PMA1 P2

Question 1

What is the climate type of Baker Lake, Canada?

Answer 1

Tundra

Question 2

What is the temperature at Baker Lake?

Answer 2

T = -11.9 °C

Question 3

What is the average annual precipitation at Baker Lake?

Answer 3

P = 208 mm

Question 4

What are the maximum and minimum temperatures recorded?

Answer 4

Temp Max: 11°; Temp Min: -33°

Question 5

What is the temperature range in Baker Lake?

Answer 5

Temp Range: 44°

Question 6

What are the maximum and minimum rainfall amounts?

Answer 6

Rainfall Max: 45mm; Rainfall Min: 2mm

Question 7

During which months does freezing occur in Baker Lake?

Answer 7

Freezing occurs for most of the year, especially in January and February.

Question 8

What are some characteristics of tundra vegetation?

Answer 8

Plants are compact, have hairy stems, small needle-like leaves, and shallow root systems.

Question 9

Why do tundra plants have small, needle-like leaves?

Answer 9

To reduce water loss from the leaf surface.

Question 10

What is the active layer in tundra soils?

Answer 10

A thin layer of soil in which plants can grow, while the subsurface and rock are frozen all year.

Question 11

What is the depth to which frozen ground may extend in tundra regions?

Answer 11

The frozen ground may extend as deep as 450 m.

Question 12

Why is tundra soil high in organic material?

Answer 12

Because it is too cold for dead organisms to decompose.

Question 13

What adaptations do polar bears have for camouflage?

Answer 13

Hollow and transparent fur reflects light, making them appear white in the snow.

Question 14

What helps polar bears grip icy surfaces?

Answer 14

Small bumps on their footpads, called pupillae.

Question 15

What adaptations do polar bears have for hunting?

Answer 15

Long, thick, curved claws help them kill and catch prey.

Question 16

How do polar bears distribute their weight?

Answer 16

They have large paws to distribute their weight evenly.

Question 17

What color is the skin beneath a polar bear’s fur and why?

Answer 17

The skin is black to help absorb heat.

Question 18

What helps polar bears keep warm?

Answer 18

Thick layers of fur and body fat provide insulation.

Question 19

What percentage of the Earth’s land surface can be comfortably inhabited by humans?

Answer 19

Around 11% of the land surface can be comfortably inhabited by humans.

Question 20

What are the physical factors that affect population distribution?

Answer 20

Water supply, climate, relief (shape of the land), vegetation, soils, and availability of natural resources and energy.

Question 21

How do culture and traditions influence birth rates?

Answer 21

In some places, having many children is seen as good or important, and cultures may expect early marriage and family formation.

Question 22

What impact does limited education have on birth rates?

Answer 22

Limited education, especially for girls, often leads to a lack of knowledge about family planning and birth control.

Question 23

How does access to birth control affect population growth?

Answer 23

Limited access to birth control can result in families having more children than they plan.

Question 24

What economic reasons contribute to higher birth rates in farming areas?

Answer 24

More children can help with work in farming areas, leading families to desire larger families for support.

Question 25

How do religious beliefs influence birth rates?

Answer 25

Some religions may not allow birth control or encourage larger families.

Question 26

What healthcare issues can lead to higher birth rates?

Answer 26

In areas with poor healthcare, common infant deaths may lead families to have more children to ensure some survive.

Question 27

How does a young population affect birth rates?

Answer 27

Countries with many young people naturally have higher birth rates as more individuals are at the age to start families.

Question 28

What are tropical storms?

Answer 28

A system of intense low pressure.

Question 29

What minimum seawater temperature is required for tropical storms?

Answer 29

At least 26°C, and must be warmed to at least 50 metres.

Question 30

Which latitudes are tropical storms found in?

Answer 30

Between 5º and 20º north and south of the Equator.

Question 31

Why are tropical storms not found on the Equator?

Answer 31

The spinning effect on the earth (Coriolis effect) is not strong.

Question 32

Which direction do hurricanes mainly move in?

Answer 32

The same direction as the trade winds.

