ESS Standard Topic 2.4

Climate and Biomes

Climate

The yearly range of average temperatures and rainfall

Weather

What is happening right now

Biome

A group of comparable ecosystems found in different parts of the world

Temperature

All living things need enzymes for metabolism

Insolation

Energy from the sun that drives photosynthesis and productivity

Precipitation

The amount of freshwater for osmosis

Intertropical Conversion Zone (ITCZ)

A band of low pressure around the equator where trade winds from the southern and northern hemisphere converge causing the development of frequent thunderstorms and rainfall due to high rates of evaporation caused by intense heat.

Polar Cell

Causes high pressure at the North pole (90 degrees) as cold air falls causing dry and cold conditions

Causes low pressure at 60 degrees where warm air rises creating warm and wet conditions. (Easterlies winds)

Ferrel Cell

Causes low pressure at 60 degrees where warm air rises creating warm and wet conditions.

Causes high pressure at 30 degrees where cold air sinks crating desert conditions (Warm south westerlies wind)

Hadley Cell

Causes high pressure at 30 degrees where cold air sinks crating desert conditions.

Causes Low pressure at the Equator (0 degrees) where hot air rises causing tropical conditions and an ITCZ.

Low Pressure

When air pressure is low in some areas resulting in clouds being able to form and increased rates of precipitation. (60 and 0 degrees)

High Pressure

When air pressure is high so clouds cannot form, resulting in low rates of precipitation. (90 and 30 degrees)

Whittaker Climograph

A graphical representation that illustrates the combination of temperature and precipitation at a specific geographical location.

The Great Ocean Conveyor

The ocean absorbing solar radiation and then distribute it around the globe through ocean currents (an example of a global heat distribution system)

Upwelling

When Deeper colder nutrient rich water rises up from beneath the surface to replace the water that was pushed away. Moving the warmer surface water offshore

How is Global Warming effecting the Great Ocean Conveyor?

There will be more energy in atmospheric and oceanic systems

1. The Hadley cell has more power and will push north

2. This pushes the Ferrel cell above 30 degrees

3. This pushes the Polar cell giving it less room

4. As a result the Great Ocean Conveyor could weaken or reverse.

What is Permafrost an example of?

Carbon sink and store

What is the Boreal forest an example of now due to Climate change?

A carbon source

Taiga trees (an ancient ring of forest) Is dying and drying out lowering carbon storage and becomes a carbon source

Zombie Fires

positive feedback loop where fires are suppressed under snow but then rekindle when the snow melts so they won’ ever be put out.