Chapter 5Chapter 5

Climate and Terrestrial Climate and Terrestrial BiodiversityBiodiversity

Opening Video: Cloud Forests

Weather and ClimateWeather and Climate

Weather is a local area’s short-term physical Weather is a local area’s short-term physical conditions such as temperature and precipitation.conditions such as temperature and precipitation.

Climate is a region’s average weather conditions Climate is a region’s average weather conditions over a long time.over a long time.• Latitude and elevation help determine climate.Latitude and elevation help determine climate.

Earth’s Current Climate ZonesEarth’s Current Climate Zones

Figure 7-2Figure 7-2

Animation: Climate and Ocean Currents MapAnimation: Climate and Ocean Currents Map

Animation: Air Circulation and ClimateAnimation: Air Circulation and Climate

Solar Energy and Global Air Circulation: Solar Energy and Global Air Circulation: Distributing HeatDistributing Heat

Global air circulation Global air circulation is affected by the is affected by the uneven heating of uneven heating of the earth’s surface the earth’s surface by solar energy, by solar energy, seasonal changes in seasonal changes in temperature and temperature and precipitation.precipitation.

Spring(sun aims directly

at equator)

Fall(sun aims directly at equator)

Summer(northern hemisphere

tilts toward sun)

Solarradiation

23.5 °

Winter (northern hemisphere tilts away from sun)

Coriolis Effect – Coriolis Effect – Global air circulation is affected by Earth’s rotation

Energy Transfer by Convection in the Atmosphere

Convection CellsConvection Cells

Heat and moisture are Heat and moisture are distributed over the distributed over the earth’s surface by earth’s surface by vertical currents, which vertical currents, which form six giant form six giant convection cells at convection cells at different latitudes.different latitudes.

Figure 7-6Figure 7-6

Fig. 7-6, p. 144

Cell 3 North

Moist air rises — rain

Cell 2 North

Cool, dryair falls

Cell 1 North

Cell 1 South

Cool, dryair falls

Cell 2 South

Moist air rises — rain

Cell 3 South

Cold,dry airfalls

Polar cap

Temperate deciduousforest and grassland

Desert

Tropical deciduous forest

Tropicalrain forest

Equator

Tropical deciduous forest

Cold,dry airfalls

Polar capArctic tundra

Evergreenconiferous forest

Temperate deciduousforest and grassland

Desert

60°

30°

0°

30°

60°

POLAR CELLS FERREL

CELLSHADLEY CELLS

Animation: Air CirculationAnimation: Air Circulation

Air Pressure, Fronts and PrecipitationAir Pressure, Fronts and Precipitation

Pressure: Measured in mb or inches of HgPressure: Measured in mb or inches of Hg Low Pressure: Converging, CCW in N.H.Low Pressure: Converging, CCW in N.H. High Pressure: Diverging, CW in N.H.High Pressure: Diverging, CW in N.H. Fronts: Cold, Warm, Stationary, OccludedFronts: Cold, Warm, Stationary, Occluded Severe Weather: Thunderstorms, tornadoes, Severe Weather: Thunderstorms, tornadoes,

hurricaneshurricanes

Greenhouse Gases Warm the Lower Atmosphere

Greenhouse gases• H2O

• CO2

• CH4

• N2O

Greenhouse effect

Human-enhanced global warming

Flow of Energy to and from the Earth

Animation: Greenhouse effect

Animation: Increasing Greenhouse Animation: Increasing Greenhouse GasesGases

Ocean Currents: Ocean Currents: Distributing Heat and NutrientsDistributing Heat and Nutrients

Global warming:Global warming:• Considerable scientific evidence and climate Considerable scientific evidence and climate

models indicate that large inputs of greenhouse models indicate that large inputs of greenhouse gases from anthropogenic activities into the gases from anthropogenic activities into the troposphere can enhance the natural greenhouse troposphere can enhance the natural greenhouse effect and change the earth’s climate in effect and change the earth’s climate in your your lifetimelifetime..

Animation: Upwelling Along Western Animation: Upwelling Along Western CoastsCoasts

Animation: El Nino Southern OscillationAnimation: El Nino Southern Oscillation

Topography and Local Climate:Topography and Local Climate:Land MattersLand Matters

Interactions between land and oceans and Interactions between land and oceans and disruptions of airflows by mountains and cities disruptions of airflows by mountains and cities affect local climates.affect local climates.

