BIO120H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Shortgrass Prairie, Northern Hemisphere, Ecophysiology
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BIO120H1 Full Course Notes
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General trends of terrestrial vegetation with climatic variables. Vegetation growth (primary productivity) increases with moisture. Vegetation stature also increases (tall forests in wet places) Regions with certain combinations of moisture and temperature develop predictable, characteristic types of vegetation (biomes) Biome types depend on combination of temperature and precipitation. Additional climate patchiness overlaid on basic latitudinal belts. Latitudinal patterns complicated by distribution of landmasses. Temperatures vary more in the northern hemisphere where the moderating influence of water is less. Maritime pockets reduce incidence of late frosts. The driest deserts occur inland of cold-water upwelling. Oceanic currents are bringing cold water from the bottom of the sea up to the surface, so the surface of the ocean is very cold. Land changes temperature more readily than water. Continental climates are extreme (big land mass) Oceans provide thermal inertia (can absorb more heat, it"s hard to change the temperature) Where does atmosphere get laden with moisture. Evaporation high from warm bodies of water.
