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YEAR 11 - GEOGRAPHY (THE BEST) > Weather, Climate and Ecosystems > Flashcards

Weather, Climate and Ecosystems Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the weather?

A

The current state of the atmosphere

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2
Q

What is the climate?

A

The average weather conditions

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3
Q

What does a Stevenson screen measure?

A

Contains weather equipment which should be able to take accurate readings

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4
Q

What does a Barometer measure?

A

Air pressure in millibars

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5
Q

What does a Max/Min thermometer measure?

A

The minimum and maximum temperature of that day

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6
Q

What does a hygrometer measure?

A

Humidity of the air

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7
Q

What does a rain gauge measure?

A

Rainfall

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8
Q

What does a wind vane measure?

A

The direction of the wind

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9
Q

What does a anemometer measure?

A

Wind speed

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10
Q

What do climate graphs show?

A

Average temp and rainfall for a region over the year

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11
Q

What are clouds?

A

Collections of water and ice.

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12
Q

State the properties of a Cirrus cloud

A

Found high in the atmosphere
Common -> Thin and whispy
Move fairly quickly

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13
Q

State the properties of a Stratus cloud

A

Low in atmosphere
Grey and move fast
Produce light rain and snow

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14
Q

State the properties of a Cumulonimbus cloud

A

Large -> 10km high adn across
Look like a cauliflower
Produce rain, thunder, lightening
Found in spring and summer

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15
Q

State the properties of a Cumulus cloud

A

Fairly low in atmosphere
Look like cotton wool
Produce light rain

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16
Q

What factors impact temperature?

A

Latitude, distance from sea, prevailing winds, altitude,

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17
Q

When does frontal rainfall occur?

A

When areas of cold and warm air clash. The warm air goes over the top of the cold and cools which causes rainfall

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18
Q

When does relief rainfall occur?

A

When air runs into a hill and is forced upwards. It then cools causing rainfall

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19
Q

What is a rain shadow?

A

A dry area found on the lee side of mountains. Gets below average rainfall as its deposited on tops of hills

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20
Q

When does convectional rainfall occur?

A

The ground warms air above it causing it to rise and then cools causing rainfall. Very common in tropical countries

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21
Q

What is air pressure?

A

The weight of air pressing down onto the surface of the earth

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22
Q

What is wind created by?

A

Air moving from areas of high to low pressure

23
Q

What is an ecosystem?

A

A biological environment consisting of all living organisms within a particular area.

24
Q

What does a food chain show?

A

How energy moves in the chain

25
Q

What is a producer (food chain)?

A

An organism which produces complex compounds from simple compounds

26
Q

What is a consumer (food chain)?

A

An organism which requires organic compounds to grow

27
Q

What is an alpha predator (food chain)?

A

The top predator in the food chain

28
Q

How can humans disrupt the food cycle?

A

Hunting, deforestation, mining, tourism, dams, urbanisation

29
Q

Why are tropical rainforests important?

A

Photosynthesis, biodiversity, flood control, soil erosion, nutrients, medicine, cash crops, tourism, tribes

30
Q

What are some reasons for the deforestation of tropical rainforests?

A

Cattle ranching, HEP, mining, road building, population growth, wood, hunting

31
Q

What are some problems caused by deforestation of tropical rainforests?

A

Flooding, landslides, reduced biodiversity and photosynthesis, desertification, reduced rainfall

32
Q

What is hunter gathering?

A

The hunting of wind animals and collecting fruits

33
Q

What is shifting cultivation?

A

Deforesting one area, growing crops in it and then moving to a new area

34
Q

What is slash and burn farming?

A

Burning down an area of the rainforest for farming

35
Q

What is land degradation?

A

Reduction of quality and quantity of soil

36
Q

What are fallow periods?

A

Not using land for a while

37
Q

What are emergents (Tropical rainforest vegetation)?

A

Tall trees that grow above the canopy layer

38
Q

What is the canopy (Tropical rainforest vegetation)?

A

Th thick layer that contains about 50% of the wildlife

39
Q

What is the shrub layer (Tropical rainforest vegetation)?

A

A layer of shrubs near the forest floor which is very dense

40
Q

What are lianas (Tropical rainforest vegetation)?

A

Woody vines that climb up other trees and try to get to the canopy

41
Q

What are strangler figs (Tropical rainforest vegetation)?

A

Strangler figs grow around the outside of other trees taking their light and nutrients -> Killing them

42
Q

What are butress roots (Tropical rainforest vegetation)?

A

Very long roots that suck up maximum nutrients and support tall trees

43
Q

What are fan palms (Tropical rainforest vegetation)?

A

Huge wide leaved plants that try to capture as much rain and sunlight as possible

44
Q

What is the humus layer (Tropical rainforest vegetation)?

A

Decaying biological matter

45
Q

What is the evergreen (Tropical rainforest vegetation)?

A

When trees shed their leaves to produce biological matter and keep green

46
Q

What are drip tip leaves (Tropical rainforest vegetation)?

A

A leaf where water travels over them and drips to the ground

47
Q

What are some dangers to tropical rainforest animals?

A

Habitat loss, climate change, pollution, hunting, diseases, cross breeding

48
Q

What is sustainable forestry?

A

Forestry that doesn’t cause permanent damage to any ecosystem and can be maintained

49
Q

What are some ways humans can protect tropical rainforests?

A

Creation of national parks, buy from sustainable sources, sustainable forestry, ecotourism, recycling, education, ban selling rainforest products

50
Q

What are some adaptions which flora and fauna undergo in deserts?

A

Long and wide roots, nocturnal, camels, spiky and waxy surface, , ephemeral

51
Q

What are human causes of desertification?

A

Overgrazing, overpopulation, overcultivation, deforestation, fertiliser use, GM crops, unsustainable water use, toyotarisation

52
Q

What problems are caused by desertification?

A

Dust storms, reduced crop yields, conflict, famine

53
Q

What are some solutions to desertification?

A

Crop rotation and fallow periods, shelter belts, reforestation and afforestation, irrigation, population control, GM crops

54
Q

What are the main hazards caused by tropical storms?

A

Strong winds, flooding, storm urges and big waves, landslides

YEAR 11 - GEOGRAPHY (THE BEST) (11 decks)

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