AP Environmental Science Terrestrial Biodiversity andClimate © Brooks/Cole Publishing Company /...
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Transcript of AP Environmental Science Terrestrial Biodiversity andClimate © Brooks/Cole Publishing Company /...
AP Environmental ScienceAP Environmental Science
Terrestrial Biodiversity Terrestrial Biodiversity
andand
ClimateClimate
© Brooks/Cole Publishing Company / ITP
1. Weather & Climate1. Weather & Climate
© Brooks/Cole Publishing Company / ITP
What is the difference between weather and climate?
• Weather- short–term properties of troposphere (temperature, pressure, humidity, precipitation, solar radiation, cloud cover, wind direction and speed)
• Troposphere- the lowermost atmospheric layer where weather occurs
• Climate- general, long–term weather of a region.
• Global temperature and precipitation patterns are determined by uneven heating of Earth by Sun and lead to distinct climate zones according to latitude.
Climate
the average weather patterns for an area overa long period of time (30 - 1,000,000 years).
is
It is determined by
Average Precipitation Average Temperatureand
which are influenced by
latitude altitude ocean currents
and affects
where people live how people livewhat they
grow and eat
© 2004 Brooks/Cole – Thomson Learning
Climate: Global PatternsClimate: Global Patterns
© Brooks/Cole Publishing Company / ITP
Major factors influencing climate:
• Air circulation patterns which are determined by
1. Uneven heating of Earth's surfaceuneven heating of troposphere from beneath.
2. Seasonal changes in temp and precipitation due to Earth's tilt on axis and revolution about the sun
3. Earth's rotation on its axis
4. Special properties of air, water, and land affect global air circulation (land absorbs heat faster than water but water releases the heat slower)
5. Wind Formation
• Ocean currents (water circulation)- Influenced by factors that influence air circulation plus
differences in water density.
© Brooks/Cole Publishing Company / ITP
Earth's tilted axis (23.5º) causes more direct sunlight at equator and more dispersed sunlight at higher latitudes.
This plays a major role in weather and climate. Fig. 7–3
Climate: Air Circulation PatternsClimate: Air Circulation PatternsUneven Heating of Earth’s SurfaceUneven Heating of Earth’s Surface
Air Circulation Patterns:Air Circulation Patterns:Rotation of Earth on AxisRotation of Earth on Axis
Earth’s surface turns faster under equator than at poles
This deflects the movements of winds moving N or S to the W at the equator and the E closer to the poles.
Air Circulation Patterns:Air Circulation Patterns:Special Properties of Air, Water Special Properties of Air, Water
and Landand Land
© Brooks/Cole Publishing Company / ITP
Fig. 7–5
Air circulation patterns, such as vertical convection currents, mix air in the troposphere and transport heat and water from one area to another in circular convection cells, called Hadley cells.
Global Air Circulation PatternsGlobal Air Circulation Patterns
© Brooks/Cole Publishing Company / ITP
Fig. 7–6
Conceptual model of global air circulation and biomes.
Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse Effect
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The greenhouse effect- a natural process in which heat–trapping gases (CO2, H2O,
etc.) trap heat in the troposphere. Without the greenhouse effect, Earth would be cold and lifeless.
Fig. 7–9
Climate: Ocean CurrentsClimate: Ocean Currents
© Brooks/Cole Publishing Company / ITP
Major patterns:
• Ocean current kinetic energy (in form of heat) transferred from air circulation (winds) to water at ocean surface
solar energy –> wind kinetic energy –> ocean kinetic energy
• Deep currents driven by cooling and by increased salinity – both make water denser and cause to sink;
• Currents redistribute heat and moderate coastal climate
Example: Gulf stream brings warm water far north to cause NW Europe to be warm (otherwise Europe would have subarctic climate).
