Ecology

Earth's axis is tilted at an angle of _________ degrees relative to the sun's direct rays. Earth is closest to the sun in ___________ at a point called the ________.

-23.5 -January, perihelion

The _______ __________ _________ affects climate variation in Europe, in northern Asia, and on the east coast of North America. Another long-term oscillation in sea surface temperature and atmospheric pressure, known as the _________ ______ ______, was described for the North Pacific after its influence on salmon numbers was discovered.

-North Atlantic Oscillaiton -Pacific Decadal Oscillation

Stratification has important implications for aquatic organisms because it determines the movement of _________ and _________.

-Nutrients and oxygen

Nighttime cooling is more pronounced at high elevations because the thinner atmosphere ____________ and __________ less energy and allows more heat to be lost from the ground surface.

-absorbs -re-radiates

Earth's climate is currently changing because of increases in concentrations of gases such as ________________, _______________, and ___________ that are emitted into the atmosphere as a result of human activities. These gases absorb energy and radiate it back to the surface, creating a __________ _________.

-carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide -Greenhouse effect

Two main compenents of soil are :

1. Mineral particles from the breakdown of rocks 2. Organic matter from teh decomposition of dead plants and other organisms.

The speed of ocean currents is usually ______% of the wind speed.

2-3 Avg. wind speed of 10m per second (22 miles per hour)

Oxygen concentrations in the atmopshere have been stable at about _____% for the past 65 million years.

21%

_____% of Earth's surface is under salty ocean waters. The salinity of ocean surface waters is highest near the ___________ and lowest at ____ __________.

70% -equator, high latitudes

Seasonal changes in lakes in the temperate and polar zones influence the transfer of energy and nutrients within the lake and are characterized by which of the following? A.) The development of thermal layers in the summer that prevent mixing of top and bottom waters, followed by isothermal (i.e., the same temperature throughout the lake) conditions in the fall that allow the layers to mix B.) The development of thermal layers in the winter preventing mixing, followed by isothermal conditions in the summer that allow the top and bottom layers to mix C.) Thermal layers forming in the spring and fall that inhibit mixing, with isothermal waters and free mixing occurring during summer and winter D.) Seasonal temperature changes (warm in summer, cold in winter), but free mixing of the water layers throughout the year, and no changes in layering

A

The rain-shadow effect results in... A.) drier climates on the east slopes of mountains in the temperate zone. B.) drier climates on the east slopes of mountains in the tropical zone. C.) cooler, moister climates on the north-facing slopes of mountains in the Northern Hemisphere. D.) drier, warmer climates on the south facing slopes of mountains in the Southern Hemisphere.

A

What would be the main climatic effect if you were to replace a real forest with plastic trees of the same color, height, and shape? A.) Warming due to loss of transpirational cooling B.) Cooling due to higher albedo C.) Cooling due to higher convective heat loss D.) All of the above

A

Which is true of the change in the acidity of waters? A.) It occurs naturally, with increases occurring in association with inputs of acidic compounds from chemical reactions and biological sources. B.) It occurs only as a result of anthropogenic activities, such as acid rain or mining. C.) It rarely occurs; the acidity of waters stays the same through time. D.) It is almost always characterized by decreased acidity (increased pH) due to natural inputs of alkaline chemicals.

A.

The amount of solar radiation that a surface reflects, known as its _______, is influenced by the presence and type of vegetation as well as by soil and topography. A coniferous forest, for example, is darker in color, and thus has a lower _________, than most types of bare soil or grasslands, so the forest absorbs more solar energy.

ALBEDO

Which of the following would be considered a climatic phenomenon rather than a weather event? A.) A cold spell with subfreezing temperatures lasting two weeks B.) A significant increase in temperature evaluated over three decades C.) A heat wave lasting for two weeks D.) Both a and c

B

In which of the following environments would you expect hypoxia to be the greatest challenge for organisms requiring oxygen for normal metabolism? A. Dry soil B. A fast-flowing stream C. Waterlogged soil D. Ocean surface waters

C

Which is true of local wind patterns generated by mountains? A.) Nightly upslope and daily downslope winds are more common in the summer when mountainous areas are more greatly affected by solar radiation. B.) Localized downslope winds may cause clouds to form on the western flanks of the mountain. C.) East-facing slopes receive more solar radiation in the morning, resulting in differential heating that creates localized upslope winds. D.) East-facing slopes receive more solar radiation in the morning, resulting in dense air moving downslope and pooling in low-lying areas.

