Why are mountains so important?

What will be an ideal response?


Mountains play an important ecological role in that they contain a large portion of the world's forests, which are habitats for much of the planet's terrestrial biodiversity, including endemic species, those that are found nowhere else on earth. Mountains help regulate the earth's climate. Many mountaintops are covered with glacial ice and snow that reflect some solar radiation back into space, which helps to cool the earth. Mountains play a critical role in the hydrologic cycle by serving as major storehouses of water. During winter, precipitation is stored as ice and snow. In the warmer weather of spring and summer, much of this snow and ice melts, releasing water to streams for use by wildlife and by humans for drinking and for irrigating crops.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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Most of the projected growth in the US between 2012 and 2050 will come from immigration.

Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)

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An isotropic surface has the same topography everywhere

Indicate whether this statement is true or false.

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What causes the constant direction of the northeast trade winds?

A. Earth's rotation B. unequal heating at the poles C. solar energy D. cold air from the poles

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

A country can be highly urbanized and have a low rate of urbanization

Indicate whether this statement is true or false.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences