Chapter 2: Climate & Environmental Factors

Why weather and climate are highly variable?

Because the abiotic environment has a massive impact on the ecosystem

What is weather?

Describes the conditions at a specific time and place

What is the c and % chance of precipitation?

C is the x while y is the % chance of precipitation?

What is climate?

Describes the long-term weather patterns

What measures at variable scale for climate?

• Global climate change

• Regional climate

• Local climate

• Microclimate

What creates environmental gradients?

Variation

What is the amount of electromagnetic(solar radiation?

Shortwave and constant

When radiation hits Earth what does it results?

• It is reflected as shortwave radiation

• Absorbed

When radiation is reflected as shortwave radiation, the proportion depends on the surface hit called?

Albedo

When radiation is absorbed what does it cause to the surface?

It warms up the surface

What happens to the absorbed heat subsequently?

Subsequently emitted as long wave(thermal) radiation

What reflects some of the heat towards the surface?

Greenhouse gases(H2O and CO2) leading to warmer temperatures

The intensity of solar radiation varies with?

The latitude, making the angle of incidence changes

The more distributed the light because of latitude causes?

Low intensity of solar radiation, the amount absorbed per km² decreases

What does low intensity of solar radiation and decreased amount absorbed per km² results to?

• Warmer near the equator

• Colder near the poles

Where seasonal changes occur?

Occur from the tilt of Earth’s rotational axis relative to the sun

What is Summer Solstice — Winnipeg (49.9° N)

• Longest day of the year

• Shortest night

• Highest Sun angle at noon

• Most solar energy received

• Northern Hemisphere tilted toward the Sun

What is Winter Solstice — Winnipeg (49.9° N)

• Shortest day of the year

• Longest night

• Lowest Sun angle at noon

• Least solar energy received

• Northern Hemisphere tilted away from the Sun

What is Autumnal Equinox — Winnipeg (49.9° N)

• Day and night are equal (12 hours each)

• Sun rises due east, sets due west

• Moderate Sun angle

• Northern Hemisphere not tilted toward or away

What is Vernal Equinox — Winnipeg (49.9° N)

• Day and night are equal (12 hours each)

• Sun rises due east, sets due west

• Moderate Sun angle

• Marks start of spring

Why does Winnipeg have long summer days and short winter days?

• Earth’s 23.5° axial tilt

• Higher latitude = bigger seasonal differences

Solstices vs Equinoxes

• Solstices = extreme daylight

• Equinoxes = equal day and night

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What is the Coriolis effect?

Earth’s uneven heating + Earth’s rotation cause moving air to curve, creating predictable global wind patterns.

Coriolis effect is masses(cells) of?

Predictable air movements

Why the coriolis effect ocean currents?

• Earth's rotation deflects moving water (and air) to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere

• Creating curved paths that form large circular currents

What does ocean currents moderates?

Moderates the Earth’s climate and temperature extremes by redistributing heat across the planet. 

What happens to humidity as water evaporates?

• Humidity increases

• More water vapour enters the air

• Vapour in air = vapour pressure

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What is vapour pressure?

• The amount of water vapour in the air

• Increases as more water evaporates

How does temperature affect water vapour in air?

Warmer air holds more water vapour, so the maximum amount (saturation vapour pressure) increases as temperature increases

What does the red line on a vapour pressure graph represent?

• Saturation vapour pressure

• Increases as temperature increases

What is relative humidity?

How much water vapour is in the air compared to how much it can hold at that temperature

What is Saturation vapour pressure?

• The maximum amount of water vapour air can hold at a given temperature

• When air reaches this limit, it is saturated

• If more water vapour is added, condensation occurs

What is the dew point temperature?

• The temperature at which current vapour pressure equals saturation vapour pressure

• Air becomes fully saturated

What happens at 100% relative humidity?

• Current vapour pressure = saturation vapour pressure

• Air reaches the dew point

• Condensation can begin

What is the Air Currents and Precipitation Patterns?

• Warm air rises and cools

• Vapour pressure approaches saturation

• Condensation occurs

• Vapour pressure decreases

• Clouds form → precipitation (rain or snow)

What is topography?

Leeward versus windward slopes

Air is denser when closer to the?

Closer to the surface

As air rises, what does it results?

Air cools at a constant rate, causing condensation and rain

As air falls, what does it results?

It warms at a constant rate, creating rain shadow

What is rain shadow?

A dry area on the downwind side of a mountain range, caused by moist air losing its moisture as rain or snow on the upwind side

What is chinook?

Descending air is warmer

What is microclimates?

Variation can exist on a smaller scale due to temperature, humidity, and light

What is biotic on the environment?

• The shade of the forest canopy

• Vegetation absorbing water

What is abiotic on the environment?

• Coverage

• Topography

• Aspectis

What is urban microclimates

City infrastructure affect the local environment

What is global climate change?

The increased emissions of greenhouse gases like CO2 and CH4

What does global climate change increases reflection of?

Increases reflection of thermal raditation. back to Earth

How global climate change affect on albedo and absorption of solar radiation?

It decreases it

How methane(CH4) stronger than CO2?

28 times stronger

How nitrous oxide(N2O) stronger than CO2?

265 times stronger

How tetrafluoromethane(CF4) stronger than CO2?

6600 times stronger

How Sulfur hexafluoride(SF6) stronger than CO2?

23500 times stronger

By how many cm the sea level has risen in the last 20 years? and for 2100 prediction?

By 6cm and predicted to rise by 2.2 m by 2100

What are the increasing sea level risks?

• Flooding

• Coastal habitat loss

• PEI disappears

How does climate change affect growing seasons and life cycles?

Warmer temperatures cause longer growing seasons, allowing some species to produce more generations per year.

Why can longer growing seasons cause environmental problems?

Increased reproduction can lead to population outbreaks and ecosystem damage.

How is the mountain pine beetle affected by climate change?

Warmer conditions allow two generations per year, causing severe forest damage.

How does climate change affect species distribution and breeding?

Climate change alters the timing of breeding in some species.

How does spring warming affect reproduction?

Warmer springs speed up reproduction and cause earlier breeding.

What is trophic mismatch caused by climate change?

Earlier springs cause plants to grow earlier, but animals may not adjust at the same rate, leading to food shortages.

How does climate change affect plant growth in Greenland?

The growing season of forage plants starts about 14.8 days earlier due to warmer temperatures.

Why doesn’t caribou calving shift as much as plant growth?

Calving is mainly controlled by day length (photoperiod), not temperature.

What is trophic mismatch?

Producers and consumers become out of sync, disrupting the food chain.