Figure 5-8Figure 5-8

Fig. 7-7, p. 145

Prevailing winds pick up moisture from an ocean.

On the windward side of a mountain range, air rises, cools, and releases moisture.

On the leeward side of the mountain range, air descends, warms, and releases little moisture.

Animation: Coastal BreezesAnimation: Coastal Breezes

Biomes: Climate and Life on LandBiomes: Climate and Life on Land

Different climates lead to different communities Different climates lead to different communities of organisms, especially vegetation.of organisms, especially vegetation.• Biomes – large terrestrial regions characterized Biomes – large terrestrial regions characterized

by similar climate, soil, plants, and animals.by similar climate, soil, plants, and animals.• Each biome contains many ecosystems whose Each biome contains many ecosystems whose

communities have adapted to differences in communities have adapted to differences in climate, soil, and other environmental factors.climate, soil, and other environmental factors.

Earth’s Major BiomesEarth’s Major Biomes

Figure 5-9Figure 5-9

Fig. 5-9, p. 106

Polar ice

Equator

Tropic ofCapricorn

Tropic ofCancer

High mountains

Polar grassland (arctic tundra)Temperate grasslandTropical grassland (savanna)ChaparralConiferous forestTemperate deciduous forestTropical forestDesert

Figure 5-10Figure 5-10

Natural Capital: Average Precipitation and Average Temperature as Limiting Factors

Fig. 5-10, p. 107

Polar

Rain forestTropical

seasonalforest

Scrubland

Savanna Desert

TropicalGrassland

Chaparral

DeciduousForest

Coniferous forest

Desert

Temperate

SubpolarTundra

Wet

Cold

Dry

Ho

t

Biomes: Climate and life on landBiomes: Climate and life on land

Parallel changes occur in vegetation type occur Parallel changes occur in vegetation type occur when we travel from the equator to the poles or when we travel from the equator to the poles or from lowlands to mountaintops.from lowlands to mountaintops.

Figure 5-11Figure 5-11

Science Focus: Staying Alive in the Desert

Plant adaptations

Animal strategies and adaptations

There Are Three Major Types of Deserts

Tropical deserts

Temperate deserts

Cold deserts

Fragile ecosystem• Slow plant growth• Low species diversity• Slow nutrient recycling• Lack of water

Climate Graphs of Three Types of Deserts

Fig. 7-11, p. 149

Stepped Art

Video: Desertification in ChinaVideo: Desertification in China

From ABC News, Environmental Science in the Headlines, 2005 From ABC News, Environmental Science in the Headlines, 2005 DVD.DVD.

Key Organisms in a Desert Food WebKey Organisms in a Desert Food Web

The flora and The flora and fauna in desert fauna in desert ecosystems ecosystems adapt to their adapt to their environment environment through their through their behavior and behavior and physiology.physiology.

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There Are Three Major Types of Grasslands (1)

Tropical

Temperate

Cold (arctic tundra)

There Are Three Major Types of Grasslands (2)

Tropical• Savanna• Grazing animals• Browsing animals

Temperate• Tall-grass prairies• Short-grass prairies

There Are Three Major Types of Grasslands (3)

Arctic tundra: fragile biome

Adaptations of plants and animals

Permafrost

Alpine tundra

Climate Graphs of Tropical, Temperate, and Cold Grasslands

Fig. 7-12, p. 151

Stepped Art

Monoculture Crop Replacing Biologically Diverse Temperate Grassland

Temperate Shrubland: Nice Climate, Risky Place to Live

Chaparral

Near the sea: nice climate

Prone to fires in the dry season

Chaparral Vegetation in Utah, U.S.

Video: CaribouVideo: Caribou

Video: Tundra FlyoverVideo: Tundra Flyover

Key Organisms in Temperate GrasslandsKey Organisms in Temperate Grasslands

Temperate tall-grass Temperate tall-grass prairie ecosystem in prairie ecosystem in North America.North America.

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Polar GrasslandsPolar Grasslands

Polar grasslands are Polar grasslands are covered with ice and covered with ice and snow except during a snow except during a brief summer.brief summer.

