Slide Set 5

Question 1

the Koppen Geiger system includes what 3 categories?

Answer 1

climate, precipitation, temperature

Question 2

what are the 5 climate types?

Answer 2

1. tropical rainy (equatorial)
2. dry (arid)
3. warm temperate
4. cold forested (snow)
5. polar

Question 3

there are ___ precipitation types and ____ temperature types

Answer 3

6, 8

Question 4

climate diagrams summarize what?

Answer 4

monthly mean and annual records of temperature and precipitation

Question 5

climate diagrams are used to characterize what?

Answer 5

the climate for a typical locality within a region fo interest

Question 6

define biome?

Answer 6

a large scale terrestrial ecosystem, found in different parts of the world and characterized by similar life forms of plants and animals, and associated with similar climate and soil conditions

Question 7

simple maps show or 10 distinct biomes which are?

Answer 7

1. tundra
2. boreal forest
3. temperate (deciduous forest)
4. temperate grasslands (prairies)
5. mediterranean woodland and shrubland
6. desert and semi deserts
7. tropical savanah
8. tropical dry forest
9. tropical rain forest
10. mountains

Question 8

describe the tundra

Answer 8

• long cold winters
• permafrost
• poor drainage
• soils are nutrient poor
• moist
• migratory birds and mammals, and insects
• short growing season (6-10 weeks)

Question 9

how is the tundra influenced by people?

Answer 9

airborne pollutants, oil and mineral exploration, global warming, permafrost thawing

Question 10

describe the taiga (boreal forest)

Answer 10

• cold winters, short but moist
• mostly spruce and fir in north
• acid soils, low fertility
• slow rates of growth and decomposition

Question 11

describe taiga

Answer 11

• long winters, short growing season
• generally, low mean annual temperature
• temperature ranges can be extreme
• generally moderate annual rates of precipitation
• thin acidic soils, low fertility

Question 12

temperate forests include what types?

Answer 12

• seasonal decidous forests of eurasia
• temperate coniferous rainforest of pacific N america
• forests of new zealand, southern chile

Question 13

describe seasonal deciduous forests

Answer 13

• herbs
• shrubs and saplings
• shade tolerant understory
• canopy
• seasonality in temperature
• long growing seasons

Question 14

describe temperate forests

Answer 14

• precipitation supports trees
• moist growing season, also more moisture in winter than grasslands
• cold but snowy winters, deciduous forest
• soils are generally fertile

Question 15

describe temperate rain forests

Answer 15

• mild winters
• heavy winter rain, summer fog and moderate summer drought
• needle leaves, high biomass, low diversity, fossil evidence goes back to mid mesozoic times

Question 16

describe temperate seasonal forests

Answer 16

• strong seasonality
• moderately cold winters
• seasonality governs animal life

Question 17

describe temperate grasslands

Answer 17

• trees and shrubs
• role of fire and grazing
• vertebrate herbivores
• invertebrate herbivores
• cool and dry winters
• most precipitation in growing season
• deep soils, organic matter
• slow decomposition

Question 18

describe the mediteranian biome

Answer 18

• woodlands and shrublands
• scattered evergreen woody shrubs, grasses , aromatic
• summer drought
• winter rains
• warm annual mean temperatures
• modest precipitation
• water conservation strategies
• defences against fire and browsing
• soils fragile, moderate fertility

Question 19

describe chaparrel

Answer 19

• hot in summer
• summers are dry, winter is rainy
• woodland shrubland, grasses

Question 20

what does the desert include?

Answer 20

• subtropical deserts, 30N or S
• continental deserts
• rainshadow deserts
• coastal deserts

Question 21

deserts take up approx ______% of surface on earth

Answer 21

20 %

Question 22

describe the desert

Answer 22

• low precipitation
• water loss exceeds precipitation
• soils often poor, little organic matter
• high salt concentration in soil