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Questions and Answers
What is a savanna?
What is a savanna?
A savanna is a type of grassland characterized by scattered trees, warm temperatures, and alternating dry and wet seasons.
Which types of animals are typically found in the East African savanna?
Which types of animals are typically found in the East African savanna?
The human population in Africa is slowing down.
The human population in Africa is slowing down.
False
What caused many species on the savanna to dwindle?
What caused many species on the savanna to dwindle?
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After the last ice age, about _____ years ago, the earth's climate warmed.
After the last ice age, about _____ years ago, the earth's climate warmed.
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What are the three major types of climate mentioned?
What are the three major types of climate mentioned?
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What does the term 'weather' refer to?
What does the term 'weather' refer to?
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Cold air is less dense than warm air.
Cold air is less dense than warm air.
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Match the following terms with their definitions:
Match the following terms with their definitions:
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What are the four factors that determine regional climates?
What are the four factors that determine regional climates?
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How does a rain shadow desert form?
How does a rain shadow desert form?
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Which of these gases are considered greenhouse gases?
Which of these gases are considered greenhouse gases?
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What happens to temperature and moisture when air rises over a mountain?
What happens to temperature and moisture when air rises over a mountain?
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What is the primary cause of urban heat islands?
What is the primary cause of urban heat islands?
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Human activities have no impact on greenhouse gas concentration.
Human activities have no impact on greenhouse gas concentration.
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A hectare is equivalent to ______ acres.
A hectare is equivalent to ______ acres.
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Match the following types of biomes with their characteristics:
Match the following types of biomes with their characteristics:
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What are the three types of grasslands depicted in the climate graphs?
What are the three types of grasslands depicted in the climate graphs?
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In which photo is the tropical grassland shown?
In which photo is the tropical grassland shown?
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What is an example of natural capital degradation?
What is an example of natural capital degradation?
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What are the two types of temperate grasslands found in the United States?
What are the two types of temperate grasslands found in the United States?
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Winds and fires help to promote tree growth in prairies.
Winds and fires help to promote tree growth in prairies.
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The _____ grassland is also known as the tropical grassland.
The _____ grassland is also known as the tropical grassland.
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What viewpoint is presented about the destruction and degradation of prairies?
What viewpoint is presented about the destruction and degradation of prairies?
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Which type of desert generally has high temperatures in summer and low temperatures in winter?
Which type of desert generally has high temperatures in summer and low temperatures in winter?
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What is a major type of tropical grassland?
What is a major type of tropical grassland?
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Desert ecosystems are not vulnerable to disruption.
Desert ecosystems are not vulnerable to disruption.
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What adaptations do desert plants have to survive?
What adaptations do desert plants have to survive?
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Grasslands occur primarily in areas that are too moist for __________ to form and too dry for __________ to grow.
Grasslands occur primarily in areas that are too moist for __________ to form and too dry for __________ to grow.
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What do kangaroo rats rely on for hydration?
What do kangaroo rats rely on for hydration?
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Which of the following is NOT a major type of grassland?
Which of the following is NOT a major type of grassland?
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What is the term used to describe the disruption of normal wind patterns in the Pacific Ocean that affects weather globally?
What is the term used to describe the disruption of normal wind patterns in the Pacific Ocean that affects weather globally?
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Tornadoes form over warm ocean water.
Tornadoes form over warm ocean water.
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What phenomenon is often referred to simply as 'E' in meteorological terms?
What phenomenon is often referred to simply as 'E' in meteorological terms?
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What is the minimum ocean water temperature required for a tropical cyclone to form?
What is the minimum ocean water temperature required for a tropical cyclone to form?
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Which of the following is a consequence of a strong ENSO event?
Which of the following is a consequence of a strong ENSO event?
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How do tornadoes typically form?
How do tornadoes typically form?
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In which region do tornadoes occur most frequently?
In which region do tornadoes occur most frequently?
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Tropical cyclones only form in the Atlantic Ocean.
