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GEOGRAPHY > BIOPHYSICAL INTERACTIONS & CORAL REEFS > Flashcards

BIOPHYSICAL INTERACTIONS & CORAL REEFS Flashcards

1
Q

Atmosphere

A

blanket of gases surrounding Earth to provide air to breather and protection from heat and radiation

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2
Q

Lithosphere

A

Earth’s solid outer shell; the topography of the land

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3
Q

Biosphere

A

Earth’s surface zone which contains all living creatures and plants

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4
Q

Hydrosphere

A

the interconnecting system of water storage in the lithosphere, atmosphere and biosphere

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5
Q

Ecosystem

A

interaction between living and non-living elements operating in dynamic equilibrium

dynamic equilibrium: constantly changing and adapting to change to reach

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6
Q

Troposphere

A
  • layer closest to earth
  • with increased altitude, air temp. and air pressure drop
  • contains all water vapour and dust in atmosphere
  • clouds and weather patterns formed
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7
Q

Climate

A

patterns of temperature, precipitation, etc

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8
Q

Weather

A

daily changes in atmospheric conditions

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9
Q

Factors for global variation in climate

A
  • variation in sunlight insolation: sun energy most direct, concentrated and consistent near the equator
  • rotation on axis –> day and night, revolution around sun –> seasons, tilt of earth means some areas will always get more sunlight than others
  • composition of atmosphere (greenhouse gases absorbing heat, volcanic eruptions, water vapour)
  • distribution of continents and oceans: warm vs cold currents, proximity to ocean
  • topography: mountain ranges greating orographic rainfall and rain shadows
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10
Q

Human impacts on atmosphere

A
  • CO2 emmisions from cars, factories, households, etc. –> enhanced greenhouse effect and global warming
  • acid rain from sulphuric and nitric acid from factories: wet –> acid deposition in rain, fog, snow, etc., dry –> acidic gases and dust eat into sandstone, buildings, cars, etc.
  • CFCs deteriorating ozone layer (Aus & Antarc.) –> layer of protection from UV rays removed –> Aus highest rate of skin cancer in world
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11
Q

Convectional rainfall

A

energy of sun hits Earth’s surface –> evaporates water –> warm moist air rises and cools –> condenses into clouds –> water droplets form precipitation as weight of clouds grow

lasts for a short period of time, mainly close to the tropics

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12
Q

Orographic rainfall

A

warm, moist air travels up mt. on windward side (changes temp. and pressure) –> condenses into water vapour and forms cumulus clouds (rain & thunder) –> dry air descends on other side of mt., rain shadow

influenced by ocean currents

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13
Q

Coastal change processes

A
  • Hydraulic action: waves hit rocks and traps air, rocks to crack overtime
  • Abrasion: small pebbles and sand rub against base of cliffs to smooth and erode using friction
  • Attrition: broken pieces of rock collide to break down into smaller sediments
  • Solution: acids in water dissolves rocks (limestone)
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14
Q

Cold ocean currents

A
  • originates from Arctic and Antarctic circles
  • mainly on west coast of continents
  • rich in oxygen and marine life
  • Humboldt Current: rich in anchovies, west coast of N and S America, created Atacama Desert
  • west coast of Aus: tuna
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15
Q

Warm ocean currents

A
  • creates coral reefs (GBR)
  • east coast of continents
  • influences the south due to climate change - El Nino and El Nina
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16
Q

Human impacts on the hydrosphere

A
  • industrial runoff: agricultural –> fertilisers and herbicides: phosphates, nitrates, petrochemicals, silt –> carries nutrients and allows crops to grow, but pollutes water: sedimentation dries out waterways, excess blue green algae reduce O2 for animals, excess mercury bioaccumulation
  • overfishing: resource depletion, ecosystem imbalance, aquatic pollution
  • dams: reduce waterflow and disrupts natural waterways, cold water pollution, vertical stratification, straightens river (faster flowing, frequent and severe floods)
17
Q

Tectonic plates

A
  • moves via convection currents in the magma in the mantle
  • divergent: moves apart, forms mountain ridges, volcanic activity (Iceland)
  • convergent: subduction, destructive, forms trenches, volcanic activity (Himalayas)
  • transform: sliding, conservative, no formations or volcanic activity
  • most active: Ring of Fire (Hawaii - island hotspots, fertile soil)
18
Q

Human impacts on lithosphere

A
  • deforestation –> erosion –> weak water banks –> flooding –> plants and animals displaced
  • mining
  • runoff and waste increases acidity and destroys soil quality
  • CO2 emissions –> chemical weathering and erosion
19
Q

