01:119:115 Lecture Notes - Lecture 22: Microclimate, Northern Hemisphere, Vegetation Type
15 Mar 2016
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Document Summary
The most significant influence on the distribution of organisms on land and oceans is climate. Four major components of climate: temperature, precipitation, sunlight, wind. Climate patterns can be described at two scales: macroclimate patterns of global, regional and landscape level, microclimate patterns at local scale. Global climate patterns are primarily determined by solar energy and how planet moves in space. Sun warming causes temperature variations that drive evaporation an circulation of air. Angle sunlight hits earth affects amount of heat and light per unit of surface area. Intense solar radiation near equator starts global pattern of air circulation and precipitation. Climate is affected by seasonality, large bodies of water and mountains. Seasonal variations of light and temperature increase as you get closer to poles. At high latitudes, caused by earth"s tilted axis of rotation and annual pass around sun. Wet and dry air belts across both sides of equator shift throughout year, affects local climate.