Question 33

What is the first stage of a tropical storm?

Answer 33

Tropical depressions - areas of low pressure where warm air rises.

Question 34

How are tropical storms measured?

Answer 34

The Saffir-Simpson scale places them into one of five categories of disaster.

Question 35

What wind speed is required for the classification of a tropical storm?

Answer 35

118 km/h.

Question 36

When are tropical storms most likely to occur?

Answer 36

In the summer and autumn when sea temperatures are at their highest.

Question 37

What happens as air rises over the sea?

Answer 37

The warm air powers the storm. The air cools, condenses and sinks again.

Question 38

What happens in the eye of a tropical storm?

Answer 38

The cooler, denser air sinks and conditions are calmer.

Question 39

What is high pressure?

Answer 39

High pressure is formed from cold air sinking due to it being more dense.

Question 40

What does high pressure bring?

Answer 40

Calm, clear and dry conditions.

Question 41

What is low pressure?

Answer 41

Low pressure is formed from warm air rising.

Question 42

What does low pressure bring?

Answer 42

Windy and wet conditions.

Question 43

What is the Coriolis Effect?

Answer 43

The spin of the earth that causes storms to spin.

Question 44

What is the Saffir-Simpson Scale?

Answer 44

The scale used to measure the strength of tropical storms.

Question 45

What are the warm oceans where tropical storms form?

Answer 45

Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans.

Question 46

Which continents are affected by tropical storms?

Answer 46

South East Asia, Northern Australasia, East coast of Africa, Southern North America, and Northern South America.

Question 47

Which countries are affected by tropical storms?

Answer 47

Cuba, South East USA, Madagascar, Vietnam, Philippines.

Question 48

What was Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 48

Typhoon Haiyan made landfall in the Philippines on November 8, 2013, as a Category 5 storm, affecting the Visayas group of islands and home to 17 million people.

Question 49

What was one social impact of Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 49

One social impact was the very high death toll and extremely high level of destruction to people's homes. ## Footnote For example, around 1.9 million people were displaced.

Question 50

What were the consequences of the high death toll from Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 50

Bodies were left on the side of the road, decomposing, leading to a strong smell and increased risk of disease spread.

Question 51

What happened to people's homes during Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 51

Many people were made homeless as their houses were completely destroyed, resulting in the loss of personal possessions.

Question 52

What was the path of Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 52

Typhoon Haiyan made landfall in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, traveled through Tacloban, and continued northwest before reaching Vietnam.

Question 53

What was a significant impact on people's access to resources after Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 53

Due to damaged buildings and infrastructure, people had very limited access to food and were treated for injuries without anesthetic.

Question 54

How do storms form in the British Isles?

Answer 54

Storms form due to low-pressure systems that can bring wet, windy, and stormy weather, particularly during winter months.

Question 55

What is wind shear?

Answer 55

Wind shear is a phenomenon where significant changes in wind speed and direction occur at different heights in the atmosphere.

Question 56

What are jet streams?

Answer 56

Jet streams are fast-flowing currents of air found at around 8 to 11 kilometers above sea level, with winds often exceeding 69 miles per hour.

Question 57

What causes polar jet streams?

Answer 57

Polar jet streams are caused by significant temperature contrasts where warm air meets cold air, leading to cyclonic circulation.

Question 58

What was one economic impact of Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 58

The total cost of rebuilding the Philippines was estimated to be around $36 billion, leading to significant loss of income for the people. ## Footnote This caused many to become poorer as they had no way of making a living.

Question 59

What was an environmental impact of Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 59

The large-scale destruction of infrastructure affected an estimated 74,000 hectares of land, blocking transport networks and access to clean water.

Question 60

How did Typhoon Haiyan affect local ecosystems?

Answer 60

Natural habitats were destroyed, leading to a huge loss in biodiversity, which negatively impacted farming and fishing communities.

Question 61

What happens when a cold front overtakes a warm front in a cyclone?

Answer 61

When the cold front overtakes the warm front, all of the warm air is lifted above the surface, leading to a lessened temperature contrast and weakening of the cyclone.