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geography unit 3 + 4 > unit 3 definitions > Flashcards

unit 3 definitions Flashcards

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1
Q

remote sensing

A

It is the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon without making physical contact with the object

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2
Q

passive sensors

A

absorb energy reflected or emitted

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3
Q

active sensors

A

provide the source of energy that is measured

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4
Q

spatial scale

A

the location and extent of features on Earth’s surface can be identified, measured and mapped (at a range of scales)

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5
Q

spectral scale

A

by looking at a range of wavelengths, different types of land cover can be identified and mapped, as well as the consequences of any land cover changes (e.g. degraded forests, silting in waterways)

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6
Q

temporal scales

A

due to the frequent repeating cycle of images being collected the rate and nature of change over time is easily identified and can be measured

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7
Q

land cover change modelling

A

Where scientists take images of existing land covers and, using computer software analyse the effects of a range of future scenarios to predict how land cover might change in the future

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8
Q

environments

A

The living and non-living elements of the earth’s surface

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9
Q

natural biomes

A

A community of life forms adapted to a large natural area

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10
Q

anthropogenic biomes

A

A global ecosystem unit defined by patters of sustained human interaction with ecosystems, creating a description of the terrestrial biosphere in it contemporary, human alters form

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11
Q

ecosystem

A

A description of the organisms (biotic) and physical (abiotic) features of environments including the amount and distribution of nutrients in particular

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12
Q

ecosystem dynamics

A

Are the network of interactions WITHIN the ecosystem community

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13
Q

affluence

A

Affluence is having increasing amounts of money or wealth

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14
Q

deforestation

A

The permanent removal of trees and often their associated vegetation for non-forest uses

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15
Q

expansion of agriculture

A

The expansion of agriculture refers to increasing the amount of land available which can be used for agricultural purposes

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16
Q

intensification of agriculture

A

Agricultural intensification is the increase of the productivity of land already used for agriculture through more inputs (such as fertilisers, machinery, labour, technology) in hope of increasing the outputs received from it

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17
Q

rangelands

A

Rangelands are ecosystems dominated by natural grasses, shrubs and some trees that are grazed by herbivores, such as grasslands, woodlands, wetlands and deserts that are grazed by domestic livestock or wild animals

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18
Q

land and soil degradation

A

The process by which the value of the land and soil is negatively affected by human induced changes

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19
Q

irrigation

A

the watering of land for agriculture

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20
Q

land drainage and reclamation

A

Land drainage involves water being removed from water logged land near lakes, rivers and deltas so that land can be used for other purposes. Reclamation often goes one step further creating new land from oceans, rivers etc

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21
Q

urban growth

A

Urban growth or urban sprawl refers to the outwards expansion of the urban area – usually in low density and often uncontrolled manner e.g. slums

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22
Q

mining

A

Mining is the process of extracting ore or minerals from the ground (such as coal or iron ore)

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23
Q

government policy

A

Governments can directly affect land use and land cover through the establishment of laws, regulations and policies

24
Q

land degradation

A

Land degradation is the deterioration or loss of productive capacity of the soils for present and future

25
Q

habitat destruction

A

the elimination or alteration of the conditions necessary for animals and plants to survive

26
Q

urban heat islands

A

An urban heat island is a localised climate change – a metropolitan area that is significantly warmer than its surroundings

27
Q

afforestation

A

Afforestation is largely a phenomenon of advanced industrial societies, which are both affluent and have high technological capacity and energy efficiency

28
Q

spectral signature

A

the unique combination of wavelengths of energy reflected from that particular land cover

29
Q

eutrophication

A

Caused by the release of excess nutrients into waterways from fertilisers dissolved in runoff from urban gardens and agricultural areas

30
Q

heat budget

A

Refers to the balance between energy from the sun and the outgoing terrestrial energy lost to space

31
Q

natural greenhouse effect

A

A phenomenon created by the energy radiated by the sun, the heat emitted from the Earth’s surface and greenhouse gases normally present in the atmosphere

32
Q

enhanced greenhouse effect

A

Increasing the concentrations of the greenhouse gases due to human activities has led to increase in temperature

33
Q

carbon cycle

A

the biogeochemical cycle by which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth

34
Q

carbon sinks

A

Natural store of carbon in rocks, oceans, biomass etc are relatively stable over long periods of time but can vary with changing conditions which have the ability to change climate

35
Q

atmospheric circulation system

A

the large-scale movement of air and together with ocean circulation is the means by which thermal energy is redistributed on the surface of the Earth

36
Q

hydrological cycle

A

The continuous movement of water through Earth’s environments, in the form of liquid water, gaseous water vapour or solid snow/ice

37
Q

evaporation

A

change of state from a liquid to gas and occurs over water bodies but also from land surface

38
Q

transpiration

A

loss of water vapour from plants through leaf pores

39
Q

advection

A

movement of water as water vapour and clouds in the atmosphere blown by winds

40
Q

condensation

A

process where gaseous water vapour changes to liquid water droplets once the dewpoint is reaches

41
Q

sublimation

A

change of state from gas to solid or vice versa, without passing through a liquid phase (snowflakes from in atmosphere)

42
Q

precipitation

A

movement of liquid or solid water from the atmosphere back to the Earth’s surface

43
Q

convectional rainfall

A

results from hot energy from earth’s surface transferred to air above, which becomes less dense as it rises creating low pressure. As it rises, it cools and the water vapour contained in the air condenses to form

44
Q

frontal rainfall

A

associated with sub-polar lows where converging air masses meet. Warmer air is displaced by cold air, eventually cooling as it rises, condensations of water vapour, clouds and rain follow the front

45
Q

orographic rainfall

A

moist air is forced to rise due to the presence of a physical barrier. Mountain ranges block the flow of air masses, forcing air to rise to pass over mountains. The rising air cools, condenses, clouds form and rain falls on the windward side of the mountain. The air that passes over is relatively dry and results in a rain-shadow on the inland side

46
Q

surface runoff

A

water that falls on the lands surface and flows along the surface, downhill, collecting in streams, rivers, lakes and ultimately flows back to the ocean

47
Q

infiltration

A

infiltration is the water soaking into the soil surface, percolations refers to deeper downwards movement of water through the soil profile

48
Q

groundwater flow

A

flowing and stored groundwater underground within the layers of soil and rock – stored in aquifers (Leederville aquifer) and often slowly flow back to ocean

49
Q

climate change

A

Climate change is a long-term shift in global or regional climate patterns or average atmospheric conditions

50
Q

ice age

A

permanent ice on land

51
Q

glacial-interglacial cycles

A

Within an ice age, individual pulses of extra cold (glacial) and warmer (inter-glacial) periods exist

52
Q

obliquity

A

Refers to the degree to which Earth is tilted on its axis and 41,000 year cycle between 22° to 24°

53
Q

precession

A

Refers to the way in which the Earth wobbles on its axis like a spinning top and 26,000 year cycle

54
Q

eccentricity

A

Refers to regular changes in the shape of the Earth’s orbital path around the sun and 100,000/400,000 year cycle

55
Q

urban heat island effect

A

Local scale climate change (heating of urban areas relative to surrounding rural areas) due to physical differences between land cover

56
Q

albedo

A

Albedo is the proportion of light (insolation) that is reflected by the Earth’s surface

geography unit 3 + 4 (2 decks)

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