Cliamate
Chapter 7
Global Patterns of Climate, Natural Vegetation and Soils
Chapter 7: Global Patterns of Climate and Natural Vegetation
Climate • Characteristic condition of the atmosphere near the Earth’s surface at a certain place • Long-term weather of an area (at least 30 years) • The two most important factors that determine an area’s climate are air temperature and precipitation Ecosystem • A system formed by the dynamic interactions of plants, animals and micro-organisms with one another and with their environment • There is always a state of balance within the system • Any imbalance will cause the demise of the organisms or even extinction of certain species
Chapter 7: Global Patterns of Climate and Natural Vegetation
Components of an ecosystem
1. Physical factors
• • • • • • • • • Sunlight and shade Average temperature Average precipitation and distribution Wind Latitude and altitude Nature of soil (for terrestrial ecosystems) Fire (for terrestrial ecosystems) Water current (for aquatic ecosystems) Amount of suspended solid material (for aquatic ecosystems)
A forest fire
Chapter 7: Global Patterns of Climate and Natural Vegetation
2. Chemical factors
• • Amount of water and air in the soil Level of plant nutrients dissolved in soil moisture (for terrestrial ecosystems) and in the water (for aquatic ecosystems) Level of natural or artificial toxic substances dissolved in soil moisture and in the water Salinity of water (for aquatic ecosystems) Level of dissolved oxygen in the water (for aquatic ecosystems)
•
• •
Seawater has a salinity of 35%
Chapter 7: Global Patterns of Climate and Natural Vegetation
Soil in the ecosystem
• Weathered rock material, mixed with highly-altered soil mineral particles, organic matter and living organisms • Provides food, water and shelter for living organisms • The vegetation growing on the soil is linked to the ecosystem through nutrient recycling
A B C
Can you see the three layers
Global Patterns of Climate, Natural Vegetation and Soils
Chapter 7: Global Patterns of Climate and Natural Vegetation
Climate • Characteristic condition of the atmosphere near the Earth’s surface at a certain place • Long-term weather of an area (at least 30 years) • The two most important factors that determine an area’s climate are air temperature and precipitation Ecosystem • A system formed by the dynamic interactions of plants, animals and micro-organisms with one another and with their environment • There is always a state of balance within the system • Any imbalance will cause the demise of the organisms or even extinction of certain species
Chapter 7: Global Patterns of Climate and Natural Vegetation
Components of an ecosystem
1. Physical factors
• • • • • • • • • Sunlight and shade Average temperature Average precipitation and distribution Wind Latitude and altitude Nature of soil (for terrestrial ecosystems) Fire (for terrestrial ecosystems) Water current (for aquatic ecosystems) Amount of suspended solid material (for aquatic ecosystems)
A forest fire
Chapter 7: Global Patterns of Climate and Natural Vegetation
2. Chemical factors
• • Amount of water and air in the soil Level of plant nutrients dissolved in soil moisture (for terrestrial ecosystems) and in the water (for aquatic ecosystems) Level of natural or artificial toxic substances dissolved in soil moisture and in the water Salinity of water (for aquatic ecosystems) Level of dissolved oxygen in the water (for aquatic ecosystems)
•
• •
Seawater has a salinity of 35%
Chapter 7: Global Patterns of Climate and Natural Vegetation
Soil in the ecosystem
• Weathered rock material, mixed with highly-altered soil mineral particles, organic matter and living organisms • Provides food, water and shelter for living organisms • The vegetation growing on the soil is linked to the ecosystem through nutrient recycling
A B C
Can you see the three layers