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

Determine cdna encodes aba 8-hydroxylase activity, Hypothetical question. ...

Hypothetical question. A new biotech company intends to clone the gene encoding the ABA 8-hydroylase enzyme, an important protein regulating plant hormone degradation that control

Skeletons of radiolarians, Skeletons of radiolarians The skeletons of ...

Skeletons of radiolarians The skeletons of radiolarians and foraminiferans form a primary constituent of ocean bottoms where they form 30% or more of the sediment. It is calle

How are gases exchanged in sponges, Q. How are gases exchanged in sponges? ...

Q. How are gases exchanged in sponges? The gas exchange in sponges happens by diffusion from the exterior to the cells that absorb molecular oxygen and liberate carbon dioxide.

Define estimation of blood thiamin levels - thiamin status, Define Estimati...

Define Estimation of Blood Thiamin Levels - Thiamin Status? The levels of free thiamin and its phosphoesters in whole blood and erythrocytes are measured using high- performanc

Hemoconcentration, Hemoconcentration Before, during and after CPB, hem...

Hemoconcentration Before, during and after CPB, hemoconcentration allows the patient's blood to be salvaged during surgery to help reduce the need for donor blood. Ultra

Deficiency diseases-iodine deficiency, Iodine  deficiency Iodine is an...

Iodine  deficiency Iodine is an important component of thyroid hormones, which play active role in several physiological process such as control of basal metabolic rate, oxidat

How do you define normal pulmonary vasculature, Q. How do you define Normal...

Q. How do you define Normal Pulmonary Vasculature? Pulmonary vessels are seen in the medial 2/3 of the lung. Vessels are generally not identified in the lateral third. The rad

Importance value index (ivi) - synthetic characters, Importance Value Index...

Importance Value Index (IVI) - Synthetic Characters In any study of community, the quantitative value of each of the frequency density, and cover has its own importance. But t

HIV VIRUS, what is the structure of hiv virus?

what is the structure of hiv virus?

Porifera, method of digestion in porifera

method of digestion in porifera

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