revision geo Flashcards
(42 cards)
what is natural climate change?
a process that has occurred throughout earth’s history
what is anthropogenic?
human caused or induced
what are critical features that help the Earth support life?
- a rocky planet
- distance from the sun
- temp (solid, liquid, gaseous states)
- oxygen
- carbon supply
- angled at 23.5* (seasons)
- tidal movement
structure of the atmosphere from furthest to closest
exosphere
thermosphere
mesosphere
stratosphere
troposphere
composition of our atmosphere?
nitrogen (78.06%)
oxygen (20.95%)
CO2 (0.038%)
Greenhouse Gases
carbon dioxide
methane
nitrous oxide
examples of what humans do to that affect the carbon cycle
- agriculture
- burning fossil fuels
- deforestation
- industrial processes
what does la nina mean?
wetter than average periods
what does el nino mean?
dryer than average periods
alternative energy examples?
- solar
- wind
- natural hydro
- natural gas
- pumped hydro
-ethanol
-pressurised methane gas
effects of global warming
- sea level rise
- loss of sea life
- melting glaciers
- intense heat waves
- stronger storms and wildfires
- long-lasting drought
- poverty and displacement
- ocean acidification (sun radiation)
why is an increase in storms bad?
affects agriculture which affects food supply
what is intergenerational equity?
each generation should have the opportunity to use and enjoy resources and environments of the planet
what happens if the greenhouse effect is enhanced?
more greenhouse gases => more more heat trapped => higher temp
what is a biome?
biomes have their own unique landscapes and landforms generally because of variations in climate. each of the variations affect temp, humidity, and rainfall
what are the main climatic factors that produce biomes?
- latitude
- distance to the sea
- elevation above sea level
- proximity to ocean currents
what are biogeographical regions?
specific areas that are biomes e.g. the amazon, NQ wet tropics, costa rica, etc
why does deforestation occur?
the land is seen as unused or unutilised resource. it doesn’t appear to produce much benefit in economic terms. also occurs where poverty is high as exploitations of the forest is seen as the only alternative.
what are the alternatives to deforestation?
- ecotourism
- charitable, local, and government preservation
- adventure tourism
- selective exploitation (sustainable harvesting)
- sustainable forest use (smaller scale, non permanent use)
what causes ocean circulation?
heat energy is transferred between the equator and the poles by very large ocean currents.
how are ocean currents formed and what is it influenced by?
currents are formed by the coriolis effect and is influenced by winds, water density, tides, and the shape of the ocean floor.
what is the coriolis effect?
Because the Earth rotates on its axis, circulating air is deflected toward the right in the Northern Hemisphere and toward the left in the Southern Hemisphere
what is thermohaline?
large currents that flow below the surface and alone the sea floor are also known as thermohaline currents and are driven by differences in water density (mainly salinity) and temperature.
where do thermohaline currents form?
form in the far north and southern oceans when very cold surface waters plunge to the sea floor to create loops that return this water back towards the equator.
