1. Chapter 4 Ecosystems and the Physical Environment

2. Cycling of Materials
Matter moves between ecosystems, environments, and organisms
5 major cycles:
Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulfur and Water (hydrologic)

3. The Carbon Cycle

4. The Nitrogen Cycle

5. The Phosphorus Cycle

6. The Sulfur Cycle

7. The Water (Hydrologic) Cycle

8. Solar Radiation

9. Temperature Changes with Latitude
Solar energy does not hit earth uniformly
Due to earth’s spherical shape and tilt
Equator (a)
High concentration High Temperature
Closer to Poles (c)
Low concentration Low Temperature
From (a) to (c)
In diagram below

10. Temperature Changes with Season
Seasons determined by earth’s tilt

11. The Atmosphere 21% O 78% N 1% Ar, CO2, Ne and He
Shields earth from high energy radiation

12. Atmospheric Layers

13. Atmospheric Circulation
Near
Equator
Warm air rises, cools and splits to flow towards the poles
~30° N & S sinks back to surface
Air moves along surface back towards equator
Moves heat from equator to the poles

14. Surface Winds
Large winds due in part to pressures caused by global circulation of air
High
Low
High
Low
High
Winds blow from high to low pressure
Regional differences in surface warming is the start of global air circulation patterns
Warm air rises and holds more moisture (areas of high rainfall)
Cool air sinks and is drier (areas where deserts form, 30°latitude north and south)
Low
High

15. Coriolis Effect Coriolis Effect
Influence of the earth’s rotation on movement of air and fluids (water)
Turns them Right in the Northern Hemisphere
Turns them Left in the Southern Hemisphere
Earth rotates from East to West
Deflects wind from straight-line path

16. Coriolis Effect

17. Patterns of Ocean Circulation
Prevailing winds produce ocean currents and generate gyres
Pacific Gyre
Circular pattern influenced by Coriolis effect
Trade winds blow west
Westerlies blow east
This becomes important later
when we talk about plastics in the ocean.

18. Patterns of Ocean Circulation
Westerlies
Trade winds

19. Vertical Mixing of Ocean

20. Surfers, Seals, and the Sea

21. Ocean Interaction with Atmosphere - ENSO
El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
Periodic large scale warming of surface waters of tropical E. Pacific Ocean
Normal conditions
westward blowing tradewinds keep warmest water in western Pacific
ENSO conditions
trade winds weaken and warm water expands eastward to South America
Big effect on fishing industry and wildlife off South America

23. ENSO Climate Patterns

24. Weather and Climate Weather Climate
The conditions in the atmosphere at a given place and time
Temperature, precipitation, cloudiness, etc.
Climate
The average weather conditions that occur in a place over a period of years
2 most important factors: temperature and precipitation

25. Rain Shadows

26. Tropical Cyclone aka: hurricane, typhoon, cyclone
Giant rotating tropical storms
Wind > 119 km per hour
Formation
Strong winds pick up moisture over warm surface waters and starts to spin due to Earth’s rotation

27. Tsunami
Giant undersea wave caused by an earthquake, volcanic eruption or landslide
Travel > 450 mph
Tsunami wave may be 1m deep in ocean
Becomes 30.5m high on shore