Biomes

Biomes powerpoint slides 2025

CLIMATE Controls Feb 28 2025

Matthew Bennett - posted Albedo Affect exercise with design your own lab component February 25, 2025

Matthew Bennett - posted HeatingLandLab Feb 27 2025

1. Energy and Wavelength

• Energy comes from the sun in the visible spectrum, reaches the earth, and after hitting it, becomes infrared with less energy.

• The shorter the wavelength, the higher the energy.

• Visible light and radio waves reach the earth, but barely any infrared does.

• All UV-C is blocked by the ozone layer, some UV-B is blocked, and almost none of UV-A is blocked.

• Ultraviolet can split apart chlorine in hazardous waste.

• Visible light from the earth is absorbed, losing energy and becoming infrared light.

2. Earth's Energy Absorption and Reflection

• 30% of energy is reflected right away, while 70% is absorbed.

• Carbon dioxide and water vapor are the two main gases that prevent infrared radiation from escaping into outer space.

• Photosynthesis during spring and summer absorbs more carbon dioxide, lowering CO2 concentration.

• Negative feedback loops improve conditions, while positive feedback loops worsen them.

• When calculating albedo and reflectivity, remember they are the opposite of absorption. Albedo is not how much is absorbed.

3. Climate Zones and Ecosystems

Tundra

• Arctic tundra = polar climate.

• Tundra remains below freezing for most of the year with very low rainfall.

• Freezing and thawing can damage infrastructure.

• Few trees due to roots' inability to handle cold water.

Boreal (Taiga/Coniferous Forest)

• Boreal regions consist of coniferous forests (like evergreens).

• Taiga warms in the summer but still reaches below-freezing temperatures.

• Typically experiences more moisture in snow/rain.

Temperate Deciduous Forests

• Found near warm ocean currents with sufficient moisture.

• In southern hemispheres, they are drier during summer months.

Tropical Rainforests

• Hot temperatures with high variation.

• High biodiversity and no dry seasons.

Grasslands and Savannahs

• Grasslands have soil rich in organic matter.

• Savannahs experience water abundance in short periods but dry conditions the rest of the year, resulting in sparse tree cover.

Deserts

• Defined by low rainfall.

Coastal vs Inland Effects

• Coastal areas are more likely to have temperate deciduous forests.

• Inland regions may have grasslands or savannas.

Latitude and Climate

• High latitudes are cold, mid-latitudes are temperate, and low latitudes are hot.

Precipitation Patterns by Hemisphere

• Northern and southern hemispheres have opposite temperature and precipitation trends.

4. Mountain and Weather Phenomena

• As cold air rises on mountains (orthographic lifting), it cools, holds less moisture, and results in precipitation.

CLIMATE VS. WEATHER

1. Differences Between Climate and Weather

   • Weather is the short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific place at a specific time, including temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, and visibility.

   • Climate is the long-term average of weather patterns over a period (typically 30 years or more) in a specific region.

2. Information Used to Describe Climate

   • Temperature averages and extremes.

   • Precipitation averages and seasonality.

   • Patterns of winds and ocean currents.

   • Pressure systems and seasonal shifts.

CLIMATE CONTROLS

The 7 Climate Controls Affecting Temperature and Precipitation:

1. Latitude: Determines the intensity of solar energy, with tropical regions receiving more heat and polar regions much less.

2. Altitude: Higher altitudes have cooler temperatures and less moisture due to thinner air.

3. Proximity to Water: Large water bodies moderate temperature fluctuations and increase humidity.

4. Ocean Currents: Warm currents increase temperatures and humidity; cold currents have the opposite effect.

5. Topography: Mountains cause orographic lifting, leading to cooler air and precipitation on windward sides and drier, warmer conditions on leeward sides (rain shadow effect).

6. Wind Patterns: Global wind belts (e.g., trade winds, westerlies) distribute heat and moisture globally.

7. Pressure Systems: High-pressure zones lead to arid conditions (e.g., deserts), while low-pressure areas bring increased precipitation.

Global Winds, Pressure Belts, and Climate

• Global winds (e.g., trade winds, jet streams) transport warm or cold air masses, influencing temperature and precipitation in regions.

• Pressure belts like the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) create areas of heavy rainfall, while subtropical high-pressure zones lead to deserts.

Ocean Currents and Climate

• Ocean currents regulate climate by redistributing heat:

  • Warm currents (e.g., the Gulf Stream) bring warmer, more humid air to nearby regions.

  • Cold currents (e.g., the California Current) cool the surrounding air and reduce precipitation.

Sea Breeze

• During the day, the sun heats up the land faster than the water.

• The warm air over the land becomes lighter and rises, creating a low-pressure area.

• Cooler, denser air from the sea moves in to replace it, resulting in a gentle breeze blowing from the sea to the land.

• This effect is most noticeable on warm, sunny days near coastal areas.

Land Breeze

• At night, the land cools down more quickly than the water.

• The warmer air over the water rises, creating a low-pressure area over the sea.

• Cooler, denser air from the land flows toward the sea to fill the gap, forming a breeze that blows from the land to the sea.

• This usually happens during clear, calm nights.

Calculations with albedo:

SHOW ALL WORK FOR CALCULATIONS WITH LABELS AND UNITS  (units should be in kilowatt hours)  m² x .6 kw   x 8 hrs     

        1 m2

1. If your roof area was 10 meters x 10 meters and that each square meter of your roof receives 600 watts of solar energy for 8 hours.  How many kilowatts of energy would your roof be absorbing each day based on using the dark shingle?

2. If your roof area was 10 meters x 10 meters and that each square meter of your roof receives 600 watts of solar energy for 8 hours.  How many kilowatts of energy would your roof be absorbing each day based on using the lighter colored shingle?

3. If your roof area was 10 meters x 10 meters and that each square meter of your roof receives 600 watts of solar energy for 8 hours.  How many kilowatts of energy would your roof be absorbing each day based on using a shingle that is smooth and white?

4.   If you were to put solar panels on this roof area of 10 meters x 10 meters and these panels were 20% efficient at converting the suns energy into electricity, how many kilowatt hours per day of electricity could your roof provide if ½ of the roof was covered in solar panels?

5. The town of Lexington has a surface area of 42.5 km² (42,500,000 m²).  Twenty two percent of the town of Lexington is paved over by driveways, roads, and roofs.  How much energy is being absorbed each day during the summer if each square meter of your roof receives 600 watts of solar energy  for 8 hours.