BIOL 1020H Chapter Notes - Chapter 48: Scattered Trees, Nekton, Groundcover
Document Summary
The a(cid:374)gle at (cid:449)hich solar radiatio(cid:374) strikes the surface is the pri(cid:374)cipal co(cid:374)trol o(cid:374) earth"s surface temperature. The temperature distribution is a result of incoming solar radiation: at higher latitudes, temperature lowers. Temperature declines with increasing elevation times of the year, whereas in january, the southern hemisphere receives more. The coriolis effect: winds in the norther hemisphere deflect to the right, whereas those in the southern he(cid:373)isphere to the left due to earth"s cou(cid:374)ter clock(cid:449)ise rotatio(cid:374); (cid:373)o(cid:448)i(cid:374)g fro(cid:373) (cid:449)est to east. Evapotranspiration: the sum of evaporation directly from soils and water bodies plus the amount transpired (give off water vapour through stomata) by plants. Potential evapotranspiration: the amount of evapotranspiration that temperature, humidity, and wind (cid:449)ould cause if (cid:449)ater supply (cid:449)ere(cid:374)"t li(cid:373)iti(cid:374)g. Potential evapotranspiration ratio: ratio of water demand to supply: can determine the type of vegetation that can be supported in a given region. Latitude and altitude influence the ratio through their effects on precipitation and temperature.
