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

Show the valve that separates the aorta from the heart, Q. What is the valv...

Q. What is the valve that separates the aorta from the heart? What is the importance of that valve? The valve between the aorta and the left ventricle is the aortic valve. The

Composition of body fluids, Composition of Body Fluids All body fluids...

Composition of Body Fluids All body fluids - plasma, interstitial and intracellular have one common feature i.e. they are formed mostly of water. You would be amazed to know t

Lipoproteins help in transport of lipids, Four major groups of lipoproteins...

Four major groups of lipoproteins help in transport of lipids. These include: 1.  Chylonzicrons-function is to carry dietary triacylglycerols 2.  Very  low  density lipoprot

Explain functional properties of gellan gums, Explain functional properties...

Explain functional properties of gellan gums One of the most important features of gellan gums is its versatile texture which is defined in terms of hardness (measure of ruptur

Limitation of eia, EIA suffers from following limitations: (i)     ELA s...

EIA suffers from following limitations: (i)     ELA should be undertaken at the policy and planning level rather than at the project level. (ii)   Range of possible alternati

Dietary management of gastritis, Q. Dietary management of gastritis? Pr...

Q. Dietary management of gastritis? Prompt medical care is successful in the management of an acute attack of gastritis only if it is accompanied by efficient and judicious nut

Determine the significance of siphuncle., Determine the significance of Sip...

Determine the significance of Siphuncle. A cord of tissue that passes between different chambers of a Nautilid shell. Siphuncle regulates the amount of air or fluid in chambers

What is biological magnification, a) What is biological magnification? ...

a) What is biological magnification? b) Describe how DDT as a water pollutant undergoes biological magnification?

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