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

Define metabolic activity and cell constituents, Define Metabolic Activity ...

Define Metabolic Activity and Cell Constituents? Metabolic activity like amount of acid produced or CO 2 produced is directly proportional to the number of bacteria present, s

Amino acids and peptide bonds-protein structure, Amino Acids and Peptide Bo...

Amino Acids and Peptide Bonds, Protein Structure - The graduate can construct models of the structure and function of amino acids and peptide bonds, predict ionization of an amin

What is the heterophagic intracellular digestion, Q. What is the heterophag...

Q. What is the heterophagic intracellular digestion and How is this process accomplished? Heterophagic intracellular digestion is the breaking into smaller substances of extern

Define functions of calcium in human body, Define Functions of Calcium in H...

Define Functions of Calcium in Human Body? Calcium salts provide rigidity to the skeleton and calcium ions play a role in many if not most, metabolic processes. In the vertebra

Classify bones structurally and embryologically, Classify bones structurall...

Classify bones structurally and embryologically(developmentally). Structural classification of bone: Macroscopically can be classified into two types, compact and trabecul

Homo sapiens fossilis (cro-magnon man), Hom o sapiens fossilis (CRO-M...

Hom o sapiens fossilis (CRO-MAGNO N MAN) - Fossils found from Cro-Magnon, France by Mac Gregor (1868) Replaced Neanderthal man about 35.000 years ago Sharp nose

Explain diagnostic approach to congenital heart disease, Explain Diagnostic...

Explain Diagnostic Approach to Congenital Heart Disease ? It is often easy to recognise the presence of CHD in older children and adults. As in any other form of heart disease

Accuracy of stress echocardiography, Q. Define Accuracy of Stress Echocardi...

Q. Define Accuracy of Stress Echocardiography? The accuracy of stress echo tests for the detection of coronary artery disease is expressed as the sensitivity and specificity of

#title. Zoology, Can you give me an explanation on the osmoregulation of th...

Can you give me an explanation on the osmoregulation of the Phyla Cnidaria, Ctenophora, Porifera and the Protozoa?

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