Climate and Biodiversity Chapter 5

Climate and Biodiversity How are climates determined? What is the climate’s affect on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems? What is the affect of climate on biodiversity?

Wind: one aspect of climate Wind important factor in earth’s climate –Circulates heat, moisture, plant nutrients, and long-lived pollutants –There is no “away”

Factors that Influence Climate An area’s climate is determined mostly by solar radiation, the earth’s rotation, global patterns of air and water movement, gases in the atmosphere, and the earth’s surface features.

Many Different Climates Weather, what we get –Local, short-term –Lower atmosphere –Supplement 10 (S43-47) Climate, what we expect –General pattern, long-term

Many Different Climates Climate –Average Temperature –Average precipitation determine climate –Latitude and elevation determine average temperature and precipitation

Earth's Climate = Natural Capital

Global air circulation and ocean currents distribute heat and precipitation unevenly Earth's Climate = Natural Capital

Global Air Circulation Three factors –Uneven heating of earth’s surface Solar insolation –Rotation of the earth Equator spins faster, air masses are deflected –Variations in properties of air, water, and land Land heats faster than water, ocean heat transferred to atmosphere, creates cells

Air Circulation and Climate Animations/global_circ_anim.html

Energy Transfer by Convection

Air Circulation Animations/global_circ_int.html

Global Air Circulation: heat & moisture distributed by vertical currents POLAR CELL FERRELL CELL HADLEY CELL FERRELL CELL POLAR CELL

Earth’s Prevailing Winds hhe.com/bios ci/genbio/tlw 3/eBridge/Ch p29/animatio ns/ch29/glob al_wind_circul ation.swf asa.gov/audi ence/forstud ents/brainbite s/nonflash/bb _home_corioli seffect.html

Prevailing winds affect Global Ocean Currents

Climate and Ocean Currents Map Animations/climate_currents_v2.html

Prevailing winds affect Global Ocean Currents Creates surface currents Affects regional climates (San Diego vs.. Georgia)

Prevailing winds affect Global Ocean Currents Warm and cold currents created by differences in water density Altered by earth’s rotation and continents Redistributes heat, mixes ocean waters, and distributes nutrients and oxygen

Global Currents Loop of deep and shallow ocean currents Moves energy and nutrients around the globe Animations/upwelling.html

Global Currents Ocean and atmosphere closely linked –Currents affected by winds –Ocean heat affects atmospheric circulation El Nino Southern Oscillation Animations/el_nino.html

2006 Hurricane Season Videos/2006_Hurrican_Season.mov

Greenhouse Gases affect on Climate Warm the lower atmosphere Global warming may cause changes in the climate in various places Animations/greenhouse_effect.html Animations/greenhouse_gases.html Videos/Global_Warming.mov

Earth’s Surface Features and Climate Heat absorbed and released more slowly by water than by land Large bodies of water moderate climate

Animations/sea_breeze.html Earth’s Surface Features and Climate

Movement of moist ocean air across a mountain –Rain and snow on windward side –Rain shadow on leeward side

Earth’s Surface Features and Climate North America –Death Valley (Great Basin, Chihuahuan, Sonoran, Mojave) South America –Atacama, Patagonia and Monte

Earth’s Surface Features and Climate Man made features also affect climate –Heat islands