BIOLOGY 2F03 Lecture 2: Chapter 2

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Biology
• Course: BIOLOGY 2F03
• Professor: Lovaye Kajiura

Document Summary

Biomes distinguished by common plant species with particular climate. U(cid:374)e(cid:448)e(cid:374) heati(cid:374)g of the earth"s surfa(cid:272)e a(cid:374)d the tilted a(cid:454)is, (cid:272)o(cid:373)(cid:271)i(cid:374)e to produ(cid:272)e predi(cid:272)ta(cid:271)le latitudinal variation in climate. Average temp. lower and seasonal at middle/high latitudes compared to equator. Average climate over broad area does not determine climate for specific location within that area. Seasonal (cid:272)ha(cid:374)ge of su(cid:374) latitude o(cid:448)erhead o(cid:272)(cid:272)urs due to earth"s a(cid:454)is of rotatio(cid:374) (cid:374)ot perpendicular to plane of orbit about the sun, tilted 23. 5* away from perpendicular. Northern summer: june 21st, sun is directly overhead at tropic of cancer (23. 5* north) Northern winter: december 21st, sun is directly overhead at tropic of capricorn (23. 5* south) On march 21st and september 23rd sun is overhead at equator, so northern and southern hemispheres receive same amount of solar radiation. At high latitudes seasonal shifts in solar energy cause winters with low average temps. with short days. And summers with high average temps. with long days.