E01 Geography Flashcards
(21 cards)
How do people impact the HYDROSPHERE
Cities produce a lot of waste and contain chemicals not naturally in the environment. Impenetrable surfaces like sidewalks and asphalt mean surface runoff picks this up and delivers it to bodies of water, causing:
- Eutrophication
- The death of flora and fauna
- A denial of sunlight to aquatic life
Overfishing to feed people is also bad
How do people impact the LITHOSPHERE (Land degradation)
When cities are developed land needs to be cleared. Vegetation acts as an anchor for the top, nutrient dense layer of soil. When vegetation is removed, the topsoil becomes susceptible to erosion and a loss of productivity
A misuse of groundwater can also cause land subsidence
How do people impact the ATMOSPHERE
The large energy demands of cities warrant fossil fuels as a means to meet the demands. The burning of these emits greenhouse gasses which cause hazy, smoggy, hotter air and acidic rain
Low-albedo surfaces also cause higher ambient temperatures
What is the HEAT ISLAND EFFECT
A phenomenon in urban environments where the temperature is higher than surrounding non-urban areas
What is it about urban areas that causes the HEAT ISLAND EFFECT
Surfaces in urban environments like asphalt have LOW ALBEDO. They heat up and radiate heat into surrounding. Vegetation absorbs infrared rays (heat) and transpires cooler air into its surroundings.
What is URBAN SPRAWL
The expansion of cities into rural areas to accommodate for the low-density housing needs of a growing population
What is URBAN INFILLING
The urbanization of ALREADY DEVELOPED so it can accommodate more residents to make use of already existing services and infrastructure like shops, hospitals etc.
What is URBAN DECLINE
A process where a city/neighborhood deteriorates and/or loses functionality
What are 2 causes of URBAN DECLINE
Natural
- Unchecked aging
- Natural disasters
Human
- Social, political, economic
- War
Define SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
How things are arranged in a geographical area or ‘space’
What does it mean for data to be CLUSTERED
Data points grouped up, forming visible high concentration areas
What does it mean for data to be DISPERSED
Data points spread relatively evenly at low density
What does it mean for data to be RANDOM
Data points have no pattern
What is the layout of the HYDROSPHERE
See diagram in book, should go like:
Ocean water evaporates vegetation transpires, condenses to make clouds. Clouds release water as precipitation and this goes either:
Into the ground through infiltration and percolation, forming aquifers that provide for humans and plants. When aquifers are full, groundwater flows for vegetation to use and back to the ocean
OR
Water runs on surface for vegetation to use and to the ocean or bodies of water
Describe the GREENHOUSE EFFECT
See diagram in book, should go like:
The Sun’s energy reaches Earth, mostly as visible light and some ultraviolet and infrared radiation. The Earth’s surface absorbs this energy and warms up. It then re-emits the energy as infrared radiation (heat). Some of this heat escapes into space, but greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap part of it, warming the atmosphere and maintaining Earth’s temperature.
What is different about the ENHANCED GREENHOUSE EFFECT?
More greenhouse gasses are able to absorb more infrared heat radiated from Earth and therefore re-radiate more heat and increase the temperature of the atmosphere
What causes the ENHANCED GREENHOUSE EFFECT?
Burning fossil fuels and industrial processes releases large amounts of CO2
Deforestation means the CO2 stored in trees is released
Landfills and agriculture releases CH4
ALL mean the Earth is heating up, and therefore the ocean is evaporating more, meaning more water vapour which is also a greenhouse gas ends up in the atmosphere
What is an implication for managing the Environment and a solution?
CFC’s
Found in refrigerants, aerosols and has impact on Ozone layer, thinning it. Solution is something like the Montreal Protocol which was an agreement to phase out CFC’s in many countries
Fossil Fuels
Burned to provide energy for manufacturing and energy, contributing to enhanced greenhouse effect. Solutions include renewable energy, which relieve the energy needs on fossil fuels with clean, sustainable energy
What are some challenges of URBAN GROWTH in MUMBAI
Economic boom due to growing population, but fast development of housing led to slums with little to no access to stable employment, sanitation or potable water
What are some challenges of URBAN GROWTH in PERTH
Growing population needs housing, land is cleared to develop them. Loss of biodiversity and protected habitats as well as increased reliance on greenhouse gas emitting cars
More low density housing in rural areas puts strain on existing services, and pressure to build more
What challenges does JAKARTA face
Land subsidence due to excess groundwater use. Aquifers are depleted and there is nothing left to hold the land above it so it sinks on itself
