Chapter 7 - Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity

Short-term properties of the troposphere at a given place and time

the average long-term weather of an area

average temperature and average precipitation of an area

uneven heating of the earth’s surface (air is heated at the equator and cooled at the poles)

seasonal changes (the earth’s axis is tilted to create opposite seasons in the northern and southern hemispheres

Coriolis effect (deflection of winds to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere due to the rotation of the earth)

long-term variations in the amount of solar energy striking the earth (due to orbital changes)

properties of air and water (evaporation of heated water creates low pressure systems at the surface)

natural trapping of heat in the troposphere

allow light, infrared radiation and some ultraviolet radiation fro the sun to pass through the troposphere. The Earth’s surface absorbs this energy and radiates it back out as heat. The heat is then absorbed by the ______ or radiated back toward earth, heating the atmosphere.

water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons

a periodic climate change that can trigger extreme weather changes over two-thirds of the globe. The prevailing westerly winds weaken or cease in the Pacific Ocean which makes the surface water warmer along the North and South American coasts.

terrestrial regions with characteristic types of natural, undisturbed ecological communities adapted to the climate of the region

a biome where evaporation exceeds precipitation; precipitation is typically less than 25 cm per year

30% of the earth’s surface, mainly between 30 degrees north and 30 degrees south lattitude

include small or no leaves, wax-coated leave, tap roots, and spines

include nocturnal lifestyle, thick outer coverings, and dry/concentrated waste

particularly harmful because of slow plant growth, low species diversity, slow nutrient cycling and water shortage

buildup of salt in soil due to evaporation of water for irrigation

causes some deserts to subside (sink)

oil, iron ore, copper, gold, silver, diamonds, and sand

Biome with enough average precipitation to allow grass to prosper, but with precipitation so erratic that drought and fire prevent large stands of tree from growing

drilling for oil, natural gas and other natural resources

of domesticated animals on grasslands support 50 million people, mostly in Africa and Asia

into cropland due to fertile soils

found in areas with high average temperature, low to moderate precipitation, and prolonged dry season

tropical and subtropical grasslands that are warm all year with alternating wet and dry seasons

have large temperature differences from season to season and little rain that is unevenly distributed through the year

tall-grass prairies, short-grass prairies, pampas, veldt, and steppes

very cold with the small amount of precipitation falling as snow

perennially frozen layer of the soil

occurs along coastal areas where the winters are mild and moderately rainy and summers are long, hot, and dry

dense growth of spiny evergreen shrubs

tropical, temperate, and boreal

broadleaf evergreen forests with a warm annual mean temperature, high humidity, and heavy rainfall almost daily

warm year-round with most rainfall occurring during a monsoon season

emergent layer

canopy layer

understory layer

immature layer

herb layer

have moderate temperature with frequent rains

gave moderate temperatures that change significantly from season to season with abundant precipitation spread throughout the year

have a dry and cold climate with long winters and short summers

dramatically decreases biodiversity of these areas (particularly tropical rain forests)

for use as cropland or grazing areas (particularly temperate deciduous forests)

of large predators

of boreal forests for peat, iron ore, diamonds and other mineral

by air pollution and acid deposition

make up about 20% of the earth’s land surface and are important because of their dramatic changes in altitude, climate, soil and vegetation within short distances

majority of the world’s forests

is equivalent to 100-meter kilometer change in latitude

timber and mineral resources

hydroelectric dams and reservoirs altering local ecosystems

skiing, trekking, tourism

primarily from automobile use

due to global warming and ozone depletion

warfare