Jeffrey > Geography test 2 > Flashcards

Geography test 2 Flashcards

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1
Q

Who is one of the founders of modern climate and modern meteorology?

A

Koppen

He developed the Koppen Climate Classification System.

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2
Q

The Koppen Climate Classification System uses which two main factors?

A
  • Temperatures
  • Precipitation

It links vegetation to climates.

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3
Q

The Koppen Climate Classification System divides the world into what?

A
  • Big categories
  • Sub-categories

Letters start at the equator and go along as you move to the poles.

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4
Q

What are the three types of A (tropical) climate?

A
  • Tropical wet
  • Tropical savanna
  • Tropical monsoon

Tropical climates are characterized by hot and wet conditions.

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5
Q

The savanna climate has what kind of vegetation?

A

Long grasses

It experiences a short dry season.

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6
Q

What is the monsoon climate characterized by?

A

Seasonal reversal of winds

This is particularly noted in Southeast Asia.

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7
Q

What percentage of the globe do dry climates cover?

A

30%

Dry climates include deserts and steppes.

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8
Q

What are the two main categories of dry climates?

A
  • Desert
  • Steppe

Steppes are characterized by short grasses.

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9
Q

The Great Plains are an example of what climate type?

A

Steppe climate

They are considered the breadbasket of the world.

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10
Q

What is the climate type C in the Koppen system?

A

Mild Midlatitude

It includes humid subtropical and Mediterranean climates.

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11
Q

What are the characteristics of subtropical** climates?

A
  • Hot muggy summers
  • Mild winters

An example is South Carolina.

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12
Q

What is a defining feature of D (severe midlatitude) climates?

A

Located in the northern hemisphere

Examples include Alaska, Canada, and Russia.

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13
Q

What is the defining feature of E (polar) climates?

A

Permafrost

These climates are found at the highest latitudes.

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14
Q

What is the H (highland) climate characterized by?

A

Elevation effects on climate

Examples include areas like mount evrest

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15
Q

Define biosphere.

A

All living things in the world

It encompasses various biomes.

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16
Q

What is the climate of the Tropical Rainforest?

A

Hot and rainy all year

It is closely related to climates of tropical wet (Af) and monsoon (Am).

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17
Q

What is a characteristic of the Tropical Deciduous Forest?

A

Trees shed leaves in dry season

It has warm temperatures but seasonal rains.

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18
Q

What defines the Tropical Scrub biome?

A
  • Low trees
  • Tall bushes
  • Understory of grasses

It is found in drier portions of tropical savanna.

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19
Q

What is the climate of the Desert biome?

A

Very dry, hot or cold

It has sparse vegetation and small animals adapted to dryness.

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20
Q

What is the Mediterranean Woodland and Shrub biome characterized by?

A
  • Wet winters
  • Dry summers

Dominant vegetation includes woody shrubs known as chaparral.

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21
Q

What is the climate of the Midlatitude Grassland?

A

Moderate, seasonal

Wetter areas have taller prairie grasses.

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22
Q

What is a defining feature of the Boreal Forest?

A

Conifer trees (pine, spruce)

It is also known as taiga.

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23
Q

What characterizes the Tundra biome?

A

Cold, dry, short summers

It has no trees and frozen soil.

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24
Q

Define biogeography.

A

Study of distribution patterns of living organisms

It examines relationships among organisms and their environment.

