Our Wonderful World

Weather

The day-to-day conditions in the atmosphere, such as rain, sunshine or wind.

Climate

The average weather in a place over a long period of time (usually 30+ years).

Atmosphere

The layer of gases that surrounds the Earth and supports life.

Ecosystem

A community of living things interacting with each other and their environment.

Habitat

The natural home or environment where a plant or animal lives.

Climate Zone

A large area of the world with similar climate patterns (e.g. Tropical, Polar).

Te Taiao

The natural world - land, water, air, and living things, all interconnected.

Whanaungatanga

Relationships and connectedness between people and the environment.

Kaitiakitanga

Caring for and protecting the environment for future generations.

Tropical Rainforest

A hot, wet forest near the equator with tall trees and lots of biodiversity.

Rainforest Layers

The four layers: emergent, canopy, understory, and forest floor.

Adaptation

A feature that helps a plant or animal survive in its environment.

Cyclone

A powerful storm with strong winds and heavy rain that forms over warm oceans.

Deforestation

The cutting down or removal of forests, often for farming or development.

Arid Zone

A very dry area with little rainfall and often extreme temperatures.

Wildfire

A fast-spreading fire in a natural area like a forest or grassland.

Water Shortage

When there isn't enough clean water available to meet basic needs.

Tornado

A fast-spinning column of air that touches the ground and can cause damage.

Temperate Zone

A region with mild to moderate climates, warm summers and cool winters.

Predator Free NZ

A project in NZ to remove introduced predators to protect native wildlife.

Roaring Forties

Strong westerly winds between 40°-50° south that influence NZ's weather.

Avalanche

A large amount of snow that slides quickly down a mountain slope.

Global Warming

The rise in Earth's temperature due to human activities.

Climate Change

Long-term changes in climate, like temperature and rainfall patterns.

Sustainability

Using resources in a way that protects the environment for the future.

What are some features of the tropics?

High temperatures, rainforests, and high levels of precipitation.

Explain the levels of a rainforest

The lowest level of a rainforest is the forest floor, followed by the understory, canopy and the emergent layer which is the highest level.

What are some features of the arid zone?

High temperatures, low amounts of rainfall and deserts

What is desertification?

The process by which a fertile area becomes a desert.

What are some impacts of deforestation?

Soil erosion, more greenhouse gases and the disruption of ecosystems.

What are the three things a hurricane needs to form?

Moisture, heat, and the sea level temperature to be over 26.5 degrees celcius

What starts a wildfire?

Natural causes, on accident by a human, on purpose by a human

How does a fire usually spread?

Uphill

What are some adaptations to wildfires?

Fire breaks, controlled fires to prevent larger ones, and some seeds need fire to break open

What are some repercussions of wildfires?

Death, damage to lungs from the smoke, anything flammable burning to the ground

To start and spread what do wildfires need?

Hot and dry conditions.

What are the names of the areas within a cyclone?

The eye, eyewall and rainbands.

What are some adaptations of Buttress roots in the Tropics and what do they do?

Anchor trees to the ground, are shallow, enabling them to quickly absorb nutrients.

What are some adaptations of Ferns in the Tropics and what do they do?

Their spread-out leaves efficiently capture water and require less light than other plants, enabling them to reside on the shrub layer.

What are some adaptations of Epiphytes in the Tropics and what do they do?

They use hot plants for support and direct sunlight, allowing them to grow without requiring nutrients from the soil.

What are some adaptations of Drip Tip Leaves in the Tropics and what do they do?

They have a waxy surfacethat facilitates efficient photosynthesis by allowing excess water to fall off the leaf.

What are some adaptations of Sloths in the Tropics and what do they do?

The slow-moving, strong legs and claws of this species provide camouflage, while their greenish fur provides a hiding spot from predators.

What are some adaptations of Toucans in the Tropics and what do they do?

Their bright colors attract mates, their beak breaks nuts and seeds, and their strong claws enable easy grip on trees and branches.

What are some adaptations of Jaguars in the Tropics and what do they do?

Their spotted fur blends with sunlight patches for camouflage, allowing it to quickly move and use muscle strength for swift hunting.

What are some adaptations of Poison Dart Frogs in the Tropics and what do they do?

They spit out poison as a defense mechanism against predators and they have suction pads to cling to trees and leaves.

What are some adaptations of Cacti in the arid zones and what do they do.

They have thick stems and roots for water storage, a waxy outer layer for evaporation reduction, spines for protection and shallow roots for water absorption.

What are some adaptations of Camels in the arid zones and what do they do.

They have a leathery mouth to help eat spiky plants,

long eyelashes to keep sand out of eyes, hump for storing food and long legs to keep off the hot sand and to keep cool.

What are the soils in tropical rainforest called?

Latosols

Why are latosols red?

Because they are rich in aluminium and iron

Why are latosols so infertile?

Because the rain washes away all of their nutrients

Why do plants grow in latosols?

Because the surface is always full of dead leaves which are turned into humus and contain a lot of nutrients.