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

Explain the position of the endospore, Explain the Position of the endospor...

Explain the Position of the endospore? Endospore cannot be stained by ordinary methods such as simple staining and gram staining because these dyes do not penetrate the wall of

Explain methodology required for osazone test, Explain Methodology Required...

Explain Methodology Required for Osazone Test? Take about 250-300 mg of phenylhydrazine mixture in the 3 clean labelled 15 ml dry test tubes. Add 5 ml of the glucose, fructose

Lymph, why is it known as middle man

why is it known as middle man

Define fats required for underweight - nutritional care, Define Fats requir...

Define Fats required for underweight - nutritional care? Fats: We know that fats are concentrated source of energy (lg = 9 Kcals). Fats are capable of increasing the energy val

Explain adverse effects of adefovir dipivoxil, Adverse Effects of Adefovir ...

Adverse Effects of Adefovir dipivoxil  Doses of adefovir used for HBV are generally well tolerated but may be associated with asthenia, headache, diarrhea and abdominal pain. H

How can a great biological diversity protect an ecosystem, How can a great ...

How can a great biological diversity protect an ecosystem from environmental damage? Why are less biodiverse ecosystems at risk of suffering deep biological harm if submitted to ev

Sunshine recorder, Sunshine recorder Sunshine recorder (Figure shown be...

Sunshine recorder Sunshine recorder (Figure shown below) measures the duration of sunshine. The recorder consists essentially of a glass sphere of about 10 cm in diameter mount

Structural function of organic molecules, Q. What are the few examples of t...

Q. What are the few examples of the structural function of organic molecules? Ans. Organic molecules have a structural function as they are part of cell membranes, organ w

Explain main functions of organic molecules for living being, What are the ...

What are the major functions of the organic molecules for living beings? Organic molecules, such as proteins, lipids and carbohydrates, perform numerous functions for living or

Explain the food applications of guar, Explain the Food Applications of gua...

Explain the Food Applications of guar Guar imparts smoothness to ice cream by promoting small ice crystals during the freezing process. Guar gum in the dressing of cot

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