The Physical Enviroment. Flashcards
1
Q
What are abiotic factors?
A
They are non-living factors like rocks or temperature.
2
Q
What are biotic factors?
A
They are living factors like animals or plants.
3
Q
What are the three properties of water that make it important to life.
A
- Water is a good solvent, many substances dissolve in it and thus it’s good for chemical reactions
- It takes a lot of energy to heat up so ecosystems are stable.
- When water freezes the ice floats on top and creates an insulating layer allowing animals to hide while waiting for warmer weather.
4
Q
How does climate change cause the sea levels to rise?
A
It releases water from ice caps and galciers causing less fresh water to be available and the sea gets warmer, expanding as it does so.
5
Q
Why does global warming cause parts of the earth to flood and others to drought?
A
It floods because warmer air holds more water vapour causing bigger rainstorms meanwhile sometimes it gets too warm causing water to evaporate and clouds to get blown away with any rainfall that happens to not be able to get into the ground.
