Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 1 Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth State of the atmosphere a.1 Global climate P = -3.3%/275 m T = -6.5 deg C/1000 m
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 1
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
State of the atmosphere
a.1 Global climate
P = -3.3%/275 m T = -6.5 deg C/1000 m
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 2
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Ahrens, 1994
a.1 Global climate
18,000’
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 3
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Solar (SW) and infrared (LW) radiation
calipsooutreach.hamptonu.edu/pbl/pbl02-budget.html
a.1 Global climate
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 4
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/uwsp_lectures/lecture_radiation_energy_concepts.html
Photodamage: sunburns, cancer
Photosynthesis
Peak in Earth’s infrared spectrum
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 5
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
www.nas.nasa.gov/About/Education/SpaceSettlement/75SummerStudy/Chapt.2.html
747/1390 = 54% of
incoming solar radiation
reaches Earth’s surface
PAR
Why are eyes and
plants adapted to
0.4-0.7 microns?
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 6
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Solar/UV radiation as a function of elevation/altitude
For every 1000 m increase in elevation, 12% increase in UV radiation
/www.familydoctor.co.uk/htdocs/SKINSUN/SKINSUN_specimen.html
Barry, 1992
For every 1000 m increase in elevation, 1-2% increase in total solar radiation
16,500’
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 7
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Solar radiation
At poles,
• greater insolation in
summer • greater seasonal variability
• equal insolation as lower
latitude (why?)
What does this mean for arctic
plants and animals?
a.1 Global climate
NOTE: Top of Atmosphere! What else would affect surface insolation?
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 8
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Control on solar radiation: latitude
• Latitude (in conjunction with tilt) determines solar radiation striking TOA
• Longer path through atmosphere: more absorption
Lomolino et al., 2006
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 9
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Control on solar radiation: latitude
a.1 Global climate
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 10
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Control on solar radiation: orbital characteristics
a.1 Global climate
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 11
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
http://www.homepage.montana.edu/~geol445/hyperglac/time1/milankov.htm
Control on solar radiation: orbital characteristics
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 12
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
http://www.homepage.montana.edu/~geol445/hyperglac/time1/milankov.htm
Control on solar radiation: orbital characteristics
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 13
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
http://www.homepage.montana.edu/~geol445/hyperglac/time1/milankov.htm
Control on solar radiation: orbital characteristics
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 14
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Control on temperature: elevation
Decrease in T in
free atmosphere
and at higher
elevation of
Earth’s surface
a.1 Global climate
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 15
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Lomolino et al., 2006
Control on temperature: elevation
a.1 Global climate
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 16
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Global temperature patterns
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 17
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Orographic influences on temperature
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 18
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
frontal precipitation
precipitation due to
convergence: ITCZ
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 19
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Orographic influences on precipitation
Lomolino et al., 2006
Enhancement on windward side “Rain shadow” on leeward side
a.1 Global climate
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 20
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Orographic influences on precipitation
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 21
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Sect14/Sect14_1d.html
Convective precipitation
a.1 Global climate
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 22
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Seasonal distribution of precipitation: % summer precip
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 23
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Precipitation (cm per year)
a.1 Global climate
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 24
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 25
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 26
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Transect across Pacific Northwest
transect
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 27
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Transect across Pacific Northwest
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 28
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Transect across Pacific Northwest
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 29
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Transect across Pacific Northwest
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 30
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Climate classifications: Köppen
a.1 Global climate
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 31
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Aspect
West of Denver, CO
a.2 Microclimate
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 32
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Slope
http://www.chem.ucla.edu/~alice/explorations/churchill/landscapes.htm
Drainage: Boreal bog Disturbance
http://xpda.com/junkmail/junk154/PICT1778.jpg
a.2 Microclimate
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 33
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Vegetation
http://photos.jibble.org/Longleat/Forest_canopy_at_Longleat pinker.wjh.harvard.edu/photos/new_zealand/pages/meadow%20S%20Alps.htm
a.2 Microclimate
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 34
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
www.mlo.noaa.gov
http://www.hawaii.islands-holiday.com/weather.html
Hilo
Kona
Microclimate: Windward, leeward
prevailing wind
direction
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 35
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Microclimate: Windward, leeward
www.mlo.noaa.gov
tropical continuously
wet
hot desert
36
Valley and Mountain
Breezes:
Air follows the development of low
pressure cells in local
areas… upslope during the day and downslope
during the night
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 37
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
slide courtesy of K. Kavanagh
Cold air drainage
at Mica Creek
Experimental
Watershed
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 38
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
slide courtesy of K. Kavanagh
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 39
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Microclimate: Shelter
Nurse trees
Saguaro in shade of limber bush
helios.bto.ed.ac.uk/bto/desbiome/nursery.htm
Subalpine fir in shade of whitebark pine
Lomolino et al. 2006
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 40
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
soils.usda.gov
Soil provides habitat for a variety of organisms
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 41
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Soil classification
Smith and Smith, 2006
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 42
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
www.attra.org/attra-pub/soil_moisture.html
Figure 8:
Relationship between soil texture, field capacity,
permanent wilting point, RAWC and TAWC. (Source: McLaren & Cameron)
www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/schools/activities/swi/swi-04.htm
Soil texture influences plant available water
Add more water
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 43
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Sollins, Ecology, 1998
Soil formation interactions
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 44
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2004/03/
Soil formation
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 45
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Strong relationship between soil type and climate
Lomolino et al., 2006
46
Temperate broadleaf Temperate needleleaf Grassland
Tropical broadleaf Desert
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 47
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Global distribution of soil types
horizons
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 48
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Different lake environments
Crater Lake: Secchi Disk Depth = 43’
www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/
printable_news.lasso?id=6120&table=news
www.nps.gov/crla/student/student1.htm
Lago Nordenskjold, Chile
www.celebratebig.com/chile/index.htm
c. Physical Environment of Lakes
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 49
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Life zones
c. Physical Environment of Lakes
rooted plants pelagic
no rooted plants
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 50
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Radiation environment
c. Physical Environment of Lakes
photosynthesis
visibility
dark
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 51
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Thermal environment barrier to mixing
(why?)
c. Physical Environment of Lakes
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 52
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Oxygen environment
c. Physical Environment of Lakes
more
less
why?
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 53
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Classification based on productivity
c. Physical Environment of Lakes
1. oligotrophic: deep, cold lakes,
high amounts of oxygen and
low P, other nutrients, low
productivity
2. eutrophic: shallow, warm lakes,
high amounts of nutrients, high
productivity
Banff Nat. Park, Alberta, Canada water.umn.edu/lwc
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 54
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
lasp.colorado.edu/sorce/sim_print.html
What color is the ocean?
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 55
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
d. Physical Environment of Oceans
Life zones pelagic
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 56
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
d. Physical Environment of Oceans
State variables
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 57
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Ocean temperatures
Ocean salinities
Ocean circulation
Biogeography Prof. J. Hicke 58
Physical geography and the functioning of the Earth
Ebbesmeyer et al., 2007
Studies of ocean circulation
• 1990: 80,000 Nike
sneakers
• 1992: 29,000 bath toys, tracked 4000 km (right)
• 1992: 28,800 plastic animals
• 2000: 10,224 Nike
sandals