Free QCE Geography Flashcard Review

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Define land cover and distinguish it from land use.

Land cover: physical/biological surface attributes (forests, grasslands, water, bare rock, urban areas). Land use: human economic activity on that land (agriculture, forestry, recreation). Land cover is what exists; land use is what humans do.

Identify spatial distribution of tropical rainforests globally.

Concentrated 23.5°N to 23.5°S in equatorial zones with high temperature and rainfall. Major zones: Amazon Basin (South America), Congo Basin (Africa), Southeast Asia. Driven by tropical climate, high moisture, consistent solar input.

Describe boreal forests spatial extent and sustaining climate.

Span 50-70°N latitude across Canada, Scandinavia, Russia. Climate: very cold winters (-30 to -40°C), short summers, low precipitation (300-900mm). Permafrost and cold limit decomposition, creating thick organic layers.

Explain albedo and its relationship to Earth's energy balance.

Albedo: proportion of solar radiation reflected to space (0=black, 1=white). High-albedo surfaces (ice, snow, sand) reflect more; low-albedo (forests, ocean) absorb more. Reducing albedo increases heat absorption and warming.

Define positive feedback loop with climate/land cover example.

Positive feedback: change that amplifies initial effect. Example: melting Arctic sea ice (reduced albedo) → darker ocean absorbs heat → further ice melt → warming. Or: deforestation → less evapotranspiration → drier climate → fire risk → more deforestation.

Define negative feedback loop in land cover systems.

Negative feedback: change that reduces or opposes initial effect. Example: vegetation restoration → greater evapotranspiration → increased cloud formation and precipitation → supports further vegetation growth, stabilizing system. Acts as natural regulator.

Identify four major stores in the carbon cycle.

Atmosphere (CO2, CH4); biosphere (living organisms, forests); pedosphere/soil (organic matter, humus); lithosphere (fossil fuels—coal, oil, gas; carbonate rocks). Hydrosphere (dissolved CO2, bicarbonate) also significant.

Describe two key carbon fluxes between atmosphere and biosphere.

Photosynthesis: plants absorb CO2, storing carbon in biomass. Respiration: organisms break down organic matter, releasing CO2. Decomposition: dead organic matter broken down by microbes, releasing CO2 to atmosphere.

Identify four major nitrogen cycle stores.

Atmosphere (N2 gas, ~78% of air); biosphere (proteins in organisms); soil (nitrates, ammonium, organic nitrogen); lithosphere (fossil deposits). Hydrosphere contains dissolved nitrates and ammonium.

Explain nitrogen fixation and name driving processes/organisms.

Nitrogen fixation converts atmospheric N2 (unavailable to most organisms) to ammonia (NH3) or nitrate (NO3-), making it biologically available. Driven by nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Rhizobium in legume nodules), cyanobacteria, lightning, and industrial Haber-Bosch process.

Define enhanced greenhouse mechanism vs natural greenhouse effect.

Natural greenhouse effect: CO2, CH4, N2O trap heat, making Earth ~33°C warmer without atmosphere. Enhanced greenhouse mechanism: human activities increase gas concentrations, trapping additional heat and accelerating warming beyond natural baseline.

List three anthropogenic greenhouse gases and primary sources.

CO2: fossil fuels, deforestation, cement. Methane (CH4): livestock digestion, rice paddies, fossil extraction, wetlands. Nitrous oxide (N2O): synthetic fertilisers, manure, industrial processes. All trap infrared radiation.

Identify deforestation as land cover change driver and carbon impact.

Deforestation: forest removal for agriculture, logging, urban expansion. Carbon impacts: (1) reduced photosynthesis (less CO2 uptake); (2) vegetation decomposition/burning releases carbon; (3) soil carbon oxidizes when exposed; (4) carbon sink lost. Example: Amazon deforestation for cattle/soy.

Explain pastoralism driving land cover change with named region.

Pastoralism: livestock grazing (cattle, sheep, goats) on marginal/grassland areas. Drivers: (1) overgrazing reduces vegetation; (2) soil compaction and erosion; (3) favours hardy shrubs. Regions: Sahel (desertification from pastoral pressure), Mongolian Steppe (overgrazing degradation).

Describe agriculture driving land cover change with example.

Agriculture converts natural ecosystems (forest, grassland, wetland) to cropland/pasture. Drivers: monoculture expansion, irrigation, pesticide/fertiliser use, soil degradation. Example: Southeast Asian rainforest to oil palm plantations—reduces biodiversity, carbon storage, increases greenhouse gases.

Explain urbanisation as land cover change driver and spatial pattern.

Urbanisation: expansion of built-up areas (cities, suburbs, infrastructure). Drivers: population growth, economic development, migration. Spatial pattern: concentric or radial expansion from city centre; sprawl consumes agricultural/forest land. Impacts: impervious surfaces, albedo changes, habitat loss.

Identify mining as land cover change driver and landscape impact.

Mining: mineral extraction (coal, metals, gemstones) requires clearance and subsurface disruption. Impacts: removes vegetation/soil/topography; acid mine drainage; habitat destruction; tailings pollute water. Regions: Pilbara (iron ore), Appalachia (mountaintop coal removal).

Describe climate change impacts on forests identifying two changes.

Forest impacts: (1) altered growing seasons (earlier spring, later autumn) disrupt phenology; (2) increased drought stress and pest outbreaks (bark beetles) causing dieback; (3) range shifts poleward/upslope; (4) altered fire regimes. Example: boreal forests with increased wildfires (Canada, Siberia).

Explain climate change impacts on ice sheets/glaciers and feedback.

Climate warming reduces ice mass through increased melt and reduced accumulation. Feedback: ice loss → reduced albedo → darker ocean/rock absorbs more heat → accelerates further ice loss (positive feedback). Results in sea-level rise. Examples: Arctic sea ice, Greenland ice sheet, mountain glaciers.

Describe climate change impacts on wetland ecosystems.

Wetland impacts: (1) altered hydrology—droughts dry wetlands, excess precipitation floods; (2) saltwater intrusion in coastal wetlands from sea-level rise; (3) plant composition changes with salinity/water tables; (4) carbon storage loss if dry (peat oxidizes); (5) waterfowl habitat loss.