Chapter 5 Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity

Core Case Study Blowing in the Wind: A Story of Connections  Wind connects most life on earth. Keeps tropics from being unbearably hot. Keeps tropics from being unbearably hot. Prevents rest of world from freezing. Prevents rest of world from freezing. Figure 5-1

CLIMATE: A BRIEF INTRODUCTION  Weather  Climate - Latitude and elevation help determine climate.  Warm front  Cold front  High pressure  Low pressure  Adiabatic cooling

Earth’s Current Climate Zones Figure 5-2

Solar Energy and Global Air Circulation: Distributing Heat  Climate is affected by:  the uneven heating of the earth’s surface  seasonal changes in temperature and precipitation  Earth’s rotation  Properties of air & water Figure 5-3

Coriolis Effect  Global air circulation is affected by the rotation of the earth on its axis. Figure 5-4

Convection Currents  Global air circulation is affected by the properties of air water, and land. Figure 5-5

Convection Cells  Heat and moisture are distributed over the earth’s surface by vertical currents, which form six giant convection cells at different latitudes (Hadley Cell, Ferrel Cell, Polar Cell). Figure 5-6

Ocean Currents: Distributing Heat and Nutrients  Ocean currents influence climate by distributing heat from place to place and mixing and distributing nutrients. Figure 5-7

El Nino/ENSO  Equatorial winds weaken along Eastern Pacific  Surface water warms  No upwelling  Increased flooding in eastern Pacific  Drier western Pacific  Fewer Atlantic hurricanes

La Nina  Exaggerated normal pattern  Cooler water than normal along eastern Pacific  Drier eastern Pacific  Flooding along western Pacific  More Atlantic hurricanes

Topography and Local Climate: Land Matters  Rain Shadow effect  Microclimates (forests, cities)  Sea breezes  Land breezes Figure 5-8

BIOMES: CLIMATE AND LIFE ON LAND  Biomes – large terrestrial regions characterized by similar climate, soil, plants, and animals.  Latitude vs. altitude  Succulents  Evergreens  Deciduous plants  Coniferous plants

BIOMES: CLIMATE AND LIFE ON LAND Figure 5-9

BIOMES: CLIMATE AND LIFE ON LAND  Biome type is determined by precipitation, temperature and soil type Figure 5-10

BIOMES: CLIMATE AND LIFE ON LAND  Parallel changes occur in vegetation type occur when we travel from the equator to the poles or from lowlands to mountaintops. Figure 5-11

DESERT BIOMES  30% of Earth’s land  Evaporation exceeds precipitation.  Little vegetation. Found in tropical (Sahara), temperate (Mojave) and cold regions (Gobi). Found in tropical (Sahara), temperate (Mojave) and cold regions (Gobi).  Succulent plants  Deep vs. widespread roots  Some plants secrete toxins into soil (sagebrush)  Small animals

DESERT BIOMES  Tropical, temperate and cold deserts. Figure 5-12

DESERT BIOMES  The flora and fauna in desert ecosystems adapt to their environment through their behavior and physiology. Figure 5-13

GRASSLANDS AND CHAPARRAL BIOMES  Variations in annual temperature (red) and precipitation (blue). Figure 5-14

GRASSLANDS AND CHAPARRAL BIOMES  Tropical grasslands (savannas)  Temperate grasslands (prairies)  Chaparral (Mediterranean, SoCal)  Wet/dry season  Many are fire-maintained (many plants contain oils)

Temperate Grasslands  Temperate tall- grass prairie ecosystem in North America. Figure 5-16

Polar Grasslands  Polar grasslands (tundra) are covered with ice and snow except during a brief summer (permafrost) - seasonal wetlands - lots of migratory animals. Figure 5-17

Chaparral  Chaparral has a moderate climate but its dense thickets of spiny shrubs are subject to periodic fires. Figure 5-18

FOREST BIOMES  Tropical rainforest  Tropical deciduous forest  Temperate deciduous forest  Temperate rain forest  Coniferous forest (boreal, taiga). Figure 5-19

Tropical Rain Forest  Heavy rainfall  High biodiversity  Broadleaf evergreens  Nutrient-poor soil  High decomposition rate Figure 5-20

Temperate Deciduous Forest  Most of the trees survive winter by dropping their leaves, which decay and produce a nutrient- rich soil. Figure 5-22

Evergreen Coniferous Forests  Consist mostly of cone-bearing evergreen trees that keep their needles year-round to help the trees survive long and cold winters. Figure 5-23

Temperate Rain Forests  Coastal areas support huge cone-bearing evergreen trees such as redwoods and Douglas fir in a cool moist environment. Figure 5-24

MOUNTAIN BIOMES  High-elevation islands of biodiversity  Often have snow- covered peaks that reflect solar radiation and gradually release water to lower- elevation streams and ecosystems. Figure 5-25

Fig. 5-26, p. 123 Natural Capital Degradation Desert Large desert cities Soil destruction by off-road vehicles Soil salinization from irrigation Depletion of groundwater Land disturbance and pollution from mineral extraction

Fig. 5-27, p. 123 Oil production and off-road vehicles in arctic tundra Overgrazing by livestock Release of CO 2 to atmosphere from grassland burning Conversion to cropland Grasslands Natural Capital Degradation

Fig. 5-28, p. 124 Clearing for agriculture, livestock grazing, timber, and urban development Conversion of diverse forests to tree plantations Damage from off-road vehicles Natural Capital Degradation Forests Pollution of forest streams

Fig. 5-29, p. 124 Natural Capital Degradation Mountains Agriculture Timber extraction Mineral extraction Hydroelectric dams and reservoirs Increasing tourism Urban air pollution Increased ultraviolet radiation from ozone depletion Soil damage from off-road vehicles