Tropical cyclones only form in the Atlantic Ocean.
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The __________ is a horizontal zone that separates warm and cold waters in the Pacific.
The __________ is a horizontal zone that separates warm and cold waters in the Pacific.
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What is the difference between weather and climate?
What is the difference between weather and climate?
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Climate changes rapidly compared to weather.
Climate changes rapidly compared to weather.
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Which of the following is a major climatic factor?
Which of the following is a major climatic factor?
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What does the term 'insolation' refer to?
What does the term 'insolation' refer to?
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Regions north and south of the equator experience widely varying amounts of solar energy due to the earth's _____.
Regions north and south of the equator experience widely varying amounts of solar energy due to the earth's _____.
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What effect describes the deflection of winds due to the earth's rotation?
What effect describes the deflection of winds due to the earth's rotation?
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The poles are heated more than the equator due to direct sunlight.
The poles are heated more than the equator due to direct sunlight.
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What are Hadley cells?
What are Hadley cells?
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Match the following ocean currents with their characteristics:
Match the following ocean currents with their characteristics:
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Which gases are known to contribute to the greenhouse effect?
Which gases are known to contribute to the greenhouse effect?
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Study Notes
African Savanna Ecosystem
- African savannas are characterized by scattered trees and warm temperatures year-round, with distinct dry and wet seasons.
- Biodiversity flourishes in these regions, housing species like wildebeests, gazelles, antelopes, zebras, elephants, and giraffes, along with their predators such as lions and hyenas.
- Human activities have led to significant habitat loss; vast areas have been converted into cropland and pasture, threatening wildlife populations.
Climate and Biomes
- Biomes are defined by long-term weather patterns and climatic conditions, primarily based on average annual precipitation and temperature.
- Three main climates exist: tropical (equatorial regions), polar (near the poles), and temperate (mid-latitudes).
- Understanding the difference between weather (short-term atmospheric conditions) and climate (long-term patterns) is crucial for studying environmental impacts and species distribution.
Human Impact on Biodiversity
- Early humans transitioned from arboreal lifestyles to ground-dwelling communities, utilizing tools for hunting and gathering, influencing their connection with savannas.
- Increasing human populations in Africa result in continued expansion of towns and agriculture in savanna areas, further endangering species that have cohabited these ecosystems for millennia.
Weather Patterns Influences
- Weather is affected by moving masses of warm and cold air, changes in atmospheric pressure, and shifting wind patterns.
- Meteorologists rely on various technological equipment and computer models to study and predict weather conditions globally.
- Weather changes most dramatically occur at fronts, which are boundaries between contrasting air masses.
Atmospheric Pressure and Air Masses
- High-pressure air masses consist of cool, dense air that descends, producing typically fair weather, while low-pressure systems involve rising warm air that can lead to cloud formation and precipitation.
- The behavior of jet streams, fast-moving air currents in the upper atmosphere, significantly influences local weather by redistributing air masses.
Natural Weather Events
- The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a periodic weather phenomenon affecting global climate patterns, characterized by fluctuating wind and ocean current patterns across the Pacific.
- ENSO can lead to extreme weather conditions, including storms, flooding, and droughts, exemplified by the severe events of 1997-1998 causing widespread damages and fatalities.
- La Niña is the counterpart to El Niño, resulting in cooler ocean temperatures which can also influence weather patterns but in a different manner than El Niño.
Severe Weather Events
- Tornadoes and tropical cyclones represent violent weather extremes, significantly impacting affected regions.
- Weather extremes as influenced by ENSO can lead to variations in climate, including increased incidence of hurricanes and alterations in seasonal weather patterns across regions such as North America and Southeast Asia.### Thermocline and Weather Patterns
- The thermocline is a horizontal zone in the ocean where temperature changes gradually, separating warm and cold waters.
- Events in the eastern Pacific, influenced by El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), can lead to drier weather in some regions and wetter weather in others.
- Tornadoes form over land as violent storms, caused by the interaction of a large warm air mass with a colder front, characterized by rotating funnel-shaped clouds.
