Hass geography revision

Ecosystem

An ecosystem is a self-sustaining system where living organisms interact with each other and non-living components in an environment

Dynamics of an ecosystem

The dynamics of an ecosystem is how energy is transferred amongst the system and throughout. This starts from the sun and carries on to the producers, consumers, decomposers and finally the abiotic components.

Structure of an ecosystem

The structure of an ecosystem is characterised by the organisation of producers then consumers, and finally decomposers.

Lithosphere

The solid part of the Earth’s crust, consisting of rocks and soil.

Hydrosphere

All of Earth’s water bodies, including lakes, rivers, streams, oceans, ground water, and ice caps

Atmosphere

Layers of gas surrounding the Earth

Biosphere

Consists of living things including plants, animals, bacteria, fungi, and all other living components.

Abiotic factors

Non-living components that are influential in controlling the function of the ecosystem. This includes air, sun, soil, water, and basic compounds and elements of the environment.

Classified as climatic (temp, wind, rain) or edaphic (soil, minerals, topography)

Biotic factors

Living components in an ecosystem. This includes animal, plant, and microbial communities.

They are divided into trophic levels within a food chain:
- Autotrophs (Core of all biotic systems): self-feeding
- Heterotrophs: consumers
- Saprotrophs: decomposers

Components of an ecosystem

Climate
Fauna
Vegetation
Soils
Landforms

Biomes

Biomes are areas classified by the dominant vegetation in that location.

Difference between biomes and ecosystems

The difference between biomes and ecosystems is that biomes are large geographic regions defined by their climate, dominant vegetation, and wildlife, such as deserts or rainforests, and encompass multiple ecosystems within them. ecosystems are smaller, specific areas within biomes where living organisms interact with each other and their physical environment, such as a coral reef. Ecosystems focus on the detailed interactions between organisms and their environment within an area.

Types of biomes

Tropical rainforest
Temperate (deciduous) forests
Taiga
Woodlands
Savannah grasslands
Temperate grasslands
Desert
Tundra
Alpine

Spatial distribution

Spatial distribution is the arrangement of a phenomenon across the Earth's surface.

Spatial distribution of biomes

The spatial distribution of the different biomes depends on the biomes latitude, climate, and altitude. The higher the latitude, the lower the amount of sun reaches the biome. Different areas receive different amounts of rainfall and levels of temperature. The higher the altitude, the cooler the temperature. These all directly affect the vegetation available, therefore influencing the spatial distribution of biomes

Climate

Climate is the long-term average of weather patterns in a region including factors of temperature and rainfall.

Weather

In contrast to climate, weather refers to short-term, day-to-day atmospheric conditions, such as daily changes in temperature, precipitation, and wind.

Koppens climate classification

The Koppens climate classification is a system which categorises climate zones throughout the world based on rainfall and temperatures.

Koppens divisions and descriptions

A (tropical): Warm temperatures year-round, high precipitation, located near the equator
B (arid): low precipitation, dry, usually deserts/ tundras
C (temperate): Moderate temperatures, with distinct seasons.
D (continental): More extreme temperature variations between seasons, more inland
E (polar): Cold temperatures year-round, with short, cool summers, higher altitudes

Climate graph

A climate graph combines both line graphs and column graphs to show the average rainfall and temperatures experienced at a place throughout the year.

LAPDOG

Latitude
Altitude
Prevailing winds
Distance inland
Ocean currents
Great mountain barriers

Latitude

Refers to the place's position in relation to the Equator.

Places closer to the Equator experience warmer climates due to more direct sunlight. Polar regions, further from the Equator, receive less direct sunlight and are generally cooler. The angle of sunlight affects the intensity of heat received.

Altitude

The height of a location above sea level

Higher altitudes typically have cooler climates because temperature decreases with elevation. Temperature falls 6.5 degrees every 1000 metres.

Prevailing winds

The global wind patterns that distribute heat and moisture around the Earth and are most predominant in a specific area

Winds move warm air towards higher latitudes and cooler air towards lower latitudes. The movement of warm air rising and cool air sinking creates circular air patterns. Winds from colder regions contribute to cooler climates, while winds from warmer regions bring higher temperatures. Winds passing over oceans can carry moisture, leading to increased rainfall in coastal areas.

Distance inland

How far a region is from the coastline.

Land heats up and cools quicker than the ocean. The temp of oceans and seas remains about the same throughout the year.

The further away an area is from the coast, the more extreme its climate is likely to be. Places closer to the sea have milder temps and higher rainfall while places further away experience more extreme climate.

Ocean currents

Cyclic movements of ocean water that flow through the Earth's oceans.

Ocean currents can significantly impact the temperature and precipitation of coastal regions. Warm currents flowing from the equator increase temps and rainfall in areas it passes. Cold currents moving towards the equator reduce temps and rainfall in areas it passes. Oceans hold more heat than the atmosphere and land

Great mountain barriers

Physical features such as mountains that affect climate by influencing precipitation patterns.

Mountains act as barriers to air movement, impacting precipitation levels on their windward and leeward sides. The windward side, facing prevailing winds, receives more rainfall as moist air is forced to rise, cool, and condense into precipitation. The leeward side, sheltered from prevailing winds, experiences drier conditions known as rain shadows.

The uplift of air over mountains leads to cloud formation and rainfall on the windward side, while the leeward side remains dry due to the descending, warmer air.

4 natural systems

Heat budget
Hydrological cycle
Atmospheric circulation
Carbon cycle