APES 4.8 Notes

Irradiance and Climate:
  - Climate is predominantly influenced by insolation:
    - Latitude: Affects the angle of insolation and the atmosphere.
      - At higher latitudes:
        - Insolation levels decrease: Results in cooler temperatures and less precipitation, particularly around 30 degrees latitude.
      - At the Equator:
        - Intense insolation: Leads to hotter temperatures, rising air, and higher precipitation levels.

Geographic Factors:
  - Mountains:
    - Disrupt air currents, influencing local climates and precipitation patterns.
    - Introduce the rain shadow effect (See below).
  - Oceans:
    - Moderate temperatures of adjacent areas by storing and releasing heat, impacting local climates significantly.

Mechanism:
  - Warm, Moist Air:
    - Originates from oceans and approaches the mountain's “windward” side.
    - The air rises and cools, allowing water vapor to condense, leading to precipitation and lush vegetation on this side.
  - Dry Air Descent:
    - Once air passes over the peak to the “leeward” side:
      - The air descends, warms, and creates arid, desert-like conditions.
    - Consequences include significant vegetation differences between sides of the mountain.
Example from Island Biogeography Lab:
  - Participants acted as birds, struggling for resources:
    - Green Island: Represented the windward side with abundant rain.
    - Brown Island: Represented the leeward side with scarce rainfall.

Andes Mountains and Eastern Trade Winds:
  - Trade winds carry moist air from the Atlantic Ocean:
    - The windward (east) side of the Andes: Receives heavy rainfall, fostering a rich environment.
    - The leeward (west) side: Experiences arid air, contributing to drier conditions.
Latitude Influence:
- The near 30 degrees latitude contributes to dryness:
- Characterized by high pressure, dry conditions, and descending air from the Hadley Cell.