Climate and Natural Vegetation

Question 1

How does latitude influence temperature in the hot desert

Answer 1

Further away from the equator = colder as further away from the sun’s rays.

Deserts generally between 10° and 30° from the equator.

More concentrated energy from the sun hat equator

Question 2

How does altitude influence temperature in the hot desert

Answer 2

The higher the altitude, colder it gets as the air is thinner.

Lower down, air is compact so it retains heat.

Top air is less dense so it can’t retain heat

Every 100m up, it gets 1°C cooler

Question 3

How does distance from the sea influence temperature in the hot desert

Answer 3

Water heats up and cools down slower than the land

Warmer by the sea at night, cooler by day.

Gulf stream

Water takes longer to loose or gain heat than land

Question 4

How do cold ocean currents influence the temperature in the hot desert

Answer 4

Cold ocean currents act like a conveyer belt

Transports cold water currents, mostly from poles to tropics, cooling it down.

If it goes onto the land, wind can bring down the temperature on the land, so it cools the desert down.

Cold currents
Cold air
Cold air holds little moisture
Dry deserts on the coast e.g Namibia, still very hot

Question 5

How does a lack of cloud cover influence the temperature in the hot desert

Answer 5

No clouds = hot day + cold night
Deserts have few clouds
Big diurnal temperature range

Question 6

How does aspect influence temperature in the hot desert

Answer 6

Aspect is the compass direction of a slope.

Not much effect on a desert.

In the Southern Hemisphere, dunes facing North will heat up more than dunes facing South.

Question 7

How does atmosphere pressure influence precipitation in the hot desert

Answer 7

High pressure = fewer clouds + dry climate

Not humid so less rain

Large diurnal temperature range

Deserts have high pressure

Question 8

How does cold ocean currents influence precipitation in the hot desert

?

Answer 8

Cold ocean currents cool air above the ocean

When the winds blow on West coast of deserts, it is all cold air.

Air cools + condenses which causes fog

Condensation removes moisture from air

Cold air holds less moisture

Question 9

How does relief influence participation in the hot desert

?

Answer 9

Moist air from sea cools and condenses
Hills or dunes act as rain rainshadows

Air descends, warms, and become drier

Question 10

How does temperature influence participation in the hot desert

Answer 10

Deserts are generally hot and dry as is the air

Very limited moisture in the air - very little evaporation occurs so very little precipitation occurs

If it does rain in the desert, heat means that storms are normally quite violent.

Question 11

What is an ecosystem

Answer 11

It’s an area in which plants and animals live in their environment in balance and are interlinked with it.

Question 12

What is a habitat

Answer 12

The ‘home’ of a plant or animal

Question 13

What is leaching

Answer 13

The removal of nutrients and other minerals from the soil as rainwater washes the minerals downwards through the soil.

Question 14

What is Humus

Answer 14

Soil material rich in nutrients due to the decomposition of animal and vegetable material

Question 15

What is Biodiversity

Answer 15

The full range of plant and animal species that exist within an ecosystem

Question 16

Give the nutrients cycle in tropical rainforests

Answer 16

Lots of fallen leaves
|
Leaves decay rapidly 
|
Nutrients added to the soil
|
Soil retains it's fertility
|
Dense vegetation growth

Question 17

Where are most nutrients stored in the rainforest ecosystem

Answer 17

Trees/vegetation

Question 18

Why is nutrient recycling so important in the tropical rainforest

Answer 18

So that new trees will constantly grow for ever, if there are no influencing activities.

No resting period (no seasons)

Not enough nutrients to support any new plants if the nutrients aren’t put back into the soil.

Soil in rainforests are generally quite poor.