Weather & ClimateWeather & Climate
© Brooks/Cole Publishing Company / ITP
Fig. 7–2
Currents: UpwellingCurrents: Upwelling
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Upwelling- a process that brings deep, cool, nutrient–rich waters up to replace surface water, leading to increased primary productivity, with large populations of phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish, and fish–eating birds.
Fig. 7–7
El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
© Brooks/Cole Publishing Company / ITP
ENSO- A periodic shift in global climate conditions (every 3–4 yrs)
Western flowing (called “easterly”) winds in the Pacific Ocean weaken or ceaseSurface water along N. and S. America become warmerUpwelling decreasesPrimary productivity along the S.A. coast declines sharply ***Strong ENSO affects over two–thirds of the globe.
Earth System: El Niño
El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
© Brooks/Cole Publishing Company / ITP
Fig. 7–8
El Niño
Unusually warm periods
Unusually high rainfall
Drought
MicroclimateMicroclimate
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Topography, water bodies and other local features create local climate conditions different from the norm known as microclimate.
Mountains commonly result in high rainfall on the windward side and low rainfall in the rain shadow of the leeward side.
Urban areas with lots of brick, asphalt and concrete absorb sunlight and reradiate it as heat to the air.
Fig. 7–10
2. Biomes2. Biomes
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Varying climates lead to varying communities of organisms.Biomes- the major types of terrestrial ecosystems
• **Determined primarily by climate (precipitation and temperature)
• Major groupings of biomes (desert, grassland, forest and mountain) found in tropical, temperate and arctic conditions.
• Similar traits of plants and animals for biomes of different parts of world; because of similar climate and evolutionary pressures (convergence)
• Types of plants in a biome
is dictated by precipitation
Biomes: Desert, Grassland, Biomes: Desert, Grassland, Forest and MountainForest and Mountain
© Brooks/Cole Publishing Company / ITP
Fig. 7–11
Earth's major biomes.
3. Desert Biomes3. Desert Biomes
© Brooks/Cole Publishing Company / ITP
Fig. 7–14
Climate graphs showing typical variation in annual temperature and precipitation for tropical, temperate and polar deserts.EVAPORATION EXCEEDS PRECIPITATION
DesertDesert BiomesBiomes
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Characteristics:• Low precipitation--< 25 cm (10 in) annually
• Sparse, widely spaced, mostly low vegetation
• 30% of land surface, especially at 30° N and 30° S latitude
• Largest on interiors of continents;
• Plants typically deep rooted shrubs with small leaves, succulents, or short–lived species that flourish after rain
• Animals typically nocturnal and have physical adaptations for conserving water and dealing with heat
• FRAGILE BIOME DUE TO LONG REGENERATION TIME OF VEGETATION WHEN DESTROYED!
• American Field Guide Viewer-Deserts
Natural Capital Degradation
Deserts
Large desert cities
Soil destruction by off-road vehicles and urban development
Soil salinization from irrigation
Depletion of underground water supplies
Land disturbance and pollution from mineral extraction
Storage of toxic and radioactive wastes
Large arrays of solar cells and solar collectors used to produce electricity
4. Grassland, Tundra and Chaparral 4. Grassland, Tundra and Chaparral BiomesBiomes
© Brooks/Cole Publishing Company / ITP
Fig. 7–17
•Climate graphs showing typical variations in annual temperature and precipitation in tropical (savannas), temperate and polar grasslands (tundras)•THE ARCTIC TUNDRA IS THE MOST FRAGILE BIOME!!—bitter cold, slow rate of plant growth and decomposition, therefore shallow soil.
Grassland BiomesGrassland Biomes
© Brooks/Cole Publishing Company / ITP
Characteristics:• Sufficient rainfall to support grass, but
often too dry for forests
• Mostly on interiors of continents
• Maintained by seasonal drought, grazing and periodic fires that prevent invasion by shrubs and trees
• High diversity of grasses and herbaceous plants that typically have resistance to drought, grazing and fire
• **Fertile topsoil EXCEPT in arctic tundra
• Animals include large and small herbivores, along with predators adapted to feed on these herbivores.
Grassland Biomes: ChaparralGrassland Biomes: Chaparral
Characteristics: Found in many coastal
regions that border on deserts (i.e. California)
Temperate shrubland Consists of dense
growths of low-growing evergreen shrubs and small trees
Very susceptible to fires, but is also maintained by them
Natural Capital Degradation
Grasslands
Conversion of savanna and temperate grasslands to cropland
Release of CO2 to atmosphere from burning and conversion of grassland to cropland
Overgrazing of tropical and temperate grasslands by livestock
Damage to fragile arctic tundra by oil production, air and water pollution, and off-road vehicles
5. Forest Biomes5. Forest Biomes
© Brooks/Cole Publishing Company / ITP
Fig. 7–22
Climate graphs showing typical variations in annual temperature and precipitation in tropical, temperate and polar forests (boreal, or taiga).
Forest BiomesForest Biomes
© Brooks/Cole Publishing Company / ITP
Characteristics:• Sufficient rainfall to support growth of
trees but soil nutrients are major limiting factor
• 3 types:- Tropical, typically broadleaf evergreen
trees with high diversity (2% of Earth’s surface but are habitats for at least 50% of our Earth’s terrestrial species)
- Temperate, typically deciduous broadleaf tree with moderate diversity and **nutrient rich soil
- Boreal (taiga), typical conifers (needle leaves) with low diversity. American Field Guide Viewer--Taiga
Forest BiomesForest Biomes
• Community of plants and animals typically distributed in various layers and various niches:
- Understory of herbaceous plants and shrubs
- Subcanopy of tree saplings
- Canopy of full grown trees.- Emergent layer gets most
direct sunlight
Natural Capital Degradation
Forests
Clearing and degradation of tropical forests for agriculture, livestock grazing, and timber harvesting
Clearing of temperate deciduous forests in Europe, Asia, and North America for timber, agriculture, and urban development
Clearing of evergreen coniferous forests in North America, Finland, Sweden, Canada, Siberia, and Russia
Conversion of diverse forests to less biodiverse tree plantations
Damage to soils from off-road vehicles
MountainIce and snow
Altitude
Tundra (herbs,lichens, mosses)
ConiferousForest
Tropical Forest
DeciduousForest
Tropical Forest
DeciduousForest
ConiferousForest
Tundra (herbs,lichens, mosses)
Polar iceand snow
Latitude
6. Mountain Biomes6. Mountain Biomes •Similar changes in vegetation type occur when increasing latitude or increasing altitude•Each 100 m (300 ft) gain in elevation is approximately equal to a 100 km (62 mi) change in latitude
Mountain BiomesMountain Biomes
© Brooks/Cole Publishing Company / ITP
Characteristics:• Diversity of habitat because of altitude,
slope orientation, corresponding
microclimate and soil over short distances;
• Complex patterning of vegetation
• 20% of Earth's surface
• Majority of world's forests
• Timberline- elevation above which
trees do not grow
• Snowline- elevation above which
there is permanent snow
• Important as watersheds for lowlands.
Natural Capital Degradation
Mountains
Landless poor migrating uphill to survive
Hydroelectric dams and reservoirs
Increasing tourism (such as hiking and skiing)
Air pollution from industrial and urban centers
Increased ultraviolet radi-ation from ozone depletion
Timber extraction
Mineral resource extraction
Soil damage from off-road vehicles
7. Perspectives on Geographical 7. Perspectives on Geographical EcologyEcology
© Brooks/Cole Publishing Company / ITP
• Important Lessons- Everything is connected
- Temperature and precipitation result patterns result from interplay of incoming solar radiation and geometry of Earth's rotation and orbit
- Temperature and precipitation are major determinants of the distribution of organisms
- Understanding the range of biodiversity and its distribution provides a global perspective.
- Teachers' Domain: Earth as a System