Under what climatic conditions do they spread on the plains? Natural conditions and their influence on the development of Russia. The long-term weather pattern is

Detailed solution to final assignment 6 in geography for 5th grade students, authors V. P. Dronov, L. E. Savelyeva 2015

• Gdz workbook on Geography for grade 6 can be found

1. What is the biosphere? What are its components?

The biosphere is the outer shell of the Earth, inhabited by living organisms and transformed by them. The biosphere includes plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, and protozoa.

2. How does the biological cycle occur in nature? What is its significance for our planet?

Life on Earth is supported by solar energy. Plants create primary organic matter through photosynthesis under the influence of sunlight. Therefore, plants are producing organisms. Animals feed on plants or other animals, i.e., ready-made organic substances; These are consumer organisms. Fungi and bacteria decompose the remains of dead organisms. They convert organic substances into inorganic ones, which are again consumed by plants. Thus, bacteria and fungi are destructive organisms. When organic matter decomposes, heat is released, i.e. energy that was once absorbed from the Sun by plants. If destroyer organisms disappeared, the biosphere would be poisoned, since many decay products of organic substances are poisonous. This is how the biological cycle occurs in nature. The biological cycle connects all parts of nature together.

3. Why are all the outer shells of the Earth under the influence of living organisms?

The role of living organisms is great. They, as part of nature, with their activities influence all the shells of the Earth. This is possible because all living and non-living components of the environment are closely related. The biosphere partially covers all the layers of the Earth.

4. What changes would occur on Earth if plants disappeared on it?

If plants disappeared, herbivores would immediately die. After all other living organisms connected by a food chain. The amount of oxygen in the atmosphere would decrease and the amount of carbon dioxide would increase. The water cycle would be disrupted. Life on earth without plants is impossible.

5. How is living matter distributed on our planet? What determines the saturation of the biosphere with life?

Life is distributed very unevenly in the biosphere. The bulk of living organisms are concentrated at the boundaries of contact between air, water and rocks. Therefore, the surface of the land and the upper layers of the waters of the seas and oceans are more densely populated. This is due to the fact that the conditions here are the most favorable: a lot of oxygen, moisture, light, and nutrients. The thickness of the layer most saturated with organisms is only a few tens of meters. The further up and down from it, the rarer and more monotonous life is. The greatest concentration of life is observed in the soil - a special natural body of the biosphere.

6. The depths of the World Ocean differ greatly in the diversity and richness of living organisms. What are the main reasons for their uneven distribution?

The saturation of the living layers of the World Ocean depends on water temperature, illumination, and oxygen saturation. Therefore, the number of living organisms in the ocean changes in the direction from the equator to the poles, in accordance with the course of temperatures. Also, the abundance of life in the ocean changes with depth and in the direction from the coast to the open ocean.

7. What factors determine the distribution of living organisms on land?

The distribution of living organisms on land depends on climate - temperatures and moisture.

8. How do marine organisms adapt to different living conditions?

Small organisms - plankton - have adapted to float in water. They live in suspension and move with the flow of water. Fish and marine animals actively move in the water column. Typically, fish and marine animals have a streamlined body shape that reduces water resistance. Bottom animals have adapted to live in conditions of high water pressure. Their body is flattened. Plants in the seas change their color depending on the depth to enhance photosynthesis. There is no vegetation deeper than 1000 m.

9. Compare moist equatorial forests and temperate forests according to the following characteristics: geographical location, climate features, flora and fauna, importance for the nature of the Earth.

Equatorial forests are located in equatorial latitudes (the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, the Amazon Lowland, the islands of Malaysia and Indonesia). Temperate forests are common in the temperate zone. Mixed and deciduous forests occupy the Atlantic coast of North America, Europe, and the eastern coast of Eurasia. Coniferous forests extend in wide stripes between 50-650 N latitudes.

The climate of equatorial forests is characterized by constant high temperatures (about 250C) and excessive moisture throughout the year. Temperate forests are found in the temperate climate zone. This climate is characterized by a pronounced change of seasons. The warm season of the year with positive temperatures and precipitation in the form of rain and the cold season with negative temperatures and the formation of stable snow cover alternate.

