Climate, Energy, and Earth

What Limits Population Growth? Carrying Capacity Resource Limits—consuming a natural resource at the same rate as which the ecosystem produces the resource Competition within a population—social dominance, territory, mates, food, homes for their families

Population Growth Steady State Carrying Capacity Exponential Phase Lag Phase

Two Types--Population Regulation Density Dependent—cause of death is rapidly increased due to limited resources, predation and disease resulting in densely populated groups. Density Independent—a certain proportion of the population dies regardless of its density (weather, natural disasters)

The biosphere is one of Earth’s four interconnected systems.

The biosphere is the portion of Earth that is inhabited by life. The biosphere includes all ecosystems. one of Earth’s systems includes the biota, all the living things in the biosphere

Niche (pattern of use of its habitat) Includes: a species’ physical home the environment factors necessary for the species to survive All of the species’ interactions with other organisms.

There are three other Earth systems. hydrosphere—water, ice, and water vapor atmosphere—air blanketing Earth’s solid and liquid surface geosphere—geologic features above and below Earth’s surface

Definitions Sea Ice—ocean water that freezes Atmosphere—mixture of gases to make air we breath Hydosphere—all water on or near Earth’s surface Cryosphere—frozen part of the Earth system Hydrosphere—all water on Earth Lithosphere—the solid, outer zone of the Earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle Bioshpere—the part of Earth where life exist

Biotic and abiotic factors interact in the biosphere. All four Earth systems are interconnected. The Gaia hypothesis considers Earth as a kind of living organism. Earth systems interact to yield a biosphere capable of supporting life.

The World’s Water 97% Salt Water 2.5 % Frozen Fresh Water .5% Usable Fresh Water

Atmospheric Layers The atmosphere is divided into five layers. It is thickest near the surface and thins out with height until it eventually merges with space. 1) The troposphere is the first layer above the surface and contains half of the Earth's atmosphere. Weather occurs in this layer. 2) Many jet aircrafts fly in the stratosphere because it is very stable. Also, the ozone layer absorbs harmful rays from the Sun. 3) Meteors or rock fragments burn up in the mesosphere. 4) The thermosphere is a layer with auroras. It is also where the space shuttle orbits. 5) The atmosphere merges into space in the extremely thin exosphere. This is the upper limit of our atmosphere. Also known as the ionosphere

Climate It is different from daily weather

Worldwide Climate Classifications

Climate is the long-term pattern of weather conditions. average temperature precipitation relative humidity Key factors shape an area’s climate. temperature sunlight water wind

A microclimate is the climate of a small specific place within a larger area.

Heat Islands Where vegetation is dense temperatures are less Tall buildings within an urban area provides multiple reflective surfaces known as “canyon effect”

Earth has three main climate zones. The three main zones are the polar, tropical, and temperate climates. polar climate: the far northern and southern regions of Earth tropical zone: surrounds the equator temperate zone: the wide area in between the polar and tropical zones

The angle of the Sun’s rays help determine an area’s climate. temperate polar tropical 90 N

Energy received at the surface depends on: 1) Sun angle with respect to surface. 2) Path of solar radiation through the atmosphere. Source: Wikipedia

Earth’s tilt on its axis plays a role in seasonal change. Solar heating causes movements in both water and air. wind ocean currents Earth’s rotation also has effects on the winds and currents

Atmospheric Circulations Atmospheric circulation is the large-scale movement of air, and the means (together with the smaller ocean circulation) by which heat is distributed on the surface of the Earth. The large-scale structure of the atmospheric circulation varies from year to year, but the basic structure remains fairly constant. However, individual weather systems - midlatitude depressions, or tropical convective cells - occur "randomly", and it is accepted that weather cannot be predicted beyond a fairly short limit: perhaps a month in theory, or (currently) about ten days in practice (see Chaos theory and Butterfly effect). Nonetheless, the average of these systems - the climate - is stable over longer periods of time. Source: Wikipedia

Ocean Currents

Landmasses shape inland climates. larger changes in temperatures less precipitation Oceans shape coastal climates. smaller changes in temperatures higher humidity more precipitation

Mountains have an effect on climate. Precipitation occurs on the side of the mountain facing the wind. On the downwind side, drier and cooler air produce a rain shadow. A rain shadow is an area of decreased precipitation. western slope eastern slope

Rain Shadow Effect Deserts occur when rainfall is blocked from an area by mountain ranges, coastal currents, land formations or upper atmospheric currents.

Basic Climatology www.ipcc.ch

Atmospheric Feedbacks More water vapor & other changes Increased CO2 Higher temperature More water vapor POSITIVE NEGATIVE More water vapor & other changes Increased cloud cover More reflected solar radiation Lower temperature Less water vapor More absorbed infrared radiation + –

Many organisms survive in a specific climate due to their adaptations.

Climate Adaptation Quiz For each of the following pictures, name the characteristics the animals and plants would have to develop in order for the species to survive in that climate. You will need to write down the climate characteristics as you see each climate You will have between 15-20 sec. per picture. If you have time you can start writing down characteristics to help you remember what they may need.

Deciduous Forest

Tundra

Tropical Forests

Grasslands

Desert

Taiga

Major Terrestrial Biomes Geographic distribution of biomes are dependent on temperature, precipitation, altitude and latitude Weather patterns dictate the type of plants that will dominate an ecosystem faculty.southwest.tn.edu/. ../ES%20%20we16.jpg

P RESENT DAY B I O MES tundra taiga taiga desert temp. decd. forest grassland trop. rain forest scrub forest desert temp rain forest