BIOL 2060 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Atmospheric Sciences, Scientific Method, Rain Shadow

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Biology
• Course: BIOL 2060
• Professor: Chris Caruso

Document Summary

Definition: the study of the environmental factors that determine: the distribution of organisms, and, the abundance of organisms. The study of ecology involves the study of other related disciplines: hydrology, geology, atmospheric sciences, behaviour, physiology, biochemistry, genetics. Ecology is based on a higher level of organization: more: ecosystems, communities, populations, less: individual, organ/tissue, cell, molecules. Influences: latitude, rain shadow (topography, seasonality (cid:894)ea(cid:396)th(cid:859)s tilt(cid:895) Temperature of air is proportional to humidity (water content of air, rainfall: high temperature allows more water to evaporate, warm molecules move faster -> vapour state. Less water content in air: cold air = dry air = biologically stressful: 2. Solar-driven atmospheric circulation: 3 major air cells driven by the sun: u(cid:374)(cid:859)s e(cid:374)e(cid:396)g(cid:455) pe(cid:374)et(cid:396)ates ea(cid:396)th(cid:859)s su(cid:396)fa(cid:272)e, (cid:272)auses tu(cid:396)(cid:271)ule(cid:374)(cid:272)e at (cid:271)ou(cid:374)da(cid:396)(cid:455) of the earth, and currents form as the air circulates, 1. Farell cell beyond 30 degrees n/s: temperate regions, driven by, and located between, hadley and polar cells, 3.