Equatorial forests have the richest flora and fauna of any natural zone. In the equatorial forests there are a lot of valuable tree species: ebony (black) tree, mahogany, rubber plant Hevea. Equatorial forests are the homeland of many cultivated plants: oil palm, cocoa. In an equatorial forest, it is easier to find ten trunks of different types of trees than ten trunks of the same species. The fauna is also very rich. There are especially many insects, snakes, and birds here. Temperate forests include coniferous forests called taiga, mixed forests and deciduous forests. They do not have such a variety of plants and animals, since the living conditions here are less favorable.

Of course, equatorial forests are of great value for the nature of the Earth. This is due to the richness and uniqueness of this natural complex. However, the importance of temperate forests is great. Coniferous forests are the main supplier of oxygen to the atmosphere.

10. What forests are common in Russia? Why should they be treated with care?

Mixed, broad-leaved and coniferous forests (taiga) are common in Russia. The ecological state of the environment largely depends on forests. Forests influence the filling of rivers with water and the retention of snow on fields. Destruction of forests leads to the development of erosion. Forests are the habitat of numerous animals and plants.

12. Which forests have the richest flora and fauna? What is this connected with?

The richest flora and fauna are in the equatorial forests. The huge species diversity is associated with favorable climatic conditions.

13. Under what climatic conditions do savannas and steppes occur on the plains, and in what conditions do deserts occur?

In the interior of the continents there are grassy plains. There is not enough moisture here for forests to grow, but enough for grasses. Semi-deserts and deserts are common in all climate zones in areas with very dry climates.

14. Why is soil considered a connecting link between living and inanimate nature?

The soil consists of both organic and inorganic parts. Living organisms and components of inanimate nature (parent rock, water, air) participate in its formation.

15. Select from books, magazines, newspapers, and television programs examples of the impact of human activity on soils, flora and fauna, and the biosphere as a whole.

Deforestation in the Amazon will reduce crop yields

expansion of agricultural land due to the reduction of tropical forests will lead to climate changes in the region and negatively affect soybean and feed crop yields. Brazilian researchers predict a situation that could arise by 2050, when doubling the area under crops will lead to a 30% reduction in harvest.

In the Amazonian jungle, 2+2 is not necessarily 4. The expansion of agricultural land and pastures will lead to a decrease in agricultural and livestock production. This apparent paradox is caused by climate changes resulting from deforestation. The study shows that in addition to reducing the Amazon's ability to absorb carbon dioxide, under all possible scenarios, land where forests are cut down will produce less soybeans and feed crops. Only reforestation can increase harvests, which is unlikely. Amazonia Legal is a territorial administrative unit created by the Brazilian government. It includes nine states of the country, wholly or partially located in the Amazonian jungle. This is about 5 million square kilometers, or almost 60% of Brazil's territory. Such dimensions are aimed at solving three important problems: regulating the global climate, absorbing carbon dioxide and - already at the regional level - land and its use are fundamental to the future of Brazil. That is, the progressive development of Brazil largely depends on the state of the forest.

To understand what the future holds, researchers from several universities in Brazil and the United States constructed a model of the interaction between climate and land use. Using 2050 as a starting point, they proposed the following three scenarios: deforestation stops; continues under Brazil's new environmental laws; or, as the agribusiness leadership proposes, the jungle must disappear for the sake of the prosperity of agricultural and livestock Brazil. For each scenario, they developed productivity models for both primary forest, grassland, and soybean crops, assuming it would remain the nation's top crop for the next 40 years. It would seem that everything is logical: the more hectares occupied by pastures or crops, the higher the volume of agricultural and livestock production. But human logic and climate logic obey different laws.

Traveling the Amazon

“We were hoping to see some kind of compensation, however, to our surprise, the increase in deforestation areas could lead to a deadlock situation when the inability to solve environmental problems caused by the destruction of forests will not be compensated by the growth of agricultural production,” says Professor Leidimere Oliveira, who works at the Federal University of La Pampa. On the contrary, under almost all scenarios, both carbon dioxide absorption and labor productivity will decline by mid-century, no matter what efforts are made.

16. Using additional literature, find out the reasons why the number of elephants in Africa is declining. Prepare a message on the topic “Conservation of African elephants.”

African elephant conservation

The population of African elephants has reached a critical point - more elephants die on the continent than are born every year.