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25
What is a **habitat**?
The environment in which species are adapted to live ## Footnote It is crucial for species survival.
26
What is an **ecosystem**?
All organisms in an area and their interaction with the environment ## Footnote Ecosystems can vary widely in size and complexity.
27
Define **niche**.
A species-specific role or function in a habitat ## Footnote It describes how a species interacts with its environment.
28
What is an **exotic species**?
Non-native species introduced to an area ## Footnote They do not occur naturally in that environment.
29
What is an **invasive species**?
An introduced species that harms its new environment ## Footnote Invasive species can disrupt local ecosystems.
30
What are **biotic** and **abiotic** factors?
* Biotic: Living systems * Abiotic: Nonliving systems ## Footnote Both factors interact to shape ecosystems.
31
What is **flora**?
Plants ## Footnote It encompasses all plant life in a given area.
32
What is **fauna**?
Animals ## Footnote It includes all animal life in a given area.
33
What is an **ecotone**?
A region of transition between two biological communities ## Footnote It is where typical species of one biome intermingle with another.
34
What are **vertebrates**?
Animals with a backbone ## Footnote This group includes fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
35
What are **invertebrates**?
Animals that lack a backbone ## Footnote More than 90% of all animal species fall into this category.
36
What is **symbiosis**?
Interaction between two different organisms living in close association ## Footnote It includes mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.
37
What is **mutualism**?
Both species benefit ## Footnote An example is bees pollinating flowers.
38
What is **commensalism**?
One species benefits while the other isn't harmed ## Footnote An example is barnacles on whales.
39
What is **parasitism**?
One species harms another ## Footnote An example is ticks feeding on mammals.
40
What is **competition** in ecology?
Species use and need the same resources ## Footnote It can lead to resource depletion.
41
Who created the **six zoogeographic regions** to classify animals?
Alfred Wallace ## Footnote His work laid the foundation for biogeography.
42
What percentage of the world's water is stored in **oceans**?
97% ## Footnote The remaining 3% is freshwater, mostly in glaciers.
43
What is **evaporation**?
Liquid to gas ## Footnote Most evaporation occurs over the oceans.
44
What is **transpiration**?
Water vapor released from plants ## Footnote It contributes to the water cycle.
45
What is **condensation**?
Gas to liquid ## Footnote It is a key process in the water cycle.
46
What is **precipitation**?
Rain, snow, sleet, hail ## Footnote It is a form of water returning to the Earth's surface.
47
How many **oceans** are there?
5 ## Footnote They include the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern oceans.
48
What are the **five oceans**?
* Pacific * Atlantic * Indian * Arctic * Southern ## Footnote The Pacific is the largest, occupying one-third of the total surface area.
49
What is the **cryosphere**?
Permanent ice covering 10% of Earth's surface ## Footnote It is related to the thawing of permafrost.
50
Define **permafrost**.
Ground ice that is permanently frozen ## Footnote It occurs where temperatures are continuously below freezing.
51
What is the **Ogallala Aquifer**?
Largest aquifer in the USA ## Footnote It underlies eight states and is crucial for groundwater mining.
52
What is the difference between a **swamp** and a **marsh**?
Swamp has trees; marsh is mainly grass ## Footnote This distinction is based on vegetation.
53
What is **soil**?
The upper layer of earth where plants grow ## Footnote It consists of organic and inorganic material.
54
What are the **five factors** for soil formation?
* Geological * Climatic * Topographic * Biological * Time ## Footnote These factors influence soil characteristics.
55
What is **humus**?
Brown, black gelatinous organic matter ## Footnote It facilitates root development and acts as a reservoir for nutrients.
56
What is **loam**?
Texture where none of clay, silt, sand are dominant ## Footnote It is considered the best for agricultural production.
57
What is an **Entisol**?
Least developed soil with little mineral alteration ## Footnote It is widespread and not correlated with specific moisture or temperature conditions.
58
What are **Mollisols** known for?
High in humus and most productive soil order ## Footnote They are common in the Great Plains.
59
What are **Ultisols** characterized by?
Clay-rich B horizons, low base status ## Footnote They are thoroughly weathered and leached of nutrients.
60
What is the **distribution** of major soils like?
Different compared to the world ## Footnote Mollisols are much more common in the United States than globally.
61
Where is A
near the equator
62
Where is B
mid latitude
63
Characteristics of the Mediterranean biome
The Mediterranean biome is characterized by mild, rainy winters and warm, dry summers.
64
Rain forest
high annual rainfall, warm and humid temperatures, nutrient-poor soil, and extremely high biodiversity.
65
steppe characteristics
Steppes are temperate grasslands with distinct seasons, characterized by a semi-arid climate and low annual rainfall.
66
location of c
midlatitude
67
An example of an invasive species
kudzu
68
location of d
mid-to-high latitude (severe mid latitude)
69
location of e
high latitude
70
location of h
high lands
71
mild mid-latitude examples
Mediterranean, humid subtropical, marine west coast
72
severe mid-latitude examples
humid continental and subtropical
73
Where do you find most of the fresh water
You find most fresh water in glaciers.
74
The difference between sea and ocean
Seas are shallower, surrounded by land and saltier, and oceans are deep, wide, and open
75
Marsh vs swamp
Marsh is grassy, and a swamp has trees
76
Ice pack vs ice float
Ice flow is a really wide flat of floating ice, and an ice pack is a lot of flows compacted as one big unit
77
ice shelf
ice shelf if a big giant fresh water wall that is half on land and half floating over the ocean
78
calving
is when you have nig chuncks of the ice shelf that break off causing ice bergs
79
ice bergs
tall pieces of ice that float individually
80
arial sea
lake that dried up in Russia (major disaster)
81
fossil water
ancient water
82
Is fossil water renewable or non-renewable
Fossil water is a non-renewable resource
83
mechanical weathering
Mechanical is the degradation of Earth's material
84
What is chemical weathering
Chemical is when you have a chemical reaction that erodes Earth's materials
85
example of chemical weathering
Water interacts with certain chemicals, which can break down rocks and create caves (limestone is the most common example of this)
86
tree line
the edge of an environment where trees go from being capable to not being able to not
87
adret slope vs ubac
adret slopes receive a lot of sunlight while ubac slopes receive little direct sunlight
88
what is the best soil
loam are the best soils
89
O horizon
Organic, surface layer, common in forests
90
A horizon
also known as topsoil, mineral horizon that contains organic matter
91
entsiols
least developed of all siols
92
andisols
volcanic soils
93
histosoils
wet swampy soils
94
airdsols
aird soils
95
mollisols
most productive soils
96
ultisols
the soils in our backyards and in the US
97
R horizon
Bed rock with little to no weathering
98
Separates
the standard classification of soil particle sizes
99
five factors for soil formation
Geological, climatic, topographic, biological, time
100
bioturbation
mixing of soil by animals
101
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104
105
Humus
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