Bio II ME 6

ecology

the study of the interactions between organisms and their environment

biosphere

the global ecosystem, sum of all ecosystems and landscapes

climate

long term prevailing weather conditions in a given area

bands of biomes

correspond to major zones of climate across the globe, each has certain plants and animals adapted to that climate

input of solar energy

latitudinal variation in the intensity of sunlight, aid in determining global climate patterns

Earth’s movement in space

atmospheric circulation due to earth’s movement in space, determines global climate patterns

latitudinal variation

caused by earth’s curved shape, variation in the intensity of sunlght

-low angle of incoming lights means light energy is more diffued across earth’s surface

-more direct light means more heat per unit surface

atmospheric circulation

the large scale movement of air driven by solar radiation and the earth’s rotation

-sir flowing close to the earth’s surface creates predictable global wind patterns

why? as the earth rotates, land at the equator movesfaster than land at the poles bc earth is wider at the equator, deflecting winds in an organized patterns

properties of the interaction between temperature and precipitation of air

the atmosphere is cooler the further away from earth you go

warm air

expands and rises (low pressure), holds moisture (evaporated water)

cold air

sinks (high pressure), cannot hold water (condensed water)

regional climate

variation within latitude, bands of global climate are modified by special conditions, exceptions to global climate rules leading to variation within latitudes

-affected by proximity to water + major land masses

how proximity to water affects regional climate

ocean currents influence climate along the coast by heating or cooling air masses that pass across the land

major land masses affect regional climate

influence air flow over land

-cool air flows from the water

-air encounters mountains and flows up, cooling and releasing water

-sinking ait has less precipitation which can create a desert on the back of the mountain

differences between hemispheres: seasonality

the climate at a given latitude varies seasonally due to the tilt of the earth on its axis

northern hemisphere tilts toward sun: long day, short night

northern hemisphere tilts away from the sun: short day, long night

biome

major type of ecosystem characterized by the vegetation that occurs there (terrestrial) or by the physical properties of the environment (aquatic)

climograph

a plot of the annual mean temperature and precipitation in a particular region. these parameters vary across biomes

major terrestrial biomes

approximate bands of biomes corresponding to major zones of climate scross the globe, each has certain plants and animals adapted to that climate

polar deserts

extremely cold and dry, few species can tolerate

arctic tundra

cold and dry, very short growing season, no trees, animals migrate or hibernate

taiga boreal forest

milder cold and dry, short growing season, evergreen trees

temperate forest

mild temperature and seasonally warm, coniferous where dry and deciduous where wet

temperate

mild temperature and dry, often disturbed, grasses and grassland grazers

desert

very dry, can be hot or cold, cactus, burrowing and crepuscular animals

tropical rain forest

hot and wet, rainfall is seasonal, layered vegetation, very high diversity