A group of researchers published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (the official journal of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States) according to which about 35 thousand elephants have died at the hands of poachers in Africa since 2010. Scientists warn that if this trend does not change, elephants will disappear as a species within 100 years.

The ivory trade has increased dramatically in recent years, with a kilogram of elephant tusks now fetching thousands of dollars on the black market. Demand for them is growing mainly due to Asian countries. Biologists have long pointed to the threat of extinction of elephants as a species, but this study provides a detailed assessment of the environmental and biological catastrophe occurring in Africa.

Scientists concluded that between 2010 and 2013, Africa lost an average of 7% of its elephant population each year. The natural increase in the elephant population is about 5%, which means that there are fewer elephants every year. Over the past 10 years, the number of elephants in central African countries has decreased by 60%. Poachers tend to kill the oldest and largest elephants. This means that first of all, large males at the peak of their ability to reproduce, as well as females who are at the head of the family and have cubs, die. After them, only immature young elephants remain in the population, which leads to disturbances in the hierarchy of the population and harms its growth, says the professor

To protect African elephants, protected areas and reserves are being created, and poaching is being fought. In 1989, the African elephant was protected by a blanket ban on the sale of ivory included in the International Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. However, some countries, and in particular Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, Zambia and South Africa, refused to introduce this ban. The governments of these countries justified their actions by saying that elephant populations on their territory are successfully regulated, have a good sex and age structure, and in some places even show a tendency to increase, requiring controlled shooting to maintain natural balance. These sustainable herds not only attract tourists, but also generate income through trade in ivory, meat and hides, which goes towards various socio-economic development projects, while also providing jobs for people. In addition, the local population is actively involved in animal protection and helps fight poaching. Public opinion should lead to a drop in demand for goods that kill rare animals, and this will help save them from extinction. The dispute continues. As long as the ivory comes from sustainable populations, it is difficult to demand a ban on its marketing.

The East European Plain is located in the eastern part of Europe, and there are 10 countries on its territory, but most of it is in the west of Russia, which is why its second name is the Russian Plain. The climate of the Russian Plain depends on several factors: geographical location, topography, proximity to the ocean. So in what climatic zones is the Russian Plain located?

General information

The East European Plain is one of the largest plains on the planet. Its area occupies more than 4 million square meters. km. The Russian Plain is bounded in the north by the Arctic Ocean, in the south by the Caspian and Black Seas, the Caucasus Mountains, in the east by the Urals, and in the west by the Russian state border. The entire plain can be divided into 3 parts: central, southern and northern. The central zone is distinguished by large hills and lowlands. So, for example, the Bugulma-Belebeevskaya Upland, located precisely in the central part, is the highest point of the plain. Its height is 479 meters.

Rice. 1. Bugulminskaya-Belebeevskaya upland.

Of all the plains of Russia, only the Russian Plain has access to two oceans at once - the Arctic and Atlantic

Climate of the East European Plain

Most of the plain lies in the temperate climate zone. It is formed under the influence of air masses brought from the Atlantic Ocean. This type of climate on the East European Plain is characterized by fairly cold winters and warm summers. Depending on the location, the average temperature in summer varies from +12 degrees (for example, the Bering Sea coast) to +24 (for example, in the Caspian lowland). The average January temperature varies from -8 degrees in the western part to -16 degrees in the Urals.

Rice. 2. East European Plain on the map.

The Russian Plain is subject to westerly transport of air masses. Thanks to the smoothed relief of the plain, the transfer of air masses occurs freely. Western air transport is the movement of air from west to east. Atlantic air brings coolness and precipitation in summer, and warmth and precipitation in winter.

A frequent occurrence in the cold season is the arrival of cyclones. During this time, from 8 to 12 cyclones may arrive on the Russian Plain.

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Precipitation is unevenly distributed across the plain. The most humidified are the Valdai and Smolensk-Moscow uplands.

Rice. 3. Valdai Upland.

A characteristic feature of the East European Plain is a clear manifestation of latitudinal zoning (consecutive change of zones from tundra to semi-deserts). The average annual precipitation here is 700 mm.

Snow cover is typical for the entire territory of the Russian Plain. The duration of snow in the north can be 220 days a year, and in the south - 60 days.

