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In one line: weather vs climate?
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All Flashcards in Topic 2.4
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In one line: weather vs climate?
Weather is short-term; climate is long-term average patterns over decades.
Short vs long.
Why is solar energy unevenly distributed on Earth?
Because Earth is spherical and tilted, sunlight hits different latitudes at different angles and day length varies by season.
Angle + tilt.
Define weather.
Weather is the short-term atmospheric conditions at a specific time and place (e.g., temperature, rainfall, wind, cloud cover).
Short-term conditions.
How are aquatic biomes mainly classified?
By salinity: freshwater (low salinity) versus marine (high salinity).
Salinity rule.
How are biomes mainly classified at SL?
Mainly using abiotic climate factors, especially temperature and precipitation.
Abiotic climate.
Two main controls of terrestrial biomes?
Temperature and precipitation.
Temp + rain.
Name the broad biome groups studied at SL.
Freshwater, marine, forest, grassland, desert, and tundra biomes.
Water + land groups.
Name two limiting factors common in freshwater ecosystems.
Light penetration and oxygen availability (also nutrients and temperature variation).
Light + oxygen.
Define climate.
Climate is the long-term average pattern of atmospheric conditions in an area, usually measured over decades.
Long-term averages.
What causes large-scale atmospheric circulation?
Warm air rises (less dense) and cool air sinks (more dense), creating convection that redistributes heat.
Density drives movement.
Give one key feature of grassland biomes.
Moderate rainfall with seasonal growth, often maintained by grazing and periodic fires.
Grazing + fire.
Name the three cells in the tricellular model.
Hadley cell, Ferrel cell, and Polar cell (in each hemisphere).
Hadley–Ferrel–Polar.
What mainly drives surface ocean currents?
Wind (wind-driven movement in the upper ocean).
Wind-driven.
Aquatic biomes are mainly classified by what?
Salinity (freshwater vs marine).
Salinity.
What is a biome?
A biome is a large group of ecosystems with similar climate, vegetation and organisms, which can occur on different continents.
Climate + vegetation.
Which two abiotic factors mainly control terrestrial biome distribution?
Temperature and precipitation.
Temp + rainfall.
What happens to rainfall where air rises?
Rising air cools and condenses, forming clouds and increasing rainfall.
Rise = rain.
Where is it typically dry in global circulation and why?
Around 30° latitude where air sinks, warms, and dries, reducing cloud formation and rainfall.
Sinking air.
What abiotic factors shape mangrove ecosystems?
Salinity, tidal inundation, anaerobic soils, and warm temperatures in tropical/subtropical coasts.
Salinity + tides.
What drives deep ocean water movement (SL overview)?
Density differences caused by temperature and salinity: colder, saltier water is denser and sinks.
Temp + salt → density.
How can climate change shift biome location?
Biomes can shift poleward or to higher altitudes as temperature and precipitation patterns change and species track their tolerance ranges.
Poleward/uphill shift.
What do ocean currents do for climate?
They redistribute heat, moderating temperatures and influencing regional climate patterns.
Move heat.
Why are deserts common around 30° latitude?
Because air often sinks around 30° latitude, warming and drying as it descends, which reduces cloud formation and rainfall.
Sink = dry.
Why do similar biomes occur on different continents?
Because similar long-term climate conditions lead to similar vegetation, which supports similar animal communities.
Same climate → similar life.
Why are ocean currents important for climate?
They redistribute heat around the planet, moderating regional temperatures and influencing rainfall patterns.
Move heat.
Topic 2.4 study notes
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