Question 19

Why does the nutrient cycle make the rainforest practically fragile

Answer 19

Deforestation disrupts the cycle
Most of nutrients are in the leaves, so supply decreases

Very low chance of the rainforest recovering

Question 20

What percentage of the world’s surface is covered by rainforests

Answer 20

6%

Question 21

Over…% of all species on Earth live on just….% of it’s land surface

Answer 21

50%

6%

Question 22

What is a rain-shadow

Answer 22

The sheltered side of a range of mountains which receives little rain; air is descending and warming, therefore moisture evaporates and rain is unlikely

Question 23

What is a continental climate

Answer 23

The climate of areas unaffected by it’s proximity to the sea

Question 24

What is a Maritime climate

Answer 24

The climate of those areas lying next to the sea which are influenced by it

Question 25

What is relief rainfall

Answer 25

Precipitation formed when moist air is forced to rise over mountain ranges

Question 26

Where is Khartoum

Answer 26

A city in Sudan, also in the Sahara desert

Question 27

What is the climate

Answer 27

The average weather conditions over at least 30 years

Question 28

What is convectional rainfall

Answer 28

Precipitation formed by rising currents of warm, moist air

Question 29

Give 3 reasons on why Equatorial climates are so hot

Answer 29

Altatude Latitude Lack of clouds

Question 30

Give some reasons on why deserts are such a harsh place to live for plants + animals

Answer 30

Thin soil which is either rocky or sandy Soil contains little nutrients High concentration of salt in surface layer of ground Sandy soils are mobile, so can easily cover plants In summer it can reach 50°C in the day - 0°C at night Less than 250mm of rain per year

Question 31

What is the mean annual temperature of Khartoum

Answer 31

29.89°C

Question 32

What is the influence of continental prevailing winds on precipitation in Khartoum

Answer 32

Wind has travelled a long distance across a very dry climate (Sahara Desert), so it won't of picked up much moisture.

Question 33

What is the `Forrest Floor

Answer 33

The ground layer of the rainforest teeming with life and host to the bigger animals of the rainforest. Dark Little vegetation

Question 34

What is the Understory

Answer 34

Above the Forest Floor Cool, dark environment Sparsely vegetated

Question 35

What is the Under Canopy

Answer 35

In shade, but waiting to take advantage of next available light. Made up of small trees Vine have to climb trees to reach the sunlight

Question 36

What is the Canopy

Answer 36

Upper level of trees that form cover over the lower layers. Full of life, hime to many insects, birds, reptiles and mammals . Dense Trees rounded to get maximum sunlight

Question 37

What are the Emigrants

Answer 37

Giant trees that stick out above the canopy, taller than average trees. Widely spaced Small leaves Large roots

Question 38

What is the lowest precipitin required for the growth of the tropical rainforest

Answer 38

1500mm

Question 39

The tallest trees have...........roots

Answer 39

Buttress

Question 40

In such infertile soils, how is there such dense vegetation in the rainforest

Answer 40

Lots of decomposition, so nutrients taken up by other plants/trees. Hot damp conditions of rainforest floor allow rapid decomposition.

Question 41

How has a cactus adapted to the desert

Answer 41

Long roots go deep into the soil to absorb water Its leaves are spines to prevent water loss through transpiration Its stem is covered in a thick waxy layer to retain water

Question 42

How as an apex adapted to the desert

Answer 42

Rarely get water to drink as the get enough from the plant that they eat They have broad flat hooves so that they can easily walk along the desert without sinking (saving energy). White summer coat reflects sun Can sense rainfall miles away

Question 43

How as a camel adapted to the desert

Answer 43

Thick fur on top of body to act as shade, thin fur elsewhere for easy heat loss Loose little water through urination and sweating Slit like nostrils and two rows of eyelashes to keep sand out Humps store fat

Question 44

How has the Joshua tree adapted to the desert

Answer 44

Deep, wide root systems reaching up to 36 feet Thick waxy skin to prevent water loss through evaporation and transpiration Dead leaves collect near trunks to help protect it from the sun Channelled leaves tired rainfall towards the roots.

Question 45

Why has so much forest in Borneo been cleared

Answer 45

People from crowded urban areas, forced to move to rainforest, providing labour for logging and building roads. Palm oil trees planted. One hectare = 6000 litres of oil. Sarawalk - large area of forest cleared for hydroelectric power (Dams). 7 more of these to be built. Indonesian government promoting railways to link the coal mines to the ports. Roads open up the forest Forest conservation is generally less important to an LEDC than increasing the country's wealth. More logs exported from Borneo than from Africa and Latin America combined.

Question 46

Give 9 causes for deforestation generally

Answer 46

``` Rods and Transport Farming Dams Quarrying Pam oil Logging Urbanisation / Settlement Hotel / Tourism Slash and Burn ```