Climate Science Overview Quiz

Introduction to Ecology, Climate & Biomes

• Ecology is the scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environment, determining distribution and abundance.
• Interactions between organisms and the environment limit species distribution.
• Terrestrial biome structure and distribution are primarily controlled by climate.

Terrestrial Biomes

• A terrestrial biome is a large area of land with specific organisms adapted to their physical environment.
• Climate variation is the cause of different terrestrial biomes.
• Four major abiotic factors influence climate: temperature, precipitation, sunlight, and wind.
• Global climate patterns are largely determined by solar energy and Earth's movement in space.

Climate

• Climate is the long-term weather pattern in an area.
• Weather is the minute-by-minute conditions in the atmosphere, while climate is the 30-year average weather pattern.
• Four major abiotic components: temperature, precipitation, sunlight, and wind.
• Global climate patterns are largely determined by solar energy and Earth's movement in space.

Latitudinal Variations in Sunlight Intensity

• The angle of sunlight striking Earth affects its intensity (heat and light per surface area unit).
• Sunlight intensity is strongest in the tropics and weakest at the poles.
• The poles receive significantly less solar energy than the equator.

Latitudinal Variations in Climate

• The warming impact of the sun causes temperature variation, which drives evaporation and circulation of air and water, thus influencing latitudinal variations in climate.
• Polar regions have one season (cold), temperate regions have four seasons (winter, spring, summer, fall), and tropical regions have two (rainy, dry).

Temporal Variation in Solar Radiation

• Seasonality at high latitudes is due to Earth's axial tilt and its annual passage around the Sun.
• Earth’s tilt causes the angle of sunlight striking a particular area to change throughout the year.
• The Earth's movements in space affect the amount of solar radiation received at different latitudes.

Atmospheric Circulation

• Factors beyond distance from the Sun, such as temporal variation (day/night and seasonal), and large-scale air movement create smaller-scale differences in temperature.
• Air pressure is greater at sea level than at higher elevations.
• Cold air weighs more than warm air.
• Warm air holds more water.

Global Air Circulation

• Each hemisphere is divided into three convection cells (Hadley, Ferrel, and Polar).
• These cells drive global patterns of precipitation (wet and dry areas).
• The interaction of sun, air circulation, and moisture creates broad-scale patterns.
• Specific locations experience drier or wetter climates due to global air circulation patterns.

Implications of Global Patterns of Air Circulation and Moisture

• Global patterns of air circulation, linked to the sun, create distinct wetter and drier regions on Earth.

Implications of Global Patterns of Air Circulation & Moisture

• Global patterns of air circulation, linked to the sun, create distinct wetter and drier regions on Earth.

Biomes & Their Distribution

• Biomes are major life-zones (terrestrial or aquatic) distinguished by vegetation type, with organisms adapted to their environment.
• Climate is a crucial factor in determining the distribution of terrestrial biomes.
• Rainfall and temperature are the primary drivers of biome distribution.

Other Factors Affecting Climate

• Ocean Currents: Warm ocean currents warm nearby landmasses.
  • For example, the Gulf Stream influences the climate of Western Europe.
• Continentality: The effect of continental location on climate
  • Land heats and cools much more quickly than bodies of water.
  • Locations in the center of continents experience greater temperature variations (summer/winter) than locations near bodies of water.
• Mountains: Higher elevations tend to be colder. Air cools and releases moisture on the windward side of peaks, creating rain shadows on the leeward side.
• Every 1,000 meters of elevation increase results in a roughly 6°C temperature decrease.

Climographs

• Climographs are graphical representations of average temperature and precipitation for a location over a year.
• Use climographs to determine seasonal variations.

Implications of Climate Change

• Current studies show that, with global warming, sugar maple’s distribution is affected by biotic factors and climate.
  • The distribution of seed predators and other biotic factors greatly hinder range expansion.

Aquatic Biomes

• Aquatic biomes are differentiated by their standing water (lakes, ponds, or rivers), or running water (rivers), or the land-water interface (e.g., estuaries and wetlands).
• Each biome has its own specific characteristics that support unique organisms.

Interactions Between Organisms and the Environment

• Dispersal, biotic, and abiotic factors limit species distribution.
• Abiotic factors include temperature, water, oxygen, salinity, sunlight, wind, rocks and soil.
• Biotic factors include predation, herbivory, competition, mutualism, parasitism.

Abiotic Factors Limiting Distributions

• Abiotic factors such as temperature, water, salinity, and sunlight can restrict species ranges.
• Other abiotic factors include the characteristics of the surrounding soil and types of water present, if any.

Test your knowledge on the fundamental components and drivers of climate variation around the globe. This quiz covers key concepts such as sunlight intensity, seasonality, and atmospheric circulation. Perfect for students looking to solidify their understanding of climate science.