Page S55

There Are Three Major Types of Forests (1)

Tropical

Temperate

Cold• Northern coniferous and boreal

There Are Three Major Types of Forests (2)

Tropical rain forests• Temperature and moisture• Stratification of specialized plant and animal

niches• Little wind: significance• Rapid recycling of scarce soil nutrients• Impact of human activities

There Are Three Major Types of Forests (3)

Temperate deciduous forests• Temperature and moisture• Broad-leaf trees• Slow rate of decomposition: significance• Impact of human activities

There Are Three Major Types of Forests (4)

Evergreen coniferous forests: boreal and taigas• Temperature and moisture• Few species of cone: bearing trees• Slow decomposition: significance• Taiga is the intermediary between boreal forest

and tundra Coastal coniferous forest Dry Coniferous forest Temperate rain forests

Climate Graphs of Tropical, Temperate, and Cold Forests

Fig. 7-15, p. 154

Stepped Art

Some Components and Interactions in a Tropical Rain Forest Ecosystem

Fig. 7-16, p. 155

Blue and gold macaw

Harpy eagle

Ocelot

Squirrel monkeys

Climbing monstera palm

KatydidSlaty-tailed trogon

Green tree snake

Tree frog

Ants

Bacteria Bromeliad

Fungi

Producer to primary consumer

Primary to secondary consumer

Secondary to higher-level consumer

All producers and consumers to decomposers

Stratification of Specialized Plant and Animal Niches in a Tropical Rain Forest

Fig. 7-17, p. 156

45

Harpy eagle

Emergent layer

40

35 Toco toucan

30 Canopy

25

Hei

gh

t (m

eter

s)

20

Wooly opossum

Under story

15

10

Brazilian tapir

Shrub layer5

Black-crowned antpitta

Ground layer0

Temperate Rain Forest in Washington State, U.S.

Temperate Deciduous ForestTemperate Deciduous Forest

Most of the trees Most of the trees survive winter by survive winter by dropping their dropping their leaves, which leaves, which decay slowly and decay slowly and produce a nutrient-produce a nutrient-rich soil.rich soil.

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Evergreen Coniferous ForestsEvergreen Coniferous Forests

Consist mostly of Consist mostly of cone-bearing cone-bearing evergreen trees that evergreen trees that keep their needles keep their needles year-round to help year-round to help the trees survive long the trees survive long and cold winters—and cold winters—whywhy does this allow does this allow them to survive?them to survive?

Page S57

Video: SequoiasVideo: Sequoias

Mountains Play Important Ecological Roles

Majority of the world’s forests

Habitats for endemic species

Help regulate the earth’s climate

Can affect sea levels

Major storehouses of water• Role in hydrologic cycle

Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State, U.S.

Humans Impact Terrestrial BiomesHumans Impact Terrestrial Biomes

Human activities have damaged or disturbed Human activities have damaged or disturbed more than half of the world’s terrestrial more than half of the world’s terrestrial ecosystems.ecosystems.

Humans have had a number of specific harmful Humans have had a number of specific harmful effects on the world’s deserts, grasslands, effects on the world’s deserts, grasslands, forests, and mountains.forests, and mountains.

Major Human Impacts on Terrestrial Ecosystems

Fig. 7-20, p. 158

NATURAL CAPITAL DEGRADATION

Major Human Impacts on Terrestrial Ecosystems

Deserts Grasslands Forests Mountains

Large desert cities Conversion to cropland

Clearing for agriculture, livestock grazing, timber, and urban development

Agriculture

Soil destruction by off-road vehicles

Timber extractionRelease of CO2 to atmosphere from burning grassland Conversion of

diverse forests to tree plantations

Hydroelectric dams and reservoirs

Mineral extraction

Soil salinization from irrigation Increasing tourism

Overgrazing by livestockDepletion of

groundwaterDamage from off-road vehicles

Urban air pollutionIncreased ultraviolet radiation from ozone depletionLand disturbance

and pollution from mineral extraction

Oil production and off-road vehicles in arctic tundra

Pollution of forest streams

Soil damage from off-road vehicles

Video: Eagle FishingVideo: Eagle Fishing

Video: GopherVideo: Gopher

Video: Grizzly BearsVideo: Grizzly Bears

Video: Owl HuntingVideo: Owl Hunting