Remember

• What role do plants play in human life? Why do people need farm animals? What plants and animals are grown in your area?

Man is part of the biosphere. Man cannot live outside of nature and independently of it. People are living beings, and the human body lives and develops according to biological laws. In ancient times, people were entirely dependent on the biosphere, collecting plants and hunting animals.

But even in the modern world, despite the gigantic achievements of man, this dependence remains very high. Plants and animals, as in ancient times, are the main source of human food. They also serve as material for building houses, making paper, clothing and much more. In addition, living nature has a beneficial effect on people’s well-being and is a source of their creative inspiration. But the biosphere is not always “friendly” towards humans. Many plants and animals are poisonous, and some microorganisms cause dangerous diseases.

Human impact on the biosphere. The impact of people on the biosphere increases as their numbers grow and the economy develops. Primitive people did not cause much harm to the biosphere. There were few of them, and primitive farming did not disturb nature. Modern economy gives people many benefits, but has a detrimental effect on the biosphere. Many species of living organisms disappear irretrievably, and soils are destroyed. The forest area is constantly decreasing. They are cut down for the purpose of harvesting timber and freeing up areas for agriculture.

Due to human fault only from the beginning of the 17th century. 94 species of birds and 63 species of mammals became extinct (Fig. 177). Thousands of plant and animal species are on the verge of extinction. Plants become rare due to fires, picking berries, flowers and medicinal herbs, mowing grasses and cutting down trees. Animals are disappearing due to hunting and destruction of places suitable for their life.

Rice. 177. Animals that disappeared due to human fault: a - dodo; b - great auk; c - passenger pigeon; g - sea cow

Despite human economic activity, plants and animals would still disappear. As life develops on our planet, some species of living beings die out and are replaced by new ones. But this process proceeds very slowly: every thousand years approximately one species of organism disappears. Nowadays, one species of organism disappears every day!

Human economic activities often destroy soils. On arable lands devoid of vegetation and pastures trampled by livestock, soils are blown away by winds and washed away by surface waters. When fields are irrigated excessively, the soil becomes unsuitable for use, as salts that inhibit plant growth accumulate in them.

Diseases and death of plants and animals, pollution of the atmosphere, hydrosphere and soil are caused by waste from human economic activities. Already about 10% of plant species and several thousand species of animals and birds need protection.

To save wildlife, scientists identify rare and endangered species of plants and animals and list them in the Red Book. Different countries adopt special laws on the protection of the biosphere.

Rice. 178. Share of protected areas in different countries of the world

To preserve individual species of organisms and entire natural communities, more than 3 thousand protected areas have been created in different parts of the world (Fig. 178). Any economic activity, recreation and tourism are prohibited or limited there.

Questions and tasks

1. How can you help protect plants and animals?
2. Prove that with development, humanity has not become less dependent on nature.
3. Look in the dictionary for the meaning of the words: reserve, national park, reserve, natural monument. What are the similarities between them, and what are the differences? What protected areas are located in or near your area? What plants and animals are protected there? Write a story about one of them.

Final questions and assignments

1. What is the biosphere? What are its components?
2. How does the biological cycle occur in nature? What is its significance for our planet?
3. Why are all the outer shells of the Earth under the influence of living organisms?
4. What changes would occur on Earth if plants disappeared?
5. How is living matter distributed on our planet? What determines the saturation of the biosphere with life?
6. The thicknesses of the World Ocean differ greatly in the diversity and richness of living organisms. What are the main reasons for their uneven distribution?
7. What factors determine the distribution of living organisms on land?
8. Compare moist equatorial forests and temperate forests according to the following characteristics: geographical location, climate features, flora and fauna, importance for the nature of the Earth.
9. What forests are common in Russia? Why should they be treated with care?
10. Is there a forest in your area? Visit it and name the predominant species of trees and shrubs.
11. Under what climatic conditions do savannas and steppes occur on the plains, and in what conditions do deserts occur?
12. Why is soil considered a connecting link between living and inanimate nature?
13. Select from books, magazines, newspapers, and television programs examples of the impact of human activity on soils, flora and fauna, and the biosphere as a whole.
14. Using additional literature, find out the reasons why the number of elephants in Africa is declining. Prepare a message on the topic “Conservation of African elephants.”
15. How are you involved in plant and animal conservation? What measures would you suggest to preserve the nature of your area?

