APES - Chapter 7-8 superduper flashcards

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Weather

Short-term atmospheric conditions such as temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation over hours or days.

Climate

Long-term average of weather patterns over decades, determining biome distribution based on temperature and precipitation.

Greenhouse Effect

Natural warming of Earth’s troposphere by gases like CO₂, CH₄, H₂O, and N₂O; intensified by human activities.

Coriolis Effect

Deflection of air and water currents due to Earth’s rotation; right in Northern Hemisphere, left in Southern.

Ocean Currents

Movements of ocean water that redistribute heat and nutrients, affecting coastal climates and marine ecosystems.

Convection Cells

Large-scale air circulation patterns (Hadley, Ferrel, Polar cells) formed by rising warm air and sinking cool air.

Rain Shadow Effect

Dry area on leeward side of a mountain caused by loss of moisture on windward side; creates desert conditions.

Tropical Rainforest

Hot, humid biome with high rainfall and biodiversity; nutrient-poor soil due to rapid decomposition and uptake.

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Seasonal biome with broadleaf trees, fertile soil, and distinct seasons; heavily impacted by humans.

Arctic Tundra

Cold, treeless biome with permafrost and low precipitation; slow nutrient cycling and sensitive to climate change.

Alpine Tundra

High elevation biome without permafrost; cold-adapted vegetation and more sunlight than arctic tundra.

Grasslands

Biomes with moderate rainfall, drought, and fire; dominated by grasses and used extensively for agriculture.

Chaparral

Coastal biome with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters; fire-adapted shrubs and high erosion risk post-fire.

Biome Distribution

Determined by temperature, precipitation, latitude, and elevation; affects biodiversity and plant types.

Aquatic Zonation

Layering of aquatic systems by light, temperature, and nutrients: euphotic, bathyal, abyssal zones.

Lake Zones

Littoral (shore), Limnetic (open), Profundal (deep), Benthic (bottom); each with varying oxygen and productivity.

Eutrophic Lake

Shallow, nutrient-rich, murky lake with high productivity and low oxygen; often due to cultural eutrophication.

Oligotrophic Lake

Deep, nutrient-poor, clear lake with low productivity and high oxygen; supports fewer but larger fish.

Coral Reefs

Marine ecosystems with high biodiversity; formed by coral polyps and zooxanthellae in shallow, warm waters.

Coastal Wetlands

Brackish water ecosystems like estuaries and mangroves; filter water, reduce flooding, support biodiversity.

River Zones

Source (fast, cold), Transition (warmer, slower), Floodplain (slow, warm); each supports distinct aquatic life.

Watershed

Area of land that drains into a river system; influenced by topography, land use, and human development.

Estuary

Coastal zone where freshwater meets saltwater; highly productive and crucial for fish nurseries and pollution control.

Plankton

Microscopic, drifting organisms; includes phytoplankton (producers) and zooplankton (consumers).

Nekton

Strong-swimming aquatic animals like fish, turtles, and whales; live throughout water column.

Benthos

Bottom-dwelling organisms like crabs, worms, and clams; live on or in the sediment.

Lake Turnover

Seasonal mixing of water layers in temperate lakes, redistributing oxygen and nutrients spring and fall.

Human Impacts on Aquatic Systems

Include overfishing, pollution, wetland drainage, eutrophication, and coral damage.

Feedback Loops

Positive loops amplify change (e.g., permafrost melt); negative loops stabilize systems (e.g., predator