- Tropical cyclones, known as hurricanes in the Atlantic and typhoons in the Pacific, develop over warm ocean waters and can cause significant destruction on land.
Tornado Formation
- Tornadoes typically occur in the U.S. but can also be found in Australia.
- They form when dry, cold fronts from Canada interact with warm, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico, leading to strong vertical convection currents.
- The Midwestern U.S. sees the highest frequency of tornadoes, particularly from March to August.
Tropical Cyclone Formation
- Tropical cyclones emerge from low-pressure areas over warm waters, with a minimum sea surface temperature of 27°C (80°F).
- These systems draw moist air from surrounding higher pressure areas, causing winds to spiral counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
- The intensity of tropical cyclones is rated based on sustained wind speeds, impacting forecasting and preparation efforts.
Climate Influences
- Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions, whereas climate represents long-term patterns over decades.
- Key climatic factors include:
- Solar energy input,
- Earth's rotation,
- Global air and water movement,
- Atmospheric gas composition,
- Surface features of the Earth.
- The uneven heating of Earth's surface leads to varied climate zones, as the equator receives direct sunlight, while poles receive slanted rays, affecting temperature distributions.
Key Climate Properties
- Latitudes, measured in degrees from the equator (0°) to the poles (90°), significantly influence regional climate.
- Solar energy input, or insolation, varies by latitude, explaining why tropical areas are hotter while polar regions are colder.
- Seasonal changes arise from the tilt of Earth’s axis, affecting climate patterns throughout the year.
Ocean Currents and Climate Interaction
- Major ocean currents contribute to nutrient distribution and climate regulation, facilitating ecosystems.
- Upwelling zones, where deep waters are brought to the surface, play a crucial role in marine biodiversity by supplying nutrients.### Seasonal Variations and Sun Exposure
- Regions north and south of the equator tilt towards or away from the sun during Earth’s annual revolution.
- This causes significant differences in solar energy received, resulting in varied seasons across the globe.
- Seasonal changes in temperature and precipitation are influenced by this variation in solar energy.
Earth's Rotation and Climate
- Earth rotates on its axis, causing the equator to spin faster than poles, which affects air mass movement.
- Air masses moving toward northern or southern regions from the equator are deflected east due to the Coriolis effect.
- Air cools and sinks at about 30° north and south latitudes, creating convection cells known as Hadley cells.
Global Wind Patterns
- Wind patterns influenced by the Coriolis effect help redistribute heat and moisture, forming prevailing winds.
- Northeast and southeast trade winds facilitate maritime trade movements and affect climate by transporting warm air.
Influence of Ocean Currents
- Ocean currents redistribute solar heat, which significantly influences coastal climates and vegetation.
- Deep and shallow ocean currents work in a loop, moving warm and cool water to different parts of the globe.
Greenhouse Effect and Climate
- Greenhouse gases (e.g., CO2, CH4, N2O) absorb solar energy and re-radiate it as infrared radiation, leading to warming of the lower atmosphere.
- This natural greenhouse effect is critical for maintaining Earth's temperature and supporting life.
Rain Shadow Effect
- The rain shadow effect occurs when moist air rises over mountains, losing moisture as precipitation on the windward side, while the leeward side remains dry.
- Arid or semiarid conditions can arise on the leeward side due to this phenomenon.
Human Impact on Climate
- Human activities, such as fossil fuel burning and deforestation, release greenhouse gases at accelerating rates.
- These contributions lead to changes in climate patterns, potentially resulting in desertification and altered local climates.
Long-Term Climate Factors
- Milankovitch cycles include changes in Earth's orbit and axial tilt over time, influencing climate variability over thousands of years.
- These cycles, along with human-induced changes, significantly impact regional climates and ecosystems.
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Description
Explore the diverse ecosystems of the African Savanna. This quiz covers various types of vegetation, animal life, and the impact of human activities on these grasslands and forests. Test your knowledge of this unique environment and its significance.
