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

Oogenesis, Oogenesis Oogenesis is the formation of ovum from oogonial...

Oogenesis Oogenesis is the formation of ovum from oogonial cells that are formed in the ovary from primordial germ cells. And as in spermatogenesis it involves meiosis to pro

Anticodon, Anticodon is the series of three nucleotides on the transfer RN...

Anticodon is the series of three nucleotides on the transfer RNA molecule which recognizes and pairs with the specific codon on a messenger RNA molecule; it helps in controlling t

Alleles and possible causative candidate alleles, Genome wide association s...

Genome wide association studies must account for the fact that covering the entire genome with marker loci will produce ______ associations between linked marker alleles and possib

Role of lymphatic system - circulation, Normal 0 false false ...

Normal 0 false false false EN-IN X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

Respiratory systerm, Which two structures does the trachea lead to in the l...

Which two structures does the trachea lead to in the lungs?

How can the excretory system of annelids be described, How can the excretor...

How can the excretory system of annelids be described? In each segment (metamere) of the being a pair of complete excretory structures called metanephridium exists. The metanep

Describe about acyanotic congenital heart disease, Describe about Acyanotic...

Describe about Acyanotic Congenital Heart Disease ? The following lesions will be discussed here: Left to right shunts: Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), Ventricular Septal Defect

How is arthropod reproduction characterized, Q. How is arthropod reproducti...

Q. How is arthropod reproduction characterized? Reproduction in beings of the phylum Arthropoda is sexual with larval stage in some insects and crustaceans (arachnids) present

Pyramid of biomass - ecological pyramids, Pyramid of Biomass - Ecological P...

Pyramid of Biomass - Ecological Pyramids The pyramid of numbers is not a very good method to use if the organisms at different trophic levels are of greatly differing sizes. T

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