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

Cardio pulmonary resuscitation, CARDIO PULMONARY RESUSCITATION: Cessat...

CARDIO PULMONARY RESUSCITATION: Cessation of cardiac activity is determined by  inability to palpate a central pulse,  unresponsiveness and Gnea. CPR consists of  measures for

Water logging-water stress, Water Logging Over saturation of soil with ...

Water Logging Over saturation of soil with water is called water logging. If for any reason, the water-table rises close to the ground surface it is bad for plants and soil fer

Explain positive staining technique, Explain Positive Staining Technique? ...

Explain Positive Staining Technique? Here, a stain has a positively charged chromophore that gets attached to the negatively charged outer surface of the microbial cell and thu

What is bidirectional glenn without cardio pulmonary bypass, What is Bidire...

What is Bidirectional Glenn (BDG) without Cardio Pulmonary Bypass Surgical approach is through median sternotomy. If there is only a single superior vena cava some surgeons pre

Is it possible x chromosome of women come from father, Is it possible that ...

Is it possible that an X chromosome of a woman can have come from her father? It isn't only possible that an X chromosome of a woman is from her father, it is certain. Each wom

Explain adverse effects of zidovudine, Explain Adverse effects of Zidovudin...

Explain Adverse effects of Zidovudine  It include anemia, neutropenia, nausea, vomiting, headache, fatigue, confusion, malaise, myopathy, hepatitis, and hyperpigmentation of or

Digestive system - pharynx, PHARYN X - Commom system between digestive...

PHARYN X - Commom system between digestive system and respiratory system. In it gullet and glottis present.Gullet leads to oesophagus. Glottis lead to trachea. Wall of p

Define deuterostomes in animal kingdom, Define Deuterostomes in animal king...

Define Deuterostomes in animal kingdom? Coelomate animals are thought to have separated into two divergent lines of evolution in terms of the way embryos develop. In the embryo

Genetics and molecular biology into the darwinism, How does the synthetic t...

How does the synthetic theory of evolution incorporate knowledge from Genetics and Molecular Biology into the darwinism? Today it is known as that variation of inherited charac

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