A historical fact is located not only in historical time, but also in historical space, which is understood as a set of processes: natural, economic, political, etc., occurring in a particular territory at a certain historical time. Works on the history of Russia in the pre-Soviet period began with a section on the geographical location of the country, its nature, climate, landscape, etc. This is especially true for books by S.M. Solovyov and V.O. Klyuchevsky.

CM. Soloviev, V.O. Klyuchevsky noted in their writings that the geographical conditions of Eastern Europe differ markedly from the conditions of Western Europe. The coasts of Western Europe are heavily indented by inland seas and deep bays, dotted with many islands. Proximity to the seas is a characteristic feature of Western European countries.

The relief of Western Europe differs sharply from the relief of Eastern Europe. The surface of Western Europe is extremely uneven. In addition to the massive Alps range, almost every European country has a mountain range that serves as the backbone, or “backbone,” of the country. Thus, in England there is a chain of the Pennine Mountains, in Spain - the Pyrenees, in Italy - the Apennines, in Sweden and Norway - the Scandinavian Mountains. In the European part of Russia there is no point higher than 500 meters above sea level. The range of the Ural Mountains has little influence on the nature of the surface.

CM. Solovyov draws attention to the fact that the borders of Western European states are delineated by natural boundaries - seas, mountain ranges, and high-water rivers. Russia also has natural borders: along the perimeter of Russia there are seas, rivers, and mountain peaks. On the territory of Russia there is a vast strip of steppes - the Great Steppe, stretching from the Carpathian Mountains to Altai. The great rivers of the East European Plain - the Dnieper, Don, Volga - were not obstacles, but rather roads connecting different regions of the country. Their dense network permeates a huge space, allowing it to reach its most remote corners. The entire history of the country is connected with rivers - it was along these “living roads” that the colonization of new territories was carried out.

Russia is a vast plain, open to north winds, unhindered by mountain ranges. The climate of Russia belongs to the continental type. Winter temperatures decrease as you move east. Siberia, with its inexhaustible supply of arable land, is for the most part unsuitable for agriculture. In its eastern regions, lands located at the latitude of Scotland cannot be cultivated at all.

Like Inner Asia, Africa and Australia, Russia is located in a zone of sharply continental climate. The temperature difference between seasons reaches 70 degrees or more; The distribution of precipitation is extremely uneven. Precipitation is heaviest in the northwest, along the Baltic coast, where warm winds bring it; as you move towards the southeast they decrease. In other words, precipitation is heaviest where the soil is poorest, which is why Russia generally suffers from drought - in Kazan, for example, there is half as much precipitation as in Paris.

The most important consequence of Russia's geographical position is the extremely short period of time suitable for sowing and harvesting. Around Novgorod and St. Petersburg, the agricultural period lasts only four months a year; in the central regions, near Moscow, it increases to five and a half months; in the steppe it lasts six months. In Western Europe this period lasts 8-9 months. In other words, a Western European peasant has almost twice as much time for field work as a Russian.

The East European Plain is one of the largest on the planet. Its area exceeds 4 million km2. It is located on the Eurasian continent (in the eastern part of Europe). On the northwestern side, its borders run along the Scandinavian mountain formations, in the southeast - along the Caucasus, in the southwest - along the Central European massifs (Sudetes, etc.) There are more than 10 states on its territory, most of which is occupied by the Russian Federation . It is for this reason that this plain is also called Russian.

East European Plain: climate formation

In any geographical area, the climate is formed due to several factors. First of all, this is the geographical location, terrain and neighboring regions with which a certain territory borders.

So, what exactly influences the climate of a given plain? To begin with, it is worth highlighting the oceanic waters: the Arctic and the Atlantic. Thanks to their air masses, certain temperatures are established and the amount of precipitation is formed. The latter are distributed unevenly, but this is easily explained by the large territory of such an object as the East European Plain.

Mountains have as much influence as oceans. it is not the same along its entire length: in the southern zone it is much greater than in the northern one. It varies throughout the year, depending on the changing seasons (in summer more than in winter due to the snowy mountain peaks). The highest radiation levels are reached in July.

