lec 2-climate and biomes Flashcards
how does wind move on the surface of the earth?
it lags behind the rotation of the earth, lagging more where the earth spins faster
describe the wind patterns?
high latitude = westerlies (from the west)
mid latitudes = strong trade winds (from the NE or SE)
equator = little to no wind (aka doldrums)
what is the coriolis effect?
the deflection in the pattern of air flow due to differences in rotation speed, moves with spin at poles and against spin at equators
what do water currents mimic?
wind patterns
what is upwelling?
deep water moving towards photic light zone
what are ocean gyres?
circulation of ocean currents caused by wind patterns, moves huge bodies of water between continents
what are the characteristics of upwelling zones?
they have small continental shelves, more abundance of life, better for fishing
what does ENSO stand for?
el nino southern oscillation
what does el nino cause?
results in the collapse of upwellings
what is el nino unproductive and productive on?
el nino is productive on land making it more lush, while its unproductive in water making it worse due to destruction of upwellings
does el nino have an affect on animals who favor certain climates?
yes, example is the darwin studied finches that preferred dry climates
what is PDO (pacific decadal oscillation)?
a fluctuation in sea temperatures every 20-30 years
how many major biomes are there?
9
what is whittakers biome classification?
average temp vs average precipitation
what affects plant communities?
biomes, soil, consumers, disturbances (fire), topography, pollinators
