GEO - T4 2026 Exam Prep

Unit 3: Responding to land cover changes

Land cover

The vegetation and artificial structures that cover the land’s surface

Land use

Purpose for which land is used

Biome

A large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying major habitats

Spatial distribution

The arrangement of particular phenomena or activities across the surface of the Earth

Lithosphere

The land and soils of the Earth’s crust and parts of the upper mantle

Hydrosphere

All the water on or near the surface of the Earth

Atmosphere

A large layer of gases that surrounds the Earth

Biosphere

The zone on Earth where all life exists

Greenhouse effect

A natural process that warms the Earth’s surface

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Human activities which are contributing to the warming of the Earth

Anthropogenic biome

The human biome, created by human interaction with the biosphere

Cryosphere

The ice at or below the Earth’s surface

Carbon cycle

The process of transferring, storing and exchanging chemicals between the physical and living systems.

Hydrological cycle

Continuous circulations of various forms of water between the oceans, land and atmosphere through a series of processes

Nitrogen cycle

Maintains a balance between levels in the atmosphere, the land and marine systems.

Anthroposphere

Anything brought about by humans that modify the environment for activities and habitation

Global warming

The Earth’s rising surface temperature

Climate change

The side effects of warming

Albedo

The proportion of light reflected from a surface

indicators of a changing climate (1-3)

1. record high surface air temperatures

2. increased average number of hot days per year

3. decreased average number of cold days per year

indicators of a changing climate (4-6)

4. increasing intensity and frequence of extreme events

5. changing rainfall patterns

6. increasing sea surface temperatures

indicators of a changing climate (7-9)

7. rising sea levels and possible salt indentation of coastal areas

8. increasing ocean heat content

9. increasing ocean acidification

indicators of a changing climate (10-12)

10. changing Southern Ocean currents

11. melting ice caps and glaciers

12. decreasing arctic sea ice

Evapotranspiration

The process of water transferring from land to atmosphere via evaporation and transpiration

Carbon sequestration

The capture and secure storage or carbon that would otherwise be emitted to remain in the atmosphere

Carbon sink

Natural systems and water reservoirs that suck up and store CO2 from the atmosphere