Considering that the plain is located in high and temperate latitudes, its territory is mainly dominated by it. It predominates mainly in the eastern part.

Atlantic masses

Atlantic air masses dominate over the East European Plain throughout the year. In the winter season they bring precipitation and warm weather, and in the summer the air is filled with coolness. Atlantic winds, moving from west to east, change somewhat. Being above the earth's surface, they become warmer in summer with a small amount of moisture, and cold in winter with little precipitation. It is during the cold period that the East European Plain, whose climate directly depends on the oceans, is under the influence of Atlantic cyclones. During this season, their number can reach 12. Moving eastward, they can change dramatically, and this, in turn, brings warming or cooling.

And when Atlantic cyclones arrive from the southwest, the southern part of the Russian Plain is influenced by subtropical air masses, as a result of which a thaw occurs and in winter the temperature can rise to +5...7 °C.

Arctic air masses

When the East European Plain is under the influence of North Atlantic and Southwestern Arctic cyclones, the climate here changes significantly, even in the southern part. A sharp cold snap is setting in on its territory. Arctic air most often moves in the direction from north to west. Thanks to anticyclones, which lead to colder temperatures, the snow remains for a long time, the weather becomes partly cloudy with low temperatures. As a rule, they are common in the southeastern part of the plain.

winter season

Considering how the East European Plain is located, the climate during the winter season differs in different areas. In this regard, the following temperature statistics are observed:

• Northern regions - winter is not very cold; in January thermometers show an average of -4 °C.
• In the western zones of the Russian Federation, weather conditions are somewhat more severe. The average temperature in January reaches -10 °C.
• The northeastern parts are coldest. Here you can see -20 °C or more on thermometers.
• In the southern zones of Russia, there is a temperature deviation in the southeast direction. The average is -5 °C.

Summer season temperature

During the summer season, the East European Plain is exposed to solar radiation. The climate at this time depends directly on this factor. Here, oceanic air masses are no longer so important, and the temperature is distributed in accordance with geographic latitude.

So let's look at the changes by region:

Precipitation

As mentioned above, most of the East European Plain has a temperate continental climate. And it is characterized by a certain amount of precipitation, amounting to 600-800 mm/g. Their loss depends on several factors. For example, the movement of air masses from the western parts, the presence of cyclones, the location of the polar and Arctic front. The highest humidity is observed between the Valdai and Smolensk-Moscow uplands. During the year, precipitation falls in the west about 800 mm, and in the east a little less - no more than 700 mm.

In addition, the topography of this territory has a great influence. On the hills located in the western parts, precipitation falls 200 millimeters more than on the lowlands. The rainy season in the southern zones occurs in the first month of summer (June), and in the middle zone, as a rule, it is July.

In winter, snow falls in this region and a stable cover forms. The altitude level may vary depending on the natural areas of the East European Plain. For example, in the tundra the snow thickness reaches 600-700 mm. Here he lies for about seven months. And in the forest zone and forest-steppe the snow cover reaches a height of up to 500 mm and, as a rule, covers the ground for no more than two months.

Most moisture occurs in the northern zone of the plain, and evaporation is less. In the middle zone these indicators are compared. As for the southern part, here moisture is much less than evaporation, for this reason drought is often observed in this area.

types and brief description

The natural zones of the East European Plain are quite different. This can be explained extremely simply - by the large size of this area. There are 7 zones on its territory. Let's look at them.

East European Plain and West Siberian Plain: comparison

The Russian and West Siberian plains have a number of common features. For example, their geographical location. They are both located on the Eurasian continent. They are influenced by the Arctic Ocean. The territory of both plains has such natural zones as forest, steppe and forest-steppe. There are no deserts or semi-deserts in the West Siberian Plain. The prevailing Arctic air masses have almost the same impact on both geographical areas. They are also bordered by mountains, which directly influence the formation of the climate.

The East European Plain and the West Siberian Plain also have differences. These include the fact that although they are on the same continent, they are located in different parts: the first is in Europe, the second is in Asia. They also differ in relief - West Siberian is considered one of the lowest, so some of its areas are swampy. If we take the territory of these plains as a whole, then the flora in the latter is somewhat poorer than that of the East European one.