|
|
|
|
Test
5 Feedback
Climate,
Vegetation and Soils
Here
is the feedback and answers to the Test
in Unit 05.
|
 |
| 1 |
Check
your answers to questions a - d from the table below.
|
|
A
= tropical rainforest
High temperatures in all seasons.
Little seasonal variation in temperature due to sun always being
overhead or almost overhead.
Heavy rainfall in all seasons.
Convective rainfall because of high temperatures.
|
| |
B
= monsoon
High temperatures in all seasons, but with more seasonal variation
than in the tropical rainforest region, because the monsoon
regions are further from the equator.
Very heavy rainfall in early summer as the winds blow from the
sea into the low pressure area over the hot continent.
Dry cool season from November to February.
|
| |
C
= tropical grassland
Similar temperature and rainfall pattern to the monsoon region.
There are two hot periods, the first in April, as the sun moves
northwards to the tropic, and the second in October as the sun
moves back south towards the equator.
Summer maximum rainfall because of convection currents set up
by the hot sun.
Dry cool season, as the convective rainfall belt moves away
again.
|
| |
D
= desert
Very hot in summer because the sun is nearly overhead and there
is no cloud to keep out the sun's rays.
Warm in winter. (Note: the average temperature is fairly
low because nights are cold as heat is re-radiated into space
due to lack of cloud.)
Rainfall is low in all seasons because of the high pressure
and sinking air.
Remember: there is some rainfall in desert regions. Deserts
are rarely completely dry.
|
| |
E
= Mediterranean
The winters are wet and warm.
Westerly winds bring rainfall from the oceans.
Summers are hot and dry as high pressure air and
easterly winds bring dry conditions from the continents.
|
| |
F
= coniferous forest
Winters are very cold. Summers are cold.
These extreme temperatures show that this area lies in the interior
of a continent.
Total rainfall is low because these regions are far inland.
Maximum rainfall in summer when higher temperatures cause low
pressure, so winds can penetrate inland, carrying moisture. |
|
| 2 |
Describe
the features. Then explain how they are adapted to the climatic
conditions in your chosen region. Examples are listed below.
|
| |
Climatic
conditions
very heavy rainfall
low rainfall
high temperatures and
lots of sun
low temperatures
high rates of evaporation
plenty of rain and heat in all seasons
erratic rainfall distribution
very low summer rainfall
long, cold winters
|
Feature
drip tips on leaves to shed water
deep roots to seek water
broad leaves to catch sun and photo-synthesise
short growing season but evergreen leaves
spiny
leaves to cut surface for water loss
plants grow high to compete for sunlight
seeds can lie dormant for years, waiting for rainfall
growing season is in the cool season, when water is available
tough bark and waxy needles to protect trees from cold |
|
| 3 |
As
in Q.2, the features will vary according to your chosen region.
The most popular choice is likely to be the equatorial rainforest.
In this case your answer might have been:
In
the rainforest region soils are deep but most of their nutrients
are found in a shallow layer near the surface.
This
is because the high temperature and humidity rot any dead
vegetation very quickly. Then the fast tree growth uses up
the nutrients before they can be carried down into the soil.
|
|
| 4 |
Answers
to this question will also vary a lot according to the chosen
region. An answer on the tropical rainforest could read:
|
| |
(a) |
In
parts of Amazonia the forest has been burnt and the land has
been seeded with grass. This is used to graze cattle. When the
trees are burnt the nutrients they contain are destroyed and
not fed back into the soil or used by new vegetation. The soil
loses its protection from the forest canopy, so the remaining
nutrients are leached (washed out of the soil.) Yields fall
very quickly.
|
| |
(b) |
Other
parts of Amazonia are being used for eco-tourism. Local people
from the forest are employed as guides and forest wardens, so
they gain an income from the tourists. The government makes
a profit too, so it is in their interests to conserve the forest.
The international community may help the conservation because
species from the forest may provide useful medicines in the
future. |
|
|
|
