Systems in physical geography

Question 1

Describe an ecosystem.

Answer 1

the interrelationship between living and non-living components within a particular environment, such as a pond

Question 2

Give some inputs of an ecosystem.

Answer 2

• precipitation
• leaf fall during the autumn
• seeds carried by wind and birds

Question 3

Give some stores/ components of an ecosystem

Answer 3

• water
• soil
• plants

Question 4

Give some outputs of an ecosystem

Answer 4

• water soaking through soil and rocks
• evaporation
• seed disposal

Question 5

Give some flows/ transfers of an ecosystem

Answer 5

• photosynthesis
• infiltration
• transpiration

Question 6

Give an input in a drainage basin

Answer 6

precipitation

Question 7

Give an input in a woodland carbon cycle

Answer 7

precipitation with dissolved carbon dioxide

Question 8

Give an output in a drainage basin

Answer 8

runoff

Question 9

Give an output in a woodland carbon cycle

Answer 9

dissolved carbon within runoff

Question 10

Give a use of energy in a drainage basin

Answer 10

changes in the state water

Question 11

Give a use of energy in a woodland carbon cycle

Answer 11

production of glucose through the process of photosynthesis

Question 12

Define positive feedback

Answer 12

a sequence of events that increases change within a system

Question 13

Give an example of positive feedback in a drainage basin

Answer 13

when the rising sea levels destabilise ice shelves which then leads to an increase in melting, causing sea levels to rise further

Question 14

Give an example of positive feedback in a woodland carbon cycle

Answer 14

When the temperatures increase due to climate change causes the melting of permafrost, which then releases trapped greenhouse gases, which enhances the greenhouse effect, increasing temperatures further

Question 15

Define negative feedback

Answer 15

a sequence of events that decreases or neutralises the effects of a system, creating dynamic equilibrium

Question 16

Give an example of negative feedback in a drainage basin

Answer 16

an increase in surface temperatures increases evaporation, this leads to more cloud cover, the clouds then reflect radiation from the sun, leading to a decrease of surface temperatures

Question 17

Give an example of negative feedback in a woodland carbon cycle

Answer 17

increased atmospheric carbon dioxide leads to an increase in temperature, this causes plants too grow so the rate of photosynthesis increases which then removes more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which decreases the temperature

Question 18

Define dynamic equilibrium

Answer 18

when a system is in a state of balance