Global vegetation patterns

A
  • climate (precipitation, temperature, light, wind)
  • topography (slope, aspect, altitude (1km up = 6.5 degrees colder))
  • edaphic (changes soil acidity, mineral content, texture colour etc)
  • biotic (plant competition, animal relationships)
20
Q

Human impacts on biosphere

A
  • deforestation: destroys habitats, food chains, ecosystems, etc.
21
Q

Coral polyps and zooxanthallae

A
  • symbiotic / mutualistic relationship
  • polyps: small animal that secretes hard outer shell of limestone that attaches to rock or dead polyps –> gives algae protection, CO2 and nutrients for photosynthesis
  • zooxanthallae: lives inside coral polyps –> gives coral oxygen, carbohydrates, bright colour, waste removal
  • coral polyps expel zooxanthellae if temp. exceeds 29 to conserve energy to photosynthesise –> coral bleaching –> coral dies if occurs for over a month
22
Q

Benefits of coral reefs

A
  • biodiversity: 25% of ocean’s fish depends on healthy coral reefs
  • protects coastlines from storms and erosion
  • provides tourism, jobs, recreation
  • cultural value
23
Q

Coral ideal growth and function

A
  • depth: 35m
  • temp.: 26 deg. (bleaches above 31)
  • high solar radiation for photosynthesis
  • low nutrient water to maintain low algae growth
  • saline water
  • circulating water
24
Q

Location of coral reefs

A
  • tropical waters near equator - Indo-Pacific region (GBR) has 91.9% of world’s coral reefs
  • Australia: GBR (high biodiversity, good managment / developed country)
  • Phillipines (2nd largest reef but high dynamite and cyanide fishing –> killing coral and fish, bioaccumulation)
  • Fiji (2/3 at risk from overfishing, coastal development, logging, and erosion)
  • St Kitts (black line algae: semi and untreated human waste, stop photosynthesis, developing country)
25
Q

Developing countries and coral reefs

A
  • Coral reefs are mainly found in developing countries
  • low income –> lack of food –> exploitation of fish
  • making money from the reefs –> destruction of coral
  • slums with poor sewerage and waste systems –> algae blooms, sunlight is blocked, kills coral
  • lack of government control, funding, and protection
  • coastal development for large amounts of tourism leads to erosion and silt / sedimentation
26
Q

Types of coral reefs

A
  • fringing: along coast, shallow water
  • barrier: paraller to shore but separated by lagoon or body of water
  • atoll: ring shaped surrounding undersea volcano that rose to the surface
  • patch: isolated patches that vary in size and grow from the bottom of continental shelves
  • cays: spit of sand
27
Q

Hard coral

A
  • Elkhorn: Caribbean, can grow up to 3.7m long and 1.8m high, groups called thickets, habitat for marine animals e.g. Caribbean Reef Octopus, threatened by white band disease, climate change, pollution, unsustainable fishing
  • Open brain coral: threatened due to use for home fish tanks, many fluro colours, Indo-Pacific
28
Q

Soft coral

A
  • Xenia coral: fastest growing soft coral, unique: uses “hands” to “pulse” water away, found in shallow seas under bright light and mid to high tide
  • Nepthea coral: branching with very fine polyps, flexible structure, Indo-Pacific (Fiji, Solomon Islands)
29
Q

Human impacts on GBR

A
  • climate change –> ocean warming –> coral bleaching
  • tropical cyclones: (naturally good for upwelling cold water, reducing coral bleaching, allowing new growth), strong winds –> rough seas –> breakage, rain –> reduced salinity –> increases runoff and sedimentation
  • COTS: occur naturally but outbreaks occur: run off, overfishing, global warming
  • pollution and water quality: overgrazing, erosion, chemical agricultural runoff –> eutrophication: oxygen supply is limited, so phytoplankton thrives which COTS larvae consumes and grows
30
Q

Impacts of deforestation

A
  • hydrosphere: increased ocean acidity due to excess CO2 in waterways and carbon sinks –> kills minerals and alters marine life food chains
  • atmosphere: CO2 emissions –> enhanced greenhouse effect –> warming of earth and atmosphere
  • lithosphere: damages land + no vegetation –> erosion
  • biosphere: loss of biodiversity, habitats
31
Q

Impacts of agricultural and industrial runoff

A
  • hydrosphere: silt and sedimentation from farming and pest/herbicides polluting waterways –> change of depth, blue green alage
  • atmosphere: dry acid rain (gases and dust carried by wind breaks down sandstone, buildings, cars, etc.)
  • lithosphere: chemical and physical erosion, degradation of soil quality, mining ruining land forms
  • biosphere: pest/herbicides and mercury killing plants and animals / bioaccumulation

GEOGRAPHY (1 decks)

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