Geography year 11 exam

Question 1

Climate Change

Answer 1

Long-term changes in the physical system (biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere) that change the Earth’s climate

Question 2

Global Warming

Answer 2

The gradual increase in temperature in the Earth’s atmosphere

Question 3

photosynthesis

Answer 3

a process in which they use carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, along with sunlight and water, to produce glucose and other organic compounds. This process removes CO2 from the atmosphere and stores carbon in plant biomass..

Question 4

decomposition

Answer 4

Is the process of breaking down plants. Over vast periods of time, layers of sediment build on each other. Because of the pressure and heat from within the Earth’s crust, it generates fossil fuels

Question 5

Respiration

Answer 5

During respiration, organic matter is broken down to release energy, and carbon dioxide is produced as a byproduct. This returns carbon to the atmosphere

Question 6

Combustion

Answer 6

The burning of fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas, for energy production releases carbon stored in these fuels into the atmosphere as CO2. This is a major source of anthropogenic (human-caused) carbon emissions and contributes to climate change.

Question 7

Atmosphere (gas)

Answer 7

Layer of gas surrounding the earth
Crucial in regulating climate and weather patterns

Question 8

Hydrosphere (water)

Answer 8

Refers to all the water on the earth in different formats e.g., oceans, lakes, water vapour, ice sheets
Important to regulate the climate

Question 9

Lithosphere

Answer 9

The solid outer layer of the Earth.
Responsible for landforms such as mountains, valleys and plateaus

Question 10

Biosphere (living)

Answer 10

Zone on Earth where life exists
Include all living organisms from plants to animals
Influence by climate, water and geology

Question 11

Carbon sequestration

Answer 11

The removal/storage of CO2 and other carbon products to reduce the effects of climate change

Question 12

Greenhouse Gas Effect

Answer 12

Is a natural process that regulates the Earth’s temperature and makes it suitable for life.

Question 14

Wind Pressure

Answer 14

Wind pressure, or atmospheric circulation, is driven by differences in temperature and pressure across the Earth’s surface.
Warm air rises at the equator, creating a low-pressure zone, and cool air sinks at the poles, forming a high-pressure zone.
Wind flows from high to low-pressure areas, creating global wind patterns, including the trade winds, westerlies, and polar easterlies.
These wind patterns influence weather patterns and climate zones around the world.

Question 15

Heat Transfer

Answer 15

The unequal heating of the Earth’s surface due to variations in solar energy absorption creates temperature differences between the equator and the poles.
Heat is transported from the equator toward the poles through a combination of atmospheric circulation and ocean currents.
This heat transfer helps maintain temperature gradients and influences the climate zones and seasons experienced in different regions.

Question 16

Precipitation Patterns

Answer 16

Precipitation patterns are closely tied to atmospheric circulation and temperature.
Warm, moist air rises, cools, and condenses to form clouds and precipitation. This process is responsible for rainfall in many regions.
Rainfall patterns are influenced by factors such as proximity to oceans, mountain ranges, and atmospheric phenomena like monsoons.
This leads to the development of diverse climate zones, including arid deserts, tropical rainforests, and temperate climates.

Question 17

Convectional Rain

Answer 17

Occurs when warm air rises, cools and condenses = clouds and rain
Tropical/equatorial regions
Associated with hail/grauple

Question 18

Orographic/Relief Rain

Answer 18

Moist air is being forced to ascend over elevated terrain
As the air rises, it cools and condenses = formation of clouds/rain on the windward (upwind) side of the mountain
The leeward (downwind) side of the mountain receives much less rain (rain shadow)

Question 19

Cyclonic/Frontal Rain

Answer 19

Two air masses with different temperatures and moisture levels meet
Warm moist meets cold dense
Warm air rises over the colder air = clouds and rain
Widespread and long-lasting
Mid-latitude regions

Question 20

Ocean Circulation

Answer 20

Ocean circulation is driven by the global wind patterns, temperature gradients, and the Earth’s rotation.
Major ocean currents, such as the Gulf Stream, redistribute heat across the oceans and influence regional climates.
Ocean circulation also affects marine ecosystems, weather patterns, and can contribute to extreme events like hurricanes and cyclones.
Changes in ocean circulation can have significant impacts on climate and weather on a global scale.
Helps trap CO2

