Download Student Study Guide

Student Study Guide
to accompany Peter Haggett
GEOGRAPHY: A GLOBAL SYNTHESIS
CHAPTER 2
THE EARTH AS A LONELY PLANET
Pearson Education
CHAPTER 2 / OBJECTIVES
After studying the material in this chapter you should:
1.
be able to describe the difference between the biotic and abiotic environments
2.
be aware of the importance of systems
3.
be able to describe the components of the lithosphere
4.
be able to explain plate tectonic theory
5.
be able to explain instabilities in the lithosphere
6.
be able to describe the atmosphere and its components
7.
be able to explain the importance of the troposhere
8.
know the main factors affecting the world’s climate
9.
be able to explain the factors affecting world climate
10.
be able to explain the importance of the hydrosphere
11.
be able to explain the hydrological cycle
12.
be able to explain the erosion cycle
13.
understand Davis’s contribution to geographical theory
14.
be aware of the human impact of planetary change
CHAPTER 2 / STUDY QUESTIONS
1.
What is the difference between the biotic and abiotic environments? In which do
we live?
2.
Describe the main components of the abiotic environment
3.
What is a system? Why is it an important tool for geographers?
4.
What are the main differences between oceanic and continental crust?
5.
Who was Alfred Wegener and what was his theory? Why was it important?
6.
Explain plate tectonic theory.
7.
What is an earthquake? Where are the main earthquake zones?
8.
What can you say about the relationship between earthquakes and volcanoes and
plate tectonics theory?
9.
What is the atmosphere and what are the main gases?
10.
What are the three components of the atmosphere?
11.
Explain the importance of the troposhere for human life?
12.
What is meant by ‘global energy balance’?
13.
What are the factors which affect climate?
14.
For each factor briefly explain how it influences climate.
15.
What is the Hadley-Ferrel model?
16.
Describe the world’s water balance.
17.
Explain the difference between stores and transfers of water. Give examples of
each.
18.
Draw a rough sketch showing the earth’s main stores of water, and the direction
of transfers in the hydrologic cycle.
19.
Explain the impact running water has on the earth’s surface.
20.
Explain the erosion cycle
21.
What is the Davisian cycle?
22.
Outline any advantages or disadvantages of planetary change to human life.
23.
What is a super volcano? Name an example. Why might there be concern over
this feature?
CHAPTER 2 / PROGRESS CHECK
1.
The lithosphere is the:
(a) earth’s crust
(b) gas cover surrounding the earth
(c) water element of the earth
(d) material below the earth’s crust
2.
Oceanic crust consists of:
(a) sial
(b) silica
(c) sima
(d) gaia
3.
There are …………….main types of plate boundary
(a) 1
(b) 2
(c) 3
(d) 4
4.
There are …………….main plates or sections of the earth’s crust
(a) 2
(b) 3
(c) 4
(d) 6
5.
The scale used to measure the strength of an earthquake is the……….scale
(a) Mercalli
(b) Davis
(c) Richter
(d) Beaufort
6.
The relationship between earthquakes, volcanoes and plate tectonics is that:
(a) their location is entirely random
(b) volcanoes and earthquakes occur together
(c) volcanoes, earthquakes and plate boundaries have a very close relationship
(d) plate boundaries are related to earthquakes but not volcanoes
7.
The most important part of the atmosphere for human life is:
(a) stratosphere
(b) lithosphere
(c) tropopause
(d) troposphere
8.
In climate terms temperature ………………with distance from the equator.
(a) decreases
(b) increases
(c) remains constant
(d) increases and decreases
9.
The Hadley-Ferrel model names the three main wind belts as:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
10.
polar easterlies, westerlies, south easterlies
polar easterlies, westerlies, trades
polar westerlies, trades, easterlies
polar easterlies, ICTZ, subtropical highs
The cycle which explains circulation of water is the:
(a) geomorphic cycle
(b) erosion cycle
(c) Davisian cycle
(d) hydrological cycle
ANSWERS TO PROGRESS CHECK SECTIONS
CHAPTER 2
1A 2C 3B 4D 5C 6C 7D 8A 9B 10D