Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity

Chapter 7

Dust Blown from West Africa to the Amazonian Rain Forests

7-1 What Factors Influence Climate?

Concept 7-1 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.

The Earth Has Many Different Climates (1)

Weather

Climate

Air circulation in lower atmosphere due to• Uneven heating of the earth’s surface by the sun• Rotation of the earth on its axis• Properties of air, water, and land

The Earth Has Many Different Climates (2)

Currents • Prevailing winds • Earth’s rotation • Redistribution of heat from the sun

Link between air circulation, ocean currents, and biomes

Natural Capital: Generalized Map of the Earth’s Current Climate Zones

Global Air Circulation

Energy Transfer by Convection in the Atmosphere

Global Air Circulation, Ocean Currents, and Biomes

Fig. 7-5, p. 143

Warm, less salty, shallow current

Cold, salty, deep current

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

The Earth’s Surface Features Affect Local Climates

Heat absorption by land and water

Effect of• Mountains• Rain shadow effect

• Cities• Microclimates

Rain Shadow Effect

7-2 How Does Climate Affect the Nature and Locations of Biomes?

Concept 7-2 Differences in average annual precipitation and temperature lead to the formation of tropical, temperate, and cold deserts, grasslands, and forests, and largely determine their locations.

Climate Affects Where Organisms Can Live

Major biomes

Latitude and elevation

Annual precipitation

Temperature

The Earth’s Major Biomes

Generalized Effects of Elevation and Latitude on Climate and Biomes

Fig. 7-11, p. 149

Stepped Art

Fig. 7-12, p. 151

Stepped Art

Monoculture Crop Replacing Biologically Diverse Temperate Grassland

Chaparral Vegetation in California, U.S.

Santa Monica Mountains, CA

Fig. 7-15, p. 154

Stepped Art

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.

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.

More Mountains!

7-3 How Have We Affected the Word’s Terrestrial Ecosystems?

Concept 7-3 In many areas, human activities are impairing ecological and economic services provided by the earth’s deserts, grasslands, forests, and mountains.

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