ecophys - abiotic influencers on climate (exam 1)

biomes

major divisions of the terrestrial environment distinguished primarily by their predominant plant life

2 factors that determine distribution of plants

1) soil

2) climate (avg. temp and precipitation)

temperature

measure of the average kinetic energy, or energy of motion, of the molecules in a mass of substance

• “heat energy”

• can be looked at on a macro and micro-scale

functional traits

organisms will possess specific traits that help them survive given the characteristics (e.g., soil and climate; among others) of that environment

• arise via selective pressures

• differ based on functional level (primary producer, consumer, & secondary consumer)

3 reasons why latitude is major determinant of climatic patterns

1) earth is round

2) earth is tilted approx 23.5

3) properties of air

earth is round

leads to dispersed solar radiation at higher latitudes

earth spins at a slight angle (23) leads to

seasonal variation in temperature at higher latitudes

properties of air

• as temp of air warms, it rises as molecules disperse, decreasing density

• air will gain water molecules as it moves, becoming saturated w/water vapor as it rises

• this water vapor phase changes and condenses as temp changes

• water lost from clouds as precipitation

• as air cools, it sinks back down

• this is a cyclic/non-static process that is continuously occuring

at equator, more evap = more water going up to atmosphere and undergoing phase changes (heavy rainfall)

coriolis effect

b/c earth is moving constantly, it makes the appearance that the wind is moving right/left (creates SW → NE pattern for ex)

adiabatic cooling

change in atmosphere level of air dependent on topography features (mountains, valleys, etc…)

mountain effect

example of adiabatic cooling concept

• moist, warm air rises

• as air cools and rises up mountain, moisture lost as rain

• air descends from mountain peak dry & cool, creating a rain shadow effect

macroclimate

prevailing weather conditions in an overall region over a long period of time

• can be described with climate diagrams

• can be influenced by landscape features

microclimate

climatic variation on a scale of a few km, m, or cm usually measured over short periods of time

• influenced by landscape features like altitude, aspect, vegetation, and other structures, color of the ground

soil

a complex mixture of living and nonliving material upon which almost all life depends

• can be broken up into distinct horizons based on depth

o horizon

stuff sitting on forest floor, extremely nutrient rich

a horizon

consists of everything decomposed on surface that is starting to be mixed in w/soil

see roots b/c of the nutrient richness of this horizon

b horizon

less nutrient rich compared to a horizon, still see some roots

c horizon

rock foundation for all soil

tropical rain forest

• located towards equator (0 lat)

• steady warm temps w/no seasonality

• high precipitation, almost constant with no seasonality

• heavy leeching of soils, O horizon almost nonexistent (washed away)

• high biodiversity, very fast decomposition rates and nutrients immediately pulled out of the soil

• epiphytes forming due to high biodiversity

tropical dry forest

• warm temps w/no seasonality

• lower precipitation levels, dryer environment compared to tropical rain forest

• see a slight increase in seasonality of precipitation patterns, but still very heavy rainfall

• see increase & decrease of O horizon following seasonality patterns

tropical savanna

• seasonal precipitation pattern, moderate rain fall

• rich O horizon, no longer being washed away

• fire is a natural part of these ecosystems, plants adapt to this (overall dryer environment)

• migration of animals in/out of these biomes

deserts

• around 30 lat, driest environment

• start seeing seasonality in temp

• no seasonality w/precipitation

• very little organic input into soil

• lithosols: mineral rich soils that are highly saline rich/high NaCL concentration

woodland and shrubland

• temperature becomes colder and more seasonal (still fairly warm)

• similar to grasslands environment

• very little precipitation, seasonal

• experiences same type of dry seasons as tropical savanna

• fire-adapted plants

temperate grassland

• temperature even colder, more seasonality

• seasonal precipitation & more of it

• no “dry season”, but still a very fire adapted region w/lots of grass

• very heavy organic layer → rich farmlands present here

temperate forests

• more precipitation w/no seasonality

• more seasonality w/temp as we get closer to the poles

• soil rich in nutrients

• see deciduous trees and coniferous trees

• closer to 60 lat

boreal forests

• no seasonality in precipitation, lots of it

• temp seasonality, way colder

• horizons are freezing → B horizon freezing = permafrost, holds on the nutrients and locks them up

• harder for plant life to grow

tundra

• high seasonality w/temp, very cold

• low precipitation, no seasonality (similar to grasslands)

• still have permafrost, see very little plant life

• regions typically only available to migratory animals