Biophysical Environment :(:

Question 1

define atmosphere

Answer 1

the blanket of gas that contains the air we breathe and also protects us from the blasts of heat and radiation from the sun

Question 2

facts about the atmosphere

Answer 2

it is 480km thick 
air pressure decreases with altitude 
the layers of the atmosphere are (from top to bottom)
exosphere
thermosphere
mesosphere
stratosphere
troposphere

Question 3

troposphere

Answer 3

layer closest to the earth’s surface
7-20km thick (contains half the atmosphere)
nearly all the water vapour and dust are in this layer

Question 4

stratosphere

Answer 4

above the troposphere
ozone is abundant - heats the atmosphere and absorbs the harmful radiation from the sun
air is dry and thin (1000x thinner than at sea level)

Question 5

atmospheric processes

Answer 5

energy: sun provides the earth with its main source of energy (insolation)
sun exposure affects the climate (distance from the equator, aspect)

Question 6

global patterns of climate

Answer 6

• variations in insolation (increased closer to the equator)
• rotation (on axis) and revolution (seasons)
• composition of the atmosphere (green houes gases, volcanic eruptions)
• distribution of the continents and oceans (warm and cold ocean currents, proximity to ocean)
• topography (eg mountain ranges, orographic rainfall)

Question 7

comparing climates (sydney and prague)

Answer 7

Sydney:
high level of consistent precipitation
temperature is moderate / mild, lows of 12, highs of 22
coordinates: 33.9oS, 151.2oE (closer to equator)

Prague:
less rain, highs of 81ml, lows of 20ml
temperature: wide diurnal range (-1o to 18o)
coordinates: 80oN, 14oE

Question 8

Weather

Answer 8

determined by air pressure, moisture and movement of air masses

Question 9

what do synoptic charts measure

Answer 9

air pressure, rainfall, wind, temperature

Question 10

Air

Answer 10

measured using a barometer (hPa)
isobars join places of equal pressure
the closer the isobars, the stronger the wind

Question 11

Low Pressure System

Answer 11

area of increasing air, measures below 1013hPa
wind moves clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere
weather: unstable, chance of rain, cloudy

Question 12

High Pressure system:

Answer 12

area of sinking air (above 1013)
direction = anti clockwise
weather: fine :)

Question 13

Tropical cyclone

Answer 13

area of rapidly rising air (i.e. intense low pressure system), causing torrential rain, strong winds)
given names
need warm waters to form and generally disapate when hitting land

Question 14

Cold front

Answer 14

air mass that separates cold and warm air, cold air behind
fall in temp, brings rain and storms
shows the direction in which its moving

Question 15

warm front

Answer 15

air mass w warm air behind it (less common in Aus)

increase in temperature, light showers

Question 16

Troughs - - - - and ridges

Answer 16

Regions of relatively low pressure that precede a cold front
associated with wet weather
winds in front of troughs

Question 17

monsoon troughs

Answer 17

– - – - occur in NA through summer

Question 18

Rainfall

Answer 18

/ / / /

/ / / rainfall in the last 24 hrs

Question 19

oO

Answer 19

calm, no winds

Question 20

Wind barb

Answer 20

indicates wind direction and speed (easterly means from the east)
. where it has been recorded
___ direction from
/ speed km/hr

Question 21

aspect induced climates

Answer 21

face equator = more direct sunlights
(SH = northerly, NH = southerly)
easterly aspect = sunlight in the morning when the temperature is decreased
agricultural lands are found in areas of direct sunlight, ski slopes in Aus face east or south

Question 22

Hydrosphere

Answer 22

total amount of water on the planet, including water on the surface, underground and in the air in the form of liquid, vapour or ice

Question 23

Liquid, solid, gas

Answer 23

liquid: oceans, rivers, creeks + groundwater
vapor: clouds and fog
solid: icebergs, icecaps, glaciers

Question 24

Water cycle

Answer 24

condensation, evaporation, transpiration, precipitation, runoff, infiltration, percolation

Question 25

condensation

Answer 25

when water vapour in the air cools and turns back into a liquid

Question 26

evaporation

Answer 26

when sun shines on water and heats it, turning it to vapour

Question 27

transpiration

Answer 27

when the sun warms the biosphere and it releases water vapour into the air

Question 28

precipitation

Answer 28

water falls from the sky as rain, snow or hail

Question 29

run off

Answer 29

when water flows over the ground into creeks, rivers and oceans

Question 30

percolation

Answer 30

when water seeps deeper into tiny spaces in soil and rock

Question 31

water currents

Answer 31

warm water = anti cw from equator

Question 32

hydrosphere shaping lithosphere

Answer 32

rivers and streams, collecting and carrying particles to deposit them elsewhere vegetation binds the soil together hydraulic action, abrasion, corrosion, land form evolution

Question 33

hydraulic action

Answer 33

flowing water (dragging), excavating quantities of poorly consolidated alluvial materials

Question 34

abrasion

Answer 34

rock particles carried by water strike channel walls

Question 35

corrosion

Answer 35

chemical solution of material of rocks being exposed to the stream by solvents in the water

Question 36

land form evolution

Answer 36

long term steep gradients, river erodes downwards creating valleys low hills, rivers begin to broaden, meanders develop flats - lateral erosion, valleys widen

Question 37

Biosphere

Answer 37

extends from a few kms into the atmosphere to hte deep vents of the ocean - composed of all living organisms and what gives them nutrients

Question 38

factors affecting vegetation patterns

Answer 38

climate (precipitation, temperature, light, wind) topographic (altitude, slope, aspect) edaphic (soil quality) biotic: plant competition, human activity

Question 39

formation of land marks

Answer 39

erosion follows planes of weakness called joints, occuring in vertical sets with progressive erosion, blocks of sandstone fall into the valleys, breaking off at joints more erosion resistent rock such as narrabeen sandstone is left standing as the friable shales erode away

Question 40

shaping of the landforms

Answer 40

water, wind, gravity weathering causes undercutting, therefore there are sandstone overhangs which are further disjointed due to vertical fractures by water and roots - they fall cos of gravity erosion widens the space between joints, leaving turrets

Question 41

rainforests

Answer 41

moisture + steep terrain ensure protection reliably moist, high levels of soil nutrients and minimal exposure to fire closed canopy of soft horizontally held leaves and shade tolerant understory (ferns, vines) coachwood, sassafras, cedar wattle, lilly pilly, mosses, 2m canopy, cool and shaded, southerly aspect, high biodiversity

Question 42

heath land

Answer 42

``` shrubby, treeless, sparse shallow, nutrient poor, sandy soils exposed (usually ridge tops) high plateau 3ha warm temp, low humidity dwarf sheoak, hairpin banksia ```

Question 43

comparing vegetation communities

Answer 43

temperature, humidity, aspect, topography, soil, vegetation type and diversity

Question 44

Blue Moutnains Dam

Answer 44

- 3 small catchment areas feeding 6 dams (provides water for 41000 people) - special areas :protect water supply by acting as a buffer zone, managed by WaterNSW and Wildlife Service --> public access is restricted to ensure quality of water, protect bushland, flora and fauna, evidence of aboriginal occupation

Question 45

what do they want to do with the bm dam

Answer 45

- $670m plan to raise the dam wall by 4m to prevent flooding in outer-western sydney, however raising the wall would flood 4700ha and threaten endangered species, + 50 Aboriginal sites