Question 21

Trade Winds

Answer 21

consistent, prevailing winds that blow from east to west in the tropics, roughly between the equator and about 30 degrees latitude in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. Depending on the hemisphere, they are called Northeast or Southeast trades
Reliable as they were used for trading

Question 22

EL Nino

Answer 22

Warm phase- Pacific ocean becomes warm
Atmospheric pressure decreases over the western pacific ocean
Eastern Pacific’s atmospheric pressure rises
Weakening of trade winds- harm to marine ecosystems

Question 23

La Nina

Answer 23

Cool phase- Pacific ocean
Atmospheric pressure increases over the western pacific ocean
Eastern Pacific’s atmospheric pressure lower
Reinforces normal oceanic patterns and trade winds

Question 24

IOD

Answer 24

Difference in sea surface temperature between the western Indian Ocean and eastern Indian Ocean south of Indonesia.

Question 25

Positive IOD

Answer 25

Western part (near Africa) of the Indian ocean becomes warmer, while eastern part (near Australia) becomes cooler Heavy rains and floods in East Africa, Drought in AUS

Question 26

Negative IOD

Answer 26

Western part (near Africa) of the Indian ocean becomes cooler, while eastern part (near Australia) becomes warmer Heavy rains and floods in AUS, Drought in East Africa

Question 27

High Albedo

Answer 27

100% ray of sun is only reflected at 80% once bounces of light coloured/white surface

Question 28

Low Albedo

Answer 28

100% ray of sun is only reflected at 10% once bounces of dark coloured/black surface

Question 29

Anthropogenic biomes

Answer 29

Areas that have experienced sustained human interaction are called anthropogenic biomes ¾ of the Erath’s ground surface has now been directly affected by human activities. 24% of the Earth’s surface is most likely to experience a decline in ecosystem function and productivity

Question 30

Forests

Answer 30

Dominated by trees Cover approx. 31% of land surface Support most terrestrial biodiversity Contain up to 80% of the total plant biomass Estimated that 1.6 billion people rely on forests for food, water, timber, clothing, and traditional medicine Anthropogenic activity is reducing the amount of forest land cover all over the world. This has reduced by 10 million km2. From 50 million to 40 million km2. Approximately 7.3 million hectares are destroyed each year. These are mostly rainforests in Indonesia, Brazil, Thailand and the Democratic Republic of Congo. A forest’s greatest asset is probably the ability for carbon sequestration. A healthy growing tree can absorb about 20 kg of CO2 each year. A tree that has lived for 40 years will have stored at least a tonne of CO2.

Question 31

Rainforests

Answer 31

Cover about 6% of the world’s land surface Found between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn Believed to produce up to 40% of Earth’s oxygen Forest clearing (deforestation) is occurring on a large scale in places like Brazil and Indonesia. Trees are cleared and replaced with livestock ranching and farming, plantation agriculture (palm oil and coffee) and mining. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), deforestation is currently occurring at a rate of approximately 27 football fields per minute

Question 32

Grassland

Answer 32

Grasslands form a transition zone between forest regions and deserts. Human activities in savanna and grasslands vary from country to country. It is the best biome for agriculture. Many communities use these areas for nomadic herding and grazing of livestock, and parts of South Africa, Botswana and Namibia harvest wood, fruit and seeds. In Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, savanna and grasslands are used as national parks and large-scale safari tourism, which brings money into the country.  Mismanagement of anthropogenic activities in savanna areas, such as over grazing, make them prone to land degradation. 

Question 33

Threats to grassland

Answer 33

Almost half of all temperate grasslands and 16 percent of tropical grasslands have been converted to agricultural or industrial uses and only one percent of the original tallgrass prairie exists today. Specific threats include- Poor agricultural practices can ruin soil and strip grasslands of life. If crops are not rotated properly, the soil can become infertile and nothing can be grown for several years. Monocropping is an agricultural practice that depletes the soil’s nutrients.  Toxic pesticides used in agricultural croplands can be deadly for wild flora and fauna. Grazing livestock can consume, trample, and destroy grasses. Continued global warming could turn current marginal grasslands into deserts as rainfall patterns change. Development of urban areas is increasingly cutting into grassland habitat. Invasive species can displace native plants and reduce the quality of a grassland. Invasive plants may not be equipped to handle extreme weather, like droughts and wildfires, thus resulting in further habitat loss.

Question 34

Deserts

Answer 34

Deserts are areas that receive less than 250 mm of rain in a year and where land has less than 50 per cent of the ground surface covered by vegetation. It is estimated that deserts (hot and cold) cover approximately 20 per cent of the terrestrial surface.  Despite their often harsh conditions, deserts are used by people for mining and extensive cattle grazing, scientific observations, remote weapons testing and military bases

Question 35

Biome Location

Answer 35

Between 15-30 degrees from the equator, due to the high pressure systems at these latitudes. On the Western sides of continents, due to cold ocean currents (therefore poor evaporation). High on mountain ranges due to the rain-shadow effect.

Question 36

Desertification

Answer 36

Desertification is a form of land degradation that transforms land that was once fertile and arable into unproductive arid land.  The continued expansion of desert areas through the process of desertification will have significant ramifications on albedo. Desert areas have some of the highest rates of albedo and any increase in size will subsequently increase the amount of heat being reflected back into the atmosphere. Much of the large-scale desertification was originated by poor traditional farming methods that eventually led to erosion and soil loss.

Question 37

Tundra

Answer 37

Treeless regions found in the Arctic  Extremely cold climate Very little rainfall Low biodiversity Simple vegetation structure Short season of growth and reproductions (The summer growing season is just 50 to 60 days, when the sun shines up to 24 hours a day. Energy and nutrients in the form of dead organic material Large population oscillations Permafrost- ground that is frozen for 2+ years

Question 38

Tundra and Climate Change

Answer 38

The oil, gas, and mining industries can disrupt fragile tundra habitats. Drilling wells can thaw permafrost, while heavy vehicles and pipeline construction can damage soil and prevent vegetation from returning. Climate change is driving down populations of some Arctic tundra natives such as caribou (also known as reindeer) Chemicals used in coolants and aerosol sprays have driven ozone depletion at the North and South Poles, which can let in stronger ultraviolet rays

Question 39

Permafrost Positive Feedback Loop

Answer 39

Warming creates potential feedback loops that encourage further destabilization of tundra ecosystems. As the permafrost melts it releases methane, which is a greenhouse gas. The higher temperatures drive the growth of shrubs, which can change soil temperature and prevent snow from reflecting out heat. Which then causes more heating

Question 40

Causes of Carbon Dioxide

Answer 40

Burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) 50% is being absorbed and other is being released at 0.5% per year

Question 41

Causes of Methane

Answer 41

Found in natural gas Burning fossil fuels, ruminant animals, rice paddies and landfills Methane levels are increasing about 0.9% per year As permafrost begins to thaw, much of the stores methane is slowly releasing

Question 42

Causes of Chlorofluorocarbons

Answer 42

Gases used in fridge coolants, A/C, plastic foam (phased out

Question 43

Causes of Nitrous Oxide

Answer 43

Burning fossil fuels, biomass and some fertiliser Life span of 150 years are responsible for 3% of global warming

Question 44

Causes of Water Vapour

Answer 44

Very little effect Becomes an issue as increased CO2 enables the atmosphere to hold more moisture

Question 45

Effects of Thermal Expansion

Answer 45

Rising sea levels (20cm by 2030) Low-lying countries become vulnerable to storm surges and cyclones

Question 46

Effects of Warmer Oceans

Answer 46

More water vapour in the atmosphere Increases melting of ice

Question 47

Effects of Glaciers melting

Answer 47

More rapid than usual Reduces snow cover, reduces albedo

Question 48

Effects of Changes in Air and Ocean Temperatures

Answer 48

Effects air and water circulation = changes to weather Extreme weather (hotter and drier) in some places

Question 49

Indicators

Answer 49

Record high surface air temp Increased/decreased average number of hot/cold days Increased intensity and frequency of extreme events Changing rainfall pattern Increasing sea surface temp. Rising sea level Increased ocean heat content and acidification Melting ice caps and glaciers Decreasing arctic sea ice