Climate of Rangelands
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Climate of Rangelands
J. Schmidt (www.nps.gov)J. Peterson Jim Peaco (www.nps.gov)
Climate plays primary role Climate:
Long-term patterns of temperature & precip
Weather = short-term variation in temp., precip. wind, humidity, etc.
Biome: Largest terrestrial ecosystem that is
easily recognizable. Prairies, shrublands, woodlands, forests,
etc. Ecosystems:
Community of organisms & abiotic environment
How does climate affect global vegetation patterns? Affects plant biomass (amount of
vegetation) Drives photosynthesis Determines growing periods (frost-free
period) Affects types of plants that will grow:
Trees need more water than shrubs, forbs & grasses.
Some plants like it hot & some like it cold. Depends on plant physiology.
Influences soils texture & structure.
Climate Affects Vegetation Rangelands
evolved where precip was insufficient for forests, but too much for barren deserts. Robert Whittaker’s classification of biomes, based on annual precipitation, temperature
These are RANGELANDS
Variation in Annual Precipitation Across U.S.
Variation in PrecipL.A. Sharp Experimental Area –Malta Idaho
Min Precip = (1989) 6.6 inches Max Precip = (1982) 23.6 inches Average = 14.9 inches
Effective precip = when precipitation is usable
Geographic Climate Regions
Mediterranean
Pacific Northwest
Great Basin
Southwest Deserts
Great Plains
Mountains
Mountains
Figure by K. Launchbaugh
Grassland &
Savannas
Mediterranean
Deserts & Semidese
rts
Deserts & Semidese
rts
Topographic Effects Mountains can create Orographic
Barriers with Rain Shadows on the leeward side
From http://web.mst.edu/~rogersda/umrcourses/ge301/
Hadley Cell EffectAtmospheric circulation patterns between circulation between the equator and 30 latitude.
http://people.eku.edu/davisb/Africa/Hadleycell.jpg
Hadley Cell EffectCreates bands of moist or dry zones around the globe.
http://serc.carleton.edu/images/eslabs/weather/hadley_cells_semi_permanent.jpg
Equator 30
http://www.whymap.org/
Continental Land Effects Lands around large bodies of water
tend to have climates with: Mild temperatures Abundant precipitation (moist or mesic)
Centers of continents are often: Extreme temperature variation
(summer to winter) Dry
Continental Patterns
Watch Global Circulation video at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh011eAYjAA
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/BlueMarble/Images/land_shallow_topo_2048.jpg
Rangelands of the World
Summary of Climate Patterns of precip. & temp drive
patterns of vegetation. Geographic effect
Orographic barriers & rain shadows Altitude and latitude are important
Hadley cells Continental effects
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