BIOB50H3 Lecture 3: Organism and their enviroment
Document Summary
Climate climate determines the geographic distribution of organisms climate must be characterized not only by average conditions but also by its variability overtime extreme events are particularly important due to their impacts on mortality. Climate basics: due to earths tilt there is a higher concentration of energy per area near equator (hot) and the same concentration of energy is spread out near the poles (cold) Global climate patterns concept: large-scale atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns establish global patterns of temperature and precipitation the influence of atmospheric cells is evident but altered by ocean currents, continental topography, and the distribution of land and water masses. Temperature variability air temperatures over land show greater seasonal variation than those over the oceans, with warmer temperatures in summer and colder temperature in winter. Precipitation: precipitation patterns associated with atmospheric circulation cells are modified by mountain ranges and semi-permanent high- and low- pressure zones.
