Latitudinal variations, Biology

Assignment Help:

Latitudinal Variations

The latitudinal variation of temperature over the earth is the result of two main variables

  • incoming solar radiation and
  • the distribution of land and water masses

 

What do you think could be the other factors influencing temperature?

The movement of wind and water, and the direction of slopes of hills and mountains also modify the temperature.

We know that the length of the day varies at higher latitudes. That means the incoming solar radiation varies. However, if we compute the average, every point on the earth gets the same total hours of daylight each year, an average of 12 hours per day, but not the same amount of heat. The latter depends upbn the amount of radiant energy delivered/unit area/hr and this depends upon the angle of landing sunlight. You have learnt in the previous section that vertical beams afe more intense than the oblique beams that land on the higher latitudes. Hence we find a gradual decrease in the amount of incident radiant energytunit area along the increasing latitudes, horizontally.

On the basis of temperature variation three distinct heat zones can be distinguished in each hemisphere (Figure shown below). The hot torrid zones are near the equator. moderate or temperate zones are in the middle, the cold zones are at the poles. Each zone is characterised by typical plants and animal populations found in the area.

1963_heat zones.jpg


Related Discussions:- Latitudinal variations

Why is carbon monoxide toxic for humans, Why is carbon monoxide toxic for h...

Why is carbon monoxide toxic for humans? Hemoglobin "likes" carbon monoxide (CO) much more than it likes oxygen. When there is carbon monoxide in the inhaled air it binds to he

Procedures for diagnosis - restriction enzyme analysis, R e striction...

R e striction enzyme analysis: The restriction endonuclease analysis of viral DNA fragments or DNA fingerprinting discovered in 1970s has revolutionized the study o

Use of beta-blockers-peri operative problems, Use of Beta-blockers :  ...

Use of Beta-blockers :  In some centres, patients are routinely put on beta-blockers after CABG. European coronary artery surgery study showed that only 25 per cent of patient

Explain about the niacin (nicotinic acid) deficiency, Explain about the Nia...

Explain about the Niacin (nicotinic acid) deficiency? Niacin (nicotinic acid) deficiency classically results in pellagva, which is a chronic wasting disease associated with a c

Floating plants, what are floating plants? detailed information

what are floating plants? detailed information

Explain chemical phase of photosynthesis, Q. Where do the photochemical and...

Q. Where do the photochemical and the chemical phase of photosynthesis occur? The photochemical phase of the photosynthesis procedure occurs mainly on the thylakoids the green

Epithelial tissue, EPITHELIA L TISSUE OR EPITHELIA Epithelium term coi...

EPITHELIA L TISSUE OR EPITHELIA Epithelium term coined by Ruysh, it was applied originally to thin skin covering the nipple. (G.epi = upon, thele = nipple) Epithelial tis

9 questions in cardiovascular physiology, I have 9 questions in my undergra...

I have 9 questions in my undergraduate cardiovascular physiology class I need help with. It is mostly dealing with slow response action. I need the work in about 2nite hours from n

What is biotic potential, Q. What is biotic potential? The Biotic poten...

Q. What is biotic potential? The Biotic potential is the capability of growth of a given population under hypothetical optimum conditions, i.e., in an environment without limit

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd