Science Unit 4: Regional Biodiversity

Question 1

Define Water Cycle

Answer 1

The continuous process by which water moves from Earth’s surface to the atmosphere and back

Question 2

Define Evaporation

Answer 2

When liquid water turns to water vapor as it is heated

Question 3

Define Precipitation

Answer 3

Any form of water that falls to the Earth from the clouds, such as rain and snow

Question 4

Define Condensation

Answer 4

When water molecules in a vapor come together to form liquid water

Question 5

Define Transpiration

Answer 5

The loss of water vapor from trees and plants; adds water to the water cycle

Question 6

Define & Give Examples Of Climate

Answer 6

The general weather patterns in an area over a long period of time
EX. Snowy winters, hot and humid summers, average conditions

Question 7

Define & Give Examples Of Weather

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Explain How Greenhouse Gases Affect Temperature

Answer 8

Greenhouse gases block some heat from leaving the atmosphere, making the Earth warmer

Question 9

Explain Why The 23.5 Degree Tilt Of The Earth Is Important

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

DC: Name Zones

Answer 10

Arid and Semi-Arid

Question 11

DC: Location Of Zone

Answer 11

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

Question 12

DC: What Is A Rain shadow? What Do They Have To Do With DC?

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

DC: Is There A Pattern To Temperature? Describe

Answer 13

Hottest temperature of all regions, nighttime temperatures cooler than daytime temperatures

Question 14

DC: Describe Effects Of Cloud Cover On Day/Night Temperature

Answer 14

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

Question 15

DC: TWO Survival Traits Of Animals

Answer 15

Estivation and being nocturnal (coming out at night when the sun goes down)

Question 16

DC: Define And Give Examples Of Steppes

Answer 16

Found in dry climate regions in the semiarid zones. Called grasslands or prairies

Question 17

DC: Define And Give Examples Of Windward

Answer 17

The side of a mountain that is located near the ocean and receives a lot of precipitation

Question 18

DC: Define And Give Examples Of Leeward

Answer 18

The side of a mountain that is farther inland gets very little precipitation

Question 19

DC: Define And Give Examples Of Estivation

Answer 19

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

Question 20

TCC: Name Zones

Answer 20

Humid Continental and Subarctic

Question 21

TCC: Location Of Zone

Answer 21

Only found in the northern hemisphere

Question 22

TCC: What Factors Influence Climate

Answer 22

Prevailing winds and air masses

Question 23

TCC: Describe How Prevailing Winds Move Across US

Answer 23

They move from east to west at about 500 miles a day

Question 24

TCC: Describe The Type Of Air That A Continental Air Mass Brings

Answer 24

A continental air mass brings dry air

Question 25

TCC: Describe Where Maritime Tropical Air Masses Come From In US

Answer 25

They come from over the oceans. In the United States, the Gulf of Mexico is one such source region

Question 26

TCC: Describe What Happened To Most Of The US Grasslands

Answer 26

They have been converted to farmland due to their rich soils and flat open spaces

Question 27

Maritime Tropical

Answer 27

Moist, warm

Question 28

Continental Tropical

Answer 28

Dry, warm

Question 29

Maritime Polar

Answer 29

Moist, cool

Question 30

Continental Polar

Answer 30

Dry, cool

Question 31

Continental Arctic

Answer 31

Dry, extremely cold

Question 32

TMC: Name Zones

Answer 32

Marine West Coast, Humid Subtropical, and Mediterranean

Question 33

TMC: Location Of Zone

Answer 33

On the coast of continents between 23.5 degrees and 66.5 degree latitudes, and that have just 2 seasons

Question 34

TMC: Describe Vegetation

Answer 34

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

Question 35

TMC: Explain/Describe Factors That Influence Climate In Zone

Answer 35

Air masses moving over the ocean bring a lot of moisture to the lands of this region

Question 36

TMC: Explain Seasons That Occur

Answer 36

All zones have two seasons: Cool winters and warm summers

Question 37

TRC: Name Zones

Answer 37

Tropical Wet and Tropical Wet and Dry

Question 38

TRC: Location Of Zone

Answer 38

Near the equator

Question 39

TRC: Describe Precipitation

Answer 39

Tropical wet has highest of all zones as they are called rainforests

Question 40

TRC: Describe Temperature

Answer 40

18 degrees Celsius or above

Question 41

TRC: Compare And Contrast Zones

Answer 41

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

Question 42

TRC: Describe Vegetation

Answer 42

Tropical wet: Rich in biodiversity of plant life Tropical wet and dry: Grassland region that is being converted to plant crops such as corn

Question 43

PC: Name Zones

Answer 43

Tundra and Ice Cap

Question 44

PC: Location Of Zones

Answer 44

Greenland and Antarctica; near the poles

Question 45

PC: Define Permafrost. Why Is It Important?

Answer 45

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

Question 46

PC: Describe Vegetation

Answer 46

Lichen and few low growing plants; no trees

Question 47

PC: Explain Why There Is Little Precipitation

Answer 47

Cold air holds little moisture as the air molecules are tightly packed together

Question 48

PC: Describe How Polar Climate Impacts The Climate Of The Entire Globe

Answer 48

Water from the polar regions flows toward the equator, therefore the waters from this region flow around the world

Question 49

H: Location Of Zone

Answer 49

On tops of high mountains and in areas of high elevation

Question 50

H: Describe Vegetation

Answer 50

Vegetation above the tree line has mosses, lichens and low growing plants. Below the tree line there are coniferous trees

Question 51

H: Describe Temperature

Answer 51

As altitude increases, temperatures go down; the higher up you go, the colder it gets

Question 52

H: Explain How Air Masses Impact Precipitation

Answer 52

Precipitation increases when areas carrying moisture pass over highland areas because as they rise in altitude, they lose their moisture

Question 53

H: Explain How Melting Glaciers On Land Impact Sea Level Rise

Answer 53

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

Question 54

H: Explain How Altitude Impacts Temperature

Answer 54

As altitude increases, temperature falls

Question 55

Places In Highlands:

Answer 55

Plateau of Tibet Andes Mountains

Question 56

Places In Temperate Continental:

Answer 56

Russia Chicago Alaska New Jersey

Question 57

Places In Dry:

Answer 57

Sahara Desert Africa The Great Plains

Question 58

Places In Temperate Marine:

Answer 58

Florida India Spain California Italy Ireland

Question 59

Places In Tropical Rainy:

Answer 59

Amazon Rainforest Brazil Africa

Question 60

Places In Polar:

Answer 60

Antarctica Greenland