Chapter 2-3: Life on land and water

Large-Scale Patterns of Climatic Variation

• Spherical shape and tilt of earth’s axis cause uneven heating of earth’s surface.– Drives air circulation patterns and

consequently precipitation patterns.• Warm, moist air rises.• Cools, condenses, and falls as rain.• Cooler, dry air falls back to surface.

– Rainforests found near equator.– Major deserts found near 30o N / S.

為什麼會有四季 ?

Pathlength and Seasons

Campbell 46.5

Temperature influences the moisture contents of air

Solar-Driven Air Circulation

Windward side (moist)

leeward side (arid) 焚風

• 為什麼八肚山四側 ( 龍井 ) 常起霧 ?

Climate Diagrams

• Summarize climatic information using a standardized structure.– Temperature plotted on left vertical axis.– Precipitation plotted on right vertical axis.

• 10o C equivalent to 20 mm precipitation.– Relative position of lines reflect water

availability.» Adequate moisture for plant growth

when precipitation above temperature.

Climate Diagrams

Tropical Rainforests

Tropical Dry Forest

Soil : Foundation of Terrestrial Biomes

• Soil is a complex mixture of living and non-living material.– Classification based on vertical layering

(soil horizons).• Profile provides a snapshot of soil structure in a

constant state of flux.

Soil Horizons

• O horizon: Organic Layer freshly fallen organic material - most superficial layer.

• A horizon: (topsoil) Mixture of minerals clay 粘土 , silt 礫土 and sand 砂土 .

• B horizon: (subsoil) Clay, humus, and other materials leached from A horizon. Denser structure; often contains plant roots.

• C horizon: Weathered parent material.

Soil Profile

Hydrologic cycle

• Over 71% of the earth’s surface is covered by water:– Oceans contain 97%.– Polar ice caps and glaciers contain 2%.– Freshwater in lakes, streams, and ground

water make up less than 1%.

The Hydrologic Cycle

• Distribution of water is not static:– Heat– Evaporation– Clouds– Precipitation

• Evaporation• Consumed by organisms• Groundwater• Surface water

台灣島的水文平衡 ?

水的特性• Specific Heat

– Number of calories to raise 1 gram of water 1 C.• 1 cal energy to heat 1 cm3 of water 1o C.

– Air - .0003 cal

• Latent Heat of Evaporation– 560 cal to convert 1 g H2O at 100 C to vapor.

• Viscosity 黏滯度 (100 X of air)• Buoyancy 浮力• Surface tension 表面張力

• Riparian vegetation influences stream temperature by providing shade.

Seasonal Temperature Changes

此章節結束，謝謝 !

Soil texture chartclay 粘土 silt 礫土 sand 砂土

Ion exchange capacity is important to soil fertility

• Good soil consists of – Air: sand– Water: silt, clay– Minerals: clay

• Example, clay loam soil (clay 35%, silt 35%, sand 30%)