The Natural World – Revision Notes

What Is the Natural World? This unit comprises three major concept areas. Weather, Climate and Ecosystems Define the terms Weather, Climate and Ecosystem.

Air Masses and the UK What weather would the five air masses on the map opposite bring to the UK? Add this to the map. Name the source areas of these air masses.

Relief Rainfall Explain how Relief rainfall works for the UK. How does this affect the distribution of precipitation in the UK?

Convectional rainfall Label the 5 numbers on diagram opposite to explain how Convectional rainfall works. When is this most likely to happen in Britain and why?

Depressions Explain how a depression forms and bring s wet and windy weather to the UK.

The Weather in a Depression Here you can see the weather a depression brings to the UK. Note that this is a cross section through the depression. As this storm passes from the West of the UK to the East what changes would occur in our weather?

Anticyclones What are anticyclones? What weather do they bring to the UK in Summer? In Winter? How are anticyclones different from depressions?

Interpreting Synoptic Charts (weather maps) What is this feature here? What would the weather be like here? Why? What is happening to the air molecules here? What is this weather feature here? What would the weather be like here? Why? What is happening to the air molecules here? What are these lines on the map? What can they tell you about the weather on this map? What will this weather system eventually bring to the UK? Where do it’s air masses come from? What symbols are there on the map? What do they mean?

Maritime and Continental Climates Kiev and Plymouth are both on the same line of Latitude (50°N) so should have very similar climates. Compare the 2 climates opposite. Explain why these 2 places have such different climates.

Global Distribution of Forest Ecosystems Where do we find the following forests Coniferous forests Temperate deciduous forests Tropical rainforests What climate have these forests adapted to?

Adaptations of Taiga forest to their environment How have coniferous forests adapted to their environment?

Adaptations of Tropical rainforests to their environment List 5 ways that tropical forests have adapted to the wet and hot climate between the tropics.

Threats and solutions to tropical rainforests What activities have caused rainforest destruction? List some of the effects of this deforestation.

Solutions to rainforest destruction What alternatives are there to destroying the Amazon rainforest?