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

Name a few foods which are best blanched, Name a few foods which are best b...

Name a few foods which are best blanched? Yes, green beans, carrots, okra, turnip and cabbage should always be blanched. On the other hand, blanching is not needed for onions,

Reproduction, what is the difference between anisogamy and oogamy?

what is the difference between anisogamy and oogamy?

What are Modes of Nutrition, What is Nutrition? Explain types of nutrition?...

What is Nutrition? Explain types of nutrition? Nutrition - Taking Nutrients from environment Nutrients - Substances which are needed for