Chapter 10—Environment PDF

10/27/2014 Chapter 10—Environment Key Concepts The sun is the driving force behind climate Quality, duration, and intensity of the sun’s energy influence plants The solar energy received is influenced by latitude, season, and time of day Climate is typical long‐term weather in a region Precipitation...

10/27/2014 Chapter 10—Environment Key Concepts The sun is the driving force behind climate Quality, duration, and intensity of the sun’s energy influence plants The solar energy received is influenced by latitude, season, and time of day Climate is typical long‐term weather in a region Precipitation and temperature are important to agricultural practices Crop selection, residue management, fallowing, irrigation, and soil drainage are important management practices The Sun’s Energy Life on earth is dependent on the sun’s energy Seasonal and day‐length effects – Inclination of the earth, yearly orbit of the earth around the sun, and daily spin of the earth interact to cause variation http://www.psy.ritsumei.ac.jp/~akitaoka/sun.jpg http://www.clef‐campaign.org/workshop2003/presentations/karlgren/ei.gif http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Earth‐lighting‐winter‐solstice_EN.png 1 10/27/2014 Light Effect on Plants Light effects on plants – Light quality (420‐460 & 620‐680 nm) Light Effect on Plants Light effects on plants – Light quality – Light duration – Light intensity www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/6i.html Our Atmosphere Gaseous layer extending up 70 miles Composed of: Troposphere Stratosphere Mesosphere Thermosphere # 2 10/27/2014 Atmosphere Function Functions include – source Source of vapor ofwater water vapor –Protection Protection of radiation –Selective Selective passage passageof radiation –Temperature Temperature regulation regulation http://www.globalclimatescam.com/wp‐content/uploads/2009/03/outdoor‐thermometer.jpg http://www.weatherstock.com/slides/Storm%20Clouds%2013‐RF‐CD.JPG Global Warming Increase in the earth’s average air temperature May cause – Changes in crop production regions – Increases in extreme weather Associated with increase of greenhouse gases Potential solutions include reducing carbon dioxide http://www.qualitas1998.net/paul/uploaded_images/greenhouse_effect‐774630.jpg http://www.odec.ca/projects/2005/stro5c0/public_html/greenhouse_effect.jpg Climate Typical long‐term weather in a region Product of several factors: – Solar Solar energy energy – Bodies Bodies of ofwater water – Land Land forms Elevation – Elevation – Air Airmasses masses Features important to agriculture are precipitation and temperature http://imnh.isu.edu/DIGITALATLAS/clima/atmosph/images/shadow.jpg 3 10/27/2014 Climate Classification—Greek System Very limited knowledge Too general Basis for today’s systems http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/images/AristoZones.gif Climate Classification—Koppen System Divides the earth into climatic regions based on temperature and precipitation Five major climate types – Tropical climates – Dry climates – Moist, mid‐latitude climates with mild winters – Moist mid‐latitude climates with cold winters – Polar climates http://media‐2.web.britannica.com/eb‐media/75/7575‐004‐27272BBA.gif 4 10/27/2014 D ‐ Moist Continental Mid‐latitude Climates C ‐ Moist Subtropical Mid‐Latitude Climates B ‐ Dry Climates A ‐ Tropical Climates http://www.srh.weather.gov/srh/jetstream/global/images/koppenzones.jpg 5 10/27/2014 Precipitation Falls as rain and/or snow Provides water for growth of plants Four general precipitation regions – Humid (40+ in.) – Semihumid (30‐40 in.) – Semiarid (10‐20 in.) – Arid (