Chapter 10—Environment Key Concepts

Climate Regulation

• Global warming refers to the increase in the earth's average air temperature, which may cause changes in crop production regions and increases in extreme weather.
• Greenhouse gases are associated with global warming, and reducing carbon dioxide is a potential solution.

Climate

• Climate is the typical long-term weather in a region, influenced by several factors: solar energy, bodies of water, land forms, elevation, and air masses.
• Precipitation and temperature are important features of climate that affect agriculture.

Climate Classification

• The Greek system is a very limited and general basis for today's climate classification systems.
• The Koppen system divides the earth into climatic regions based on temperature and precipitation, with five major climate types: tropical, dry, moist mid-latitude with mild winters, moist mid-latitude with cold winters, and polar climates.

The Sun's Energy

• The sun is the driving force behind climate, and the quality, duration, and intensity of its energy influence plants.
• The solar energy received is influenced by latitude, season, and time of day.
• Seasonal and day-length effects are caused by the interaction of the earth's inclination, yearly orbit, and daily spin.

Light Effect on Plants

• Light affects plants in three ways: light quality (420-460 & 620-680 nm), light duration, and light intensity.

Our Atmosphere

• The atmosphere is a gaseous layer extending up to 70 miles, composed of the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere.
• The atmosphere has four functions: source of water vapor, protection from radiation, selective passage of radiation, and temperature regulation.

Test your knowledge on key concepts related to the environment discussed in Chapter 10. Learn about the influence of the sun's energy on plants, factors affecting solar energy, climate, and important agricultural management practices.