Places In Temperate Continental:
Russia
Chicago
Alaska
New Jersey
Places In Dry:
Sahara Desert
Africa
The Great Plains
Places In Temperate Marine:
Florida
India
Spain
California
Italy
Ireland
Places In Tropical Rainy:
Amazon Rainforest
Brazil
Africa
Places In Polar:
Antarctica
Greenland
