Limestone, Weather Systems, and Factors Influencing Climate Flashcards

Flashcards about Limestone, Weather Systems, and Factors Influencing Climate

What is limestone?

A sedimentary rock primarily composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3).

What is the main composition of limestone?

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3).

What textures can limestone have?

Crystalline, granular, or clastic.

What colors is limestone often?

White to grey to beige.

What is the hardness of limestone?

Generally a relatively soft rock.

What is the porosity of limestone?

Often porous, with many small holes and cavities.

What substances does limestone react to?

Reactive to acidic substances.

What fossils often found in limestone?

Shells, coral, or algae.

What is the solubility of limestone?

Soluble in acidic water.

What is carbonation regarding limestone?

A form of chemical weathering which affects limestone.

What does limestone consist mainly of?

Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3).

What does rainwater do in carbonation?

Reacts with the carbon dioxide in the air and in the soil to form a weak carbonic acid ( H2CO3).

What is the result of carbonic acid reacting with limestone?

Calcium Bicarbonate is soluble, and can easily be washed away by rainwater, rivers, or underground water.

What feature is the soluble nature of limestone responsible for?

Underground cavities and caves form.

What characterizes karst topography?

Sinkholes, dolines and disappearing streams.

What do sinkholes and dolines provide?

Direct pathway for water to enter the underground drainage system.

What is surface drainage in limestone areas like?

Due to the underground drainage network, surface drainage in limestone areas are often limited, with few permanent streams or rivers.

Why does flash flooding occur in limestone regions?

Heavy rainfall overwhelms the underground drainage system.

What are dry valleys?

Valleys that lack a permanent stream or river due to the underground drainage.

What problems are associated with settlement in limestone regions?

Unstable ground, sinkholes, water scarcity, flooding, and limited agricultural land.

What are the benefits of limestone?

Construction material, cement production, economic growth, water filtration, antacids and supplements, and paints and coatings.

How does improper waste disposal contribute to groundwater pollution?

Dumping garbage or industrial waste into sinkholes or caves; waste seeps into the limestone and contaminates underground water sources.

How does the use of agricultural chemicals pollute groundwater?

Rainwater dissolves these chemicals and carries them through the soil into the aquifer, resulting in Nitrates and toxins pollute drinking water and harm aquatic ecosystems.

How do leaking septic tanks and pit latrines cause pollution?

Human waste from septic systems can seep into the ground, Especially dangerous in karst (limestone) areas, where groundwater flow is rapid and unfiltered

How does mining and quarrying pollute groundwater?

Limestone quarrying can expose underground water to fuel spills, dust, and waste and Quarry pits can collect runoff containing pollutants

How do oil and fuel spills cause pollution?

These liquids seep quickly through limestone fissures into the aquifer

How does construction and urban runoff lead to pollution?

Runoff often contains oil, chemicals, and debris, which can enter sinkholes or cracks

What is a resurgence?

A large spring, where a full- sized river flows out of the ground.

What features are formed inside a cave?

Stalactites, which grows down from the roof; Stalagmites, growing up from the floor of the cave Pillars, which joins the roof to the floor

What are clints?

Outcrops of bare rock.

What are grykes?

The gaps between the rocks where the joints are located, both are developed on the surface of the exposed limestone.

How does topography affect settlement?

Land that is easier to build on; steep slopes discourage settlement.

How does climate affect settlement?

Areas with moderate rainfall and less risk of hurricanes/flooding are more attractive.

How do soils affect settlement?

Fertile volcanic or alluvial soils attract farming communities.

How does drainage affect settlement?

River valleys support farming and transport but swampy areas are avoided.

What are rural settlements?

Small-scale economic activities such as agriculture; low population density.

What are urban settlements?

Higher population density; developed infrastructure and services.

What is the nucleated settlement pattern?

Buildings clustered together, often around a central point like a road or water source.

What is the linear settlement pattern?

Buildings arranged along a line, such as a road or river.

What is the dispersed settlement pattern?

Buildings spread out over a large area, common in rural settings.

How does latitude influence climate?

Warm climate due to the region’s proximity to the Equator and Little seasonal variation in temperature.

How does altitude influence climate?

Cooler temperatures at higher altitudes and Increased rainfall in mountainous regions.

How does location influence climate?

Oceans have a moderating effect on temperature and The Caribbean region is influenced by the northeast trade winds which bring moisture and moderate temperatures to the islands.

What is an anticyclone?

A high-pressure weather system where air sinks and spreads out, resulting in stable, clear, and dry weather.

What impact does an anticyclone have on the Caribbean?

Clear skies, light winds, and dry weather, affecting the Caribbean during June to September.

What are trade winds?

Constant winds that blow from the northeast towards the southwest across the Caribbean due to the Earth's rotation and pressure systems.

What is the impact of trade winds on the Caribbean?

Moderate temperatures, regulate rainfall, and affect hurricanes.

What is the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)?

A narrow band of low pressure near the equator where the trade winds from both hemispheres converge, characterized by thunderstorms and intense rainfall.

What is the impact of the ITCZ on the Caribbean?

Heavy rainfall, flooding, and affects Trinidad, Tobago, and Guyana.

What is a cold front?

Occurs when a mass of cold air pushes into an area of warm air, causing the warm air to rise, leading to cooler temperatures and possible thunderstorms.

What impact does a cold front have on the Caribbean?

Temperature drops, heavy rainfall, and affects Jamaica.

What are tropical waves?

Disturbances in the atmosphere that move from east to west across the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, characterized by a band of low pressure.

What is the impact of tropical waves on the Caribbean?

Increased rainfall and thunderstorms, precursor to tropical storms or hurricanes.

What mitigation measures are used for anticyclones?

Water conservation, desalination plants, and drought-resistant crops.

What mitigation measures are used for trade winds?

Coastal development and wind energy.

What mitigation measures are used for the ITCZ?

Flood control systems and emergency preparedness plans.

What mitigation measures are used for cold fronts?

Building codes and agricultural adjustments.

What mitigation measures are used for tropical waves?

Hurricane preparedness and coastal protection.