Concept explainers
You have seen that Earth’s terrestrial biomes reflect regional variations in climate. But what determines these climatic variations? Interpret the following diagrams in reference to how each represents effects on global patterns of temperature, rainfall, and winds.
a. Solar radiation and latitude:
b. Earth’s orbit around the sun:
c. Global patterns of air circulation and rainfall:
(a)
To determine: Solar radiation and latitude representing the effects on global pattern of temperature, rainfall and wind and also the climatic variations.
Introduction:
Biomes are the regions with similar climate and terrestrial biome distribution is decided by rainfall and temperature. The terrestrial biomes are tundra, rainforest, desert, taiga, temperate forest, alpine and savanna.
Explanation of Solution
The solar radiation amount received by earth is depends upon the location of the biome. The amount of received sunlight will be high if the biome is located at equator, resulting in hot conditions in biome. At the poles, biomes are cold due to the availability of less sunlight.
(b)
To determine: Earth’s orbit around the sun representing the effects on global pattern of temperature, rainfall and wind and also the climatic variations.
Introduction:
Biomes are the regions with similar climate and terrestrial biome distribution is decided by rainfall and temperature. The terrestrial biomes are tundra, rainforest, desert, taiga, temperate forest, alpine and savanna.
Explanation of Solution
Different seasons are the result of earth rotation, because both hemisphere experience opposite season due to tilt of earth on its own axis.
The tilt of the northern hemisphere of earth towards the sun results in summer as the tilt allows entry of more sunlight and summer in the northern hemisphere means winter in the southern hemisphere because it is away from the sun so receives less sunlight.
(c)
To determine: Global pattern of air circulation and rainfall representing the effects on global pattern of temperature, rainfall and wind and also the climatic variations.
Introduction:
Biomes are the regions with similar climate and terrestrial biome distribution is decided by rainfall and temperature. The terrestrial biomes are tundra, rainforest, desert, taiga, temperate forest, alpine and savanna.
Explanation of Solution
Extreme sunlight at equators results in evaporation of water from the land and oceans, which cools and condenses, converting into rain. For example: tropical rainforests.
At 30 degree latitude of south and north, the circulating air warms as it fals causing evaporation of moisture present in the soil, leading to dryness (arid regions in the temperate zones). For example: deserts.
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