Weather, climate and ecosystems

Question 1

What is the weather?

Answer 1

The weather is the day to day conditions of the earth’s atmosphere

Question 2

What is the climate?

Answer 2

The climate is the average weather condition of a place or region taken over a period of time e.g. 50/100 years

Question 3

What is inside the Stevenson screen?

Answer 3

Maximum thermometer
Minimum thermometer
Wet bulb thermometer
Dry bulb thermometer

Question 4

What is outside the Stevenson screen?

Answer 4

Rain gauge
Wind cane
Anemometer
Sunshine recorder

Question 5

Give facts about the Stevenson screen

Answer 5

It is painted white so sunlight reflects off it
It is made of wood so it doesn’t absorb extra heat
It is 125cm above the ground so the ground doesn’t affect the overall heat temperature
It has loungers in its side so that air can circulate
It is located above a grass surface because grass doesn’t give off as much heat as tarmac

Question 6

Give facts about the six’s thermometer

Answer 6

When the temperature rises the alcohol in the left hand limb expands and pushes the mercury down the left hand limb and up the right hand limb. When the temperature falls, the alcohol in the left hand limb contracts. This causes the mercury to flow in a reverse direction. A metal index in each limb marks the temperature reached.

Question 7

How does the wet and dry bulb thermometer work?

Answer 7

The wet bulb thermometer usually records a lower temperature that the dry bulb thermometer. The bulb of one of the thermometers is wrapped in damp Muslim. If the air is not saturated, water from the Muslim evaporates. This cools the wet bulb thermometer. It records a lower temperature than the dry bulb thermometer. If the air is saturated there is no evaporation and the readings are the same. The difference between two temperatures can be used to calculate the relative humidity - the amount of water vapour in the air. A large difference between the two readings means the relative humidity will be low.

Question 8

How is relative humidity calculated?

Answer 8

The dry bulb thermometer shows a temperature of 21 degrees. The wet bulb thermometer shows a temperature of 15 degrees. The difference between the temperatures is 6 degrees. Then use the table to work out the relative humidity.

Question 9

How is wind speed and wind direction measured?

Answer 9

Wind speed is recorded with an anomometer

Wind speed may be estimated using the Beaufort scale

Question 10

What factors affect the climate?

Answer 10

Latitude

Distance from the sea

Question 11

Where are tropical rainforests found?

Answer 11

Tropical rainforests are distributed between 0-23.5 degrees north and south of the equator
They can be found in Brazil, central Africa and across Indonesia

Question 12

What are emergent trees?

Answer 12

They can grow to heights of 50m. Trees have to grow rapidly to reach the sunlight.

Question 13

What are tree trunks?

Answer 13

They are straight and branchless in their efforts to grow tall

Question 14

What are large buttress roots?

Answer 14

They stand above the ground to give support for the trees

Question 15

What are lianas?

Answer 15

They are vine like plants that use the large tress as a support in their efforts to reach the sunlight

Question 16

Why do leaves have drip tips?

Answer 16

To shed the heavy rainfall

Question 17

What are hot deserts?

Answer 17

A desert is an area that receives less than 250mm precipitation in a year
They can have very high day time temperatures, often over 50 degrees and low night time temperatures below 20 degrees with clear skies

Question 18

Where is the Namib desert located?

Answer 18

West coast of Nimibia, coastal edge of Southern Africa

Question 19

What is the total rainfall in the Namib desert?

Answer 19

23mm

Question 20

What is the average rainfall in the Namib desert?

Answer 20

8mm

Question 21

What is the average temperature in the Namib desert?

Answer 21

16 degrees by the sea 38 degrees inland

Question 22

What is the average humidity in the Namib desert?

Answer 22

29 degrees

Question 23

Describe the climate of the Namib desert

Answer 23

The climate is arid with sparse unpredictable rainfall. Temperatures vary from west to east - cooler along the coast but hotter inland. The most important climate feature is the coastal fog, which is the only source of reliable moisture in the region. Rainfall is very low because of the combined effect of the mountains and the cold offshore temperature are the result of the interaction between two prevailing winds. Cold air from the Atlantic Ocean reduces the effects of latitude at the coast but, inland, the sinking air raises summer temperatures to highs of 50 degrees.

Question 24

Describe the plant adaptations of the quiver tree

Answer 24

White bark reflects sunlight
The leaves have a small surface area to reduce evaporation of water
It self-amputates si it doesn’t need as much water when there is a shortage of it, it will then sprout more leaves when there is more water

Question 25

Describe the plant adaptations of the pencil bush

Answer 25

It has spiny leaves to avoid evapotranspiration/water loss
It contains poisonous sap to stop animals eating it
It is a stem succulent - it stores water in its stem

Question 26

Describe the plant adaptations of the welwitschia plant

Answer 26

Fog condenses onto the leaves, leaves funnel downwards to encourage condensed water to travel down to the roots
It has a very slow growth rate, growth stops during periods of high temperatures

Question 27

What is temperature range?

Answer 27

It is the difference between the maximum and minimum temperature (maximum - minimum)