(18): climate classification and biogeography

what is expectation?

animals are expected to adapt to their environments

what is buffon’s law?

even though some environments are similar, the plants and animals in those places are different.

what is an example of buffon’s law?

even though Antarctica in the SH is environmentally similar to the polar deserts in the NH, penguins live in the SH and polar bears live in the NH.

what is biogeography?

the study of life

what is historical biogeography?

understanding the past to understand today’s patterns

what is ecological biogeography?

a modern approach of the world today

what are biotic factors?

how plants and animals interact with one another (life interacting with life)

examples of biotic factors:

competition: lions and hyenas both hunting zebras

predation: a lion hunting and eating a zebra

mutualism: a small fish eating parasites off sharks

disturbance: forest fires

what are abiotic factors?

non-living parts of an environment that affect living things

examples of abiotic factors:

climate: makes weather conditions

topography/elevation: shape/height of land

soil: provides nutrients, water, and helps plants grow

who is wladimir koppen?

scientist who connected the distribution of plants to climate characteristics.

also created a classification system that is still used today

what are some important climactic variables?

maximum temp, minimum temp, and precipitation

what is a biome?

an ecosystem of plants and animals that share common traits for their environment

what are climate zones defined by?

temperature and precipitation

example of some climate regions:

tropics near equator

deserts near subtropics

specific land heats in midlatitude

tropical climate characteristics: A

high temperatures and high precipitation

located in a narrow latitudinal band (ITZC)

zone of convergence

tropical climates: A

Af = tropical wet

Am = tropical monsoon

Aw = tropical savanna

what is an example of an Af climate?

Uaupes, Brazil (South America) - tropical rain forest biome

Af components:

year-round moisture from ICTZ

water surplus throughout the year P > PET

small temp range

dense rainforest with broadleaf evergreen trees

what is an example of an Am climate?

Yangon, Myanmar (SE Asia) - tropical seasonal forest biome

Am components:

monsoonal climate with dry season

ITCZ moves away seasonally

moisture surplus throughout year P > PET

less dense broadleaf evergreen trees with shrubs

what is an example of an Aw climate?

Arusha, Tanzania (Africa) - tropical savanna biome

Aw components:

tropical climate with a pronounced dry season

scattered broadleaf evergreen trees with shrubs

grass covers most of the landscape

desert climate characteristics: B

covers more land than any other climate

subtropical high is the controlling climate mechanism

moisture deficit throughout the year

desert climates: B

Bw = hot, dry desert

Bs = dry climate with temp and precipitation varying by latitude

what is an example of a Bw climate?

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - warm desert and semidesert biome

Bw components:

PET > precipitation

precipitation comes through convective storms

little vegetation, hardy shrubs

what is an example of a Bs climate?

New South Wales, Australia - warm desert and semidesert biome

Bs components:

short grass, prairie vegetation

transition between desert and subhumid climates

mild midlatitude climates characteristics:

mild temperatures (0-18°C)

precipitation varies by location and latitude

midlatitude cyclones important for rainfall

mild midlatitude climates: C

Cf = mild climate with precipitation throughout the year

Cs = mild, moist winters and hot dry summers

Cw = mild climate with summer monsoon rainfall

what is an example of a Cf climate?

Columbia, South Carolina - midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest biome

Cf components:

timing of precipitation divides the climate

deciduous (trees shed annually) vegetation

what is an example of a Cs climate?

Sevilla, Spain - Mediterranean shrubland climate biome

Cs components:

precipitation deficit during the summer PET > P

rainfall in winter due to cyclones

savanna / shrubland vegetation

what is an example of a Cw climate?

Chengdu, China - midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest biome

Cw components:

subtropical monsoon climate

intense summer rainfall can cause natural disasters

high latitude climate characteristics: D

large summer-winter temp range

permafrost

only exists in NH

high latitude climates: D

Df = large temp range with year round precipitation

Dw = large temp range with convective storms and monsoonal rain

what is an example of a Df climate?

New York City - midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest climate

Df components:

broadleaf deciduous and needleleaf evergreen trees

what is an example of a Dw climate?

Dalian, China - midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest biome

Dw components:

broadleaf deciduous and needleleaf evergreen trees

polar climates: E

Verkhoyansk, Russia - polar desert biome

only occur as polar latitudes

no trees

few grasses, dwarf shrubs, lichen

polar night - pitch black in the winter, plants need light to photosynthesize so they adapt to their conditions

highland climates: H

only exist in mountain ranges

as you go up, you experience different climates and different biomes