C

_________ is the long-term description of weather at a given location, based on averages and variation measured over decades.

CLIMATE

The physical environment includes ________, which consists of long-term trends in __________, ______ and ___________.

CLIMATE, temperature, wind and precipitation.

About a third of the yearly solar radiation is reflected back out of the atmosphere by ______, fine atmospheric particles called ________, and __________. Another fifth of the incoming solar radiation is absorbed by _______, ________, and _________ _______ in t eh atmosphere. The remaining hald is absorbed by ________ and ________ at Earth's surface.

Clouds, aerosols, earth's surface. ozone, clouds, water vapor in the atmosphere. land and water.

____________ climate is characterized by much greater variation in daily and seasonal temperatures.

Continental

Large mountain chains, or ______________, can act to channel the movement of air masses. The Rocky Mountains, for example, steer cold Arctic air through the central part of North America to their east and inhibit its movement through the inter-mountain basins to their west.

Cordilleras

The salinity of waters varies over time and from place to place, as a result of which of the following? A.) The evaporation of water B.) Natural inputs of salts from the breakdown of rock minerals C.) Agricultural pumping of deep water to the surface in dry climates D.) All of the above

D

Which of the following contributes to cooler temperatures in mountains relative to surrounding lowlands? A.) Lower heat capacity of the ground surface due to drier soils B.) Lower density of air molecules, enabling them to absorb energy radiated from the ground surface C.) Greater mixing of air near the surface with the surrounding atmosphere D.) Both b and c

D

Which of the following influences global temperature patterns? A.) Ocean currents B.) The distribution of land and water C.) Elevation D.) All of the above

D

Which of the following is true of the prevailing wind patterns at Earth's surface? A.) They result from differential reception of solar radiation on Earth's surface. B.) They are associated with the positions of large high- and low-pressure cells. C.) They steer the major ocean currents. D.) All of the above

D

Which of the following is true with regard to the ecological effects of extreme weather events? A.) They are as important as the average climate in influencing geographic distributions. B.) They can determine the disappearance of organisms through the effect on mortality. C.) They are less important than the average climate. D.) Both a and b

D

In summer, the surface layer of water or __________, is the warmest and contains active populations of phytoplankton and zooplankton.

Epilimnion

The sum of water loss by transpiration and by evaporation is referred to as _____________________. This transfers energy (latent heat) as well as water into the atmosphere, thereby reducing air temperature and soil moisture.

Evapotranspiration

An intermediate exists at mid-latitudes between the Hadley and polar cells, called ________ _________.

Ferrell cell-driven by the movement of the Hadley and polar cells and by exchange of energy between tropical and polar air masses in a region known as the polar front.

The tropical uplift of air creates a large-scale pattern of atmospheric circulation in each hemisphere known as a __________ ________.

Hadley cell.

Ocean currents are responsible for about 40% of the heat exchanged between the tropics and the polar regions. Thus, ocean currents are sometimes referred to as the "_______ ______" or "______ ________" of the planet.

Heat pumps or thermal conveyers

_____ _______ events usually follow El Nino events but tend to be less frequent.

La Nina.

Heat loss due to evaporation is known as _____ _______ _______.

Latent heat flux

________ climates occur in all climate zone, from tropical to polar.

Maritime

___________ climates are characterized by little variation in daily and seasonal temperatures, and they often have higher humidity than regions more distant from the coast.

Maritime

___________ also influence precipitation patterns by forcing air moving across them to rise, which enhances local precipitation.

Mountains

The effect of land areas on the development of semipermanent pressure cells is more pronounced in the ___________ hemisphere than the ___________ hemisphere.

NORTHERN than the SOUTHERN -this is due to larger land masses that make up a larger proportion of Earth's surface.

What are the salts that make water saline, and where do they come from?

Ocean salts consist of: sodium, chloride, magnesium, calcium, sulfate, bicarbonate and potassium. They came from gases emitted by volcanic eruptions early in Earth's history. Also from gradual breakdown of minerals in the rocks that make up Earth's crust.

The __________ and the __________ have been linked to long-term droughts in the United States.

PDO North Atlantic Oscillation

__________ zone is the layer of surface water where there is enough light to support phtotosynthesis.

Photic

The ___________ _______, as its name indicates, occurs at the North and South Poles. Cold, dense air subsides at the poles and moves toward the equator when it reaches Earth's surface.

Polar cell

Subsidence at the poles creates an area of high pressure, so the polar regions, despite the abundance of ice and snow on the ground, actually revieve little precipitation and are known as ___________ __________.

Polar deserts

_______ ______ influence the movement of moist air from oceans to continents as well as cloud formation.

Pressure cells

Winds flow from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. Thus, the areas of high and low pressure formed by atmospheric circulation cells give rise to consistent patterns of air movement at Earth's surface, known as ____________ ______.

Prevailing winds -to an observer on Earth's surface rotating around the planetary axis, the path of the wind appears curved. This deflection is known as the CORIOLIS effect. To an observer in a fixed position in outer space, there is not deflection in the direction of the wind.

___________ ultimately drives the climate system as well as biological energy production.

Radiation from the sun*

Turnover occurs in the _______.

SPRING- when the surface ice melts and the lake water has a uniform density once again.

Ocean currents are driven by ______ _________.

SURFACE WINDS

The energy that drives the global climate system is ultimately derived from __________ __________.

Solar radiation.

_____________ creates regions of high atmospheric pressure around latitudes 30N and S, which inhibit the formation of clouds, and Earth's major deserts are found at these latitudes.

Subsidence

Seasonal changes in aquatic environments are associated with changes in water ____________ and _____________.

Temperature and Density

Climate also influences the rates of abiotic processes that affect organisms. This term is talking about... Climate also influence the rates of periodic disturbances, such as - - - ...these kill organisms and disrupt biological communities, but they subsequently create opportunities for the establishment and growth of new organisms and communities.

The rate at which rocks and soil are broken down to supply nutrients to plants and microorganisms. -Fires -Floods -Avalanches

What happens when organisms in the surface waters die?

Their bodies, and the nutrients they contain, sink. Thus, nutrients tend to accumulate in deep water and in sediments at the ocean bottom. Upwelling brings these nutrients back to the photic zone.

Warm air is less dense (has fewer molecules per unit of volume) than cool air, so as long as a pocket of air remains warmer than the surrounding air, it will rise in a process called _______.

UPLIFT

_________ zones are among the most productive open ocean exosystems because these nutrients increase the growth of phytoplankton (small, free-floating algae and other photocynthetic organisms), which provide food for zooplankton (free floating animals and protists), which in turn support the growth of their consumers such as fish.

Upwelling.

What are the coldest sites in the mountains and why?

Valley bottoms due to the cold air drainage. The thinner atmosphere at night absorbs and reradiates less energy and allows more heat to be lost from the ground

El Nino events are associated with a switch in the positions of _______ _________ and_________ __________ _______over the equatorial Pacific, which leads to a weakening of the easterly trade winds that normally push warm water toward Southeast Asia. This switch in the positions is refered to as _____ ____ ____ ________.

-high-pressure, low-pressure cells -El Nino Southern Oscillation or ENSO

Wind blowing toward the poles from zones of high pressure, called _____________, are deflected to the east. The presence of ___________ _______ ______ interspersed with oceans complicates this idealized depiction of prevailing wind patterns.

-westerlies -continental land masses

Why do temperatures vary across the same latitude? Three major influences alter the global pattern of temperature: 1. 2. 3.

1. Ocean currents 2. Distribution of land and water 3. Elevation

Another aspect of the physical environment is the chemical composition of air and water, which includes 1. 2. 3.

1. Salinity (conc. of dissolved salts) 2. Acidity 3. conc. of gases in the atmosphere and dissolved in water.

The three atmospheric circulation cells: (establish the major climate zones on earth) 1. Between 30N and S 2. Been 30 and 60 N and S 3. Above 60 N and S

1. Tropical zone or "tropics" 2. Temperate zone 3. Polar zones

Colder climates at higher elevations for what reasons?

At higher elevations there are fewer air molecules to absorb the infrared energy radiating from Earth's surface. Thus, even though highlands may receive as much solar radiation as nearby lowlands, the heading of air by the ground surface is less effective because of the lower air density. Highlands exchange air more effectively with cooler air in the surrounding atmosphere. Since the atmosphere is warmed mainly by infrared radiation emitted by Earth's surface, the temp. of the atmosphere decreases with increasing distance from the ground.

____________ __________ is the force exerted by molecules of air on the air and surface below it. This pressure decreases with increasing altitude, so as a pocket of warm air rises, it expands. This expansion cools the rising air. Cool air cannot hold as much water vapor as warm air, so as the air continues to rise and cool, the water vapor contained within it begins to condense into droplets and form clouds.

Atmospheric pressure.

How does the Coriolis effect appear to an observer on the Earth's surface? A.) There is no apparent deflection in the direction of prevailing winds. B.) The prevailing winds appear to be deflected to the right (clockwise) in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left (counterclockwise) in the Southern Hemisphere. C.)The prevailing winds appear to be deflected to the left (counterclockwise) in the Northern Hemisphere and to the right (clockwise) in the Southern Hemisphere. D.) The prevailing winds appear to blow toward the poles.

B

On average and over the course of a year, what is the largest input of heat energy gain at Earth's surface? A.) Solar radiation B.) Radiation emitted by greenhouse gases back to Earth's surface C.) Sensible heat (conduction and convection) D.) Latent heat (evapotranspiration)

B

Seasonal climate change in the tropics is associated primarily with changes in precipitation rather than temperature. For a location at 23.5°N, what seasonal precipitation pattern would you expect? A.) High precipitation year-round, with little variation B.) Maximum precipitation during the summer C.) Maximum precipitation during the winter D.) Two peaks of precipitation coinciding with the equinoxes (September and March)

B

The tropical climate zone and deserts to the north and south of the tropics both occur as a result of which of the following? A.) Zones of high pressure associated with subsidence at the equator that enhance storm formation B.) Reception of the highest solar radiation near the equator that establishes a circulation cell with low pressure in the tropics and high-pressure zones to the north and south C.) Upwelling ocean currents that create zones of low pressure that form the boundary of the tropics D.) Both a and c

B

The large seasonal change in temperature in the center of large continents at high latitudes is a result of which of the following? A.) Persistent high pressure in the center of continents B.) Greater heat capacity of the land, resulting in more radiation absorption C.) Lower heat capacity of the land, resulting in a greater change in temperature per unit of heat absorbed D.) The strong influence of ocean currents in these regions

C

What causes the seasonal changes in temperature in the temperate and polar climate zones? A.) The distance between Earth and the sun B.) The shape of Earth's orbit (circular vs. elliptical) C.) The tilt of Earth on its axis D.) The movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone

C

Loss of the trees _________ the albedo of the land surface as bare soil is exposed and the trees are partially replaced with lighter-colored grasses.

INCREASES -The higher albedo decreases the absorption of solar radiation, resulting in less heating of the land surface.

Seasonality in the tropics is marked primarily by changes in precipitation rather than temperature changes. This is associated with the movement of the zone of maximum air uplift and precipitation, known as the ____________ ___________ __________, or ITCZ.

Intertropical Convergence Zone

The loss of moisture, as well as the warming of the air as it moves down the eastern slopes, dries the air mass. This _____-________ effect results in lower precipitation and soil moisture on the slopes facing away from the prevailing wind (leeward slopes) and higher precipitation and soil moisture on the windward slopes.

Rain-shadow -influences the types and amounts of vegetation on mountain ranges: lush, productive plant communities tend to be found on the windward slopes, and sparser, more drought-resistant vegetation on the leeward slopes.

_____________ refers to the concentraion of dissolved salts in water. This is important from a biological perspective because they influence properties of water that affect the ability of organisms to absorb it.

Salinity

The epilimnion is underlain by a zone of rapid temperature decline, called the _________________. Below the termocline is a stable layer of the densest, coldest water in the lake, known as the _______________.

Thermocline Hypolimnion

In the Fall, as the epilimnion cools, its density increases until it is the same as that of the layers below it. Eventually, the water at all depths of the lake has the same temperature and density, and winds blowing on the surface lead to a mixing of surface and deep layers, known as lake ______________.

Turnover -this mixing is important for recycling of the nutrients that are lost from the epilimnion during summer.

The outcome of tropical deforestation may be ....

a warmer, drier regional climate. Widespread deforestatino may lead to climate change that is significant enoguht to inhibit reforestation and may thus lead to long-term changes in tropical exosystems. The conversion of natural grasslands to crop prduction- a widespread human practice, can also affect climate.

A large system of interconnected surface and deep currents that links the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans, sometimes called the great ocean ___________ ________, is an important means of transferring heat to the polar regions.

conveyor belt

Upwelling has important consequences for the local climate, creating a _____, _______ environment.

cooler, moister

A rough surface, such as a savanna of mixed trees and grasses, allows ____________ transfer of energy to the atmosphere by wind (convection) than a smooth surface such as a grassland.

greater

The atmosphere contains several gases, known as _______ _____, that absorb and reradiate infrared radiation. These gases include water vapor,carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Without these gasses, Earth's climate would be considerably cooler.

greenhouse gases

Water has _____ ______, allowing it to stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

heat capacity.

Hypoxic conditions can also promote the formation of chemicals like ________ _________ that are toxic to many organisms.

hydrogen sulfide

Much of the solar radiation absorbed by Earth's surface is emitted to the atmosphere as ________ ____________.

infrared radiation (also known as longwave radiation).

A decrease in temperature with increasing height above the surface is known as _______ _________.

lapse rate. -wind velocity increases with increasing elevation because there is less friction with the ground surface. As a result, the decrease in air temp. with increasing elevation tends to follow the lapse rate.

Upwelling occurs where prevailing winds blow nearly ____________ to a coastline, such as off the western coats of North and South America.

parallel.

Record high temperatures, along with a severe drought from 2000 to 2003, contributed to widespread mortality in large stands of _____ _____.

pifion pines.

Lower evapotranspiration rates not only _________ surface cooling, but also lead to lower precipitation because less moisture is returned from the ground surface to the atmosphere.

reduce

Energy transfer from the warm air immediately above Earth's surface to the cooler atmosphere by convection and conduction is known as __________ ________ _____.

sensible heat flux.

Differences in ________ ___________ of the ground surface can cause the uplift of air pockets that are warmer than the surrounding air.

solar heating

Long-term climate change occurs as a result of changes in the intensity and distribution of __________________reaching Earth's surface as well as changes in the overall energy balance.

solar radiation

In summer, ocean water is cooler than land at the same latitude, so areas of high pressure form above __________. In winter, the land is cooler than ocean water, so areas of high pressure form above ________________.

the oceans. the continents.

When air rising over the tropics reaches the boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere, it flows toward... Once the air reaches a temperature similar to that of the surrounding atmosphere, it descends toward Earth's surface, a process known as __________.

the poles. subsidence.

As a result of the Coriolis effect, surface winds blowing toward the equator from the high-pressure zones are deflected to the west from the perspective of Earth's surface. These winds are known as _____ ______.

trade winds -because of their importance to the global transport of trade goods in sailing ships during the fifteenth through the nineteenth centuries.

Vegitation can cool the atmosphere through ____________________ (evaporation of water from inside a plant via its leaves).

transpiration -the amount of transpiration increases with the amount of leaf area per unit of ground surface area.

Progressively cooler temperatures are found in the ____________ and warmer temperatures are found in the ________________.

troposphere, stratosphere

When there is substantial heating of Earth's surface and progressively cooler atmosphere, the uplifted air will form clouds. These clouds reach to the boundary between the __________, the atmospheric layer above earth's surface, to the ________________, the next atmospheric layer above.

troposphere, stratosphere

Deep ocean currents connect with surface currents again at zones of __________________.

upwelling, where deep ocean water rises to the surface.