IA1 Landcover Transformations

Question 1

what is landcover?

Answer 1

land cover is the different materials that cover the earth. EG: forest, grass, roads

Question 2

what are physical systems?

Answer 2

• the atmosphere: air composition etc
• the lithosphere: earth’s layers
• the hydrosphere: the water sources
• the biosphere: earth/living things

Question 3

what is land cover transformation?

Answer 3

• loss of land cover is affecting the ability of the surface to reflect or absorb heat, due to changes in the surface albedo

Question 4

What happens to Australia during el nino?

Answer 4

• increases the chance of drought and bushfires in eastern Australia?
• most rainfall occurs in the ocean
• becomes more dry
• wind movement east to west
• water movement away from Australia

Question 5

What happens to Australia during la Nina?

Answer 5

• above average rainfall to eastern Australia
• warm and humid temperatures
• cyclones, storms and rainfall become worse
• becomes more wet
• equatorial trade winds become stronger (cooling winds)
• water movement towards Australia

Question 6

What is albedo?

Answer 6

• the proportion of light reflected by a surface

Question 7

what kind of surfaces have a high albedo?

Answer 7

light-colored surfaces such as snow or ice reflect heat

Question 8

what kind of surfaces have a low albedo?

Answer 8

dark colored surfaces such as rainforest, ploughed soil, ocean water absorb heat

Question 9

what is global warming?

Answer 9

the long-term heating of Earth’s surface observed since the pre-industrial period due to human activities, primarily fossil fuel burning, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas level in earth’s atmosphere.

Question 10

How will climate change impact biomes?

Answer 10

• change of climatic conditions, soil and food/water availability of an environment
• cause disruption to native animals –> relocation

Question 11

What are most common greenhouse gases?

Answer 11

• carbon dioxide
• methane
• nitrous oxide
• water vapor
• CFC’s

Question 12

What is the difference between greenhouse effect and global warming?

Answer 12

global warming is the change in the climate of the earth causing it to heat up, whereas the greenhouse effect is naturally occurring.

Question 13

What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?

Answer 13

A rapid increase in the emission of greenhouse gases due to human activity (industrial revolution)

Question 14

How have anthropogenic factors transformed land cover on earth?

Answer 14

sustained human interactions have resulted in long-term pressure on land and soil, changing land cover:
- deforestation
- desertification
- melting arctic
- high albedo –> high reflectivity –> increased global temp
- dying GBR

Question 15

what are the indicators of climate change?

Answer 15

• record high surface air and sea temps
• increased no. of hot days/year
• decreased no. of cold days/year
• increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather events
• changing of southern ocean currents
• melting ice caps and glaciers

Question 16

what impact does climate change impact landcover?

Answer 16

• deforestation of the forests results in more reflectivity increasing the heat trapped in the atmosphere
• melting of ice caps move absorption of heat in waters and higher sea levels
• desert cover increase leads to more reflectivity meaning more heat trapped in the atmosphere

Question 17

are greenhouse gases good?

Answer 17

• required to protect some heat in planet as without earth would be inhabitable
• large accumulation due to human activity is not good - causing planet to warm to unnatural temps

Question 18

what are primary, secondary and tertiary impact of bush fires?

Answer 18

primary: the action of burning - immediate death and destruction
secondary: displacement of people and wildlife
tertiary: economic losses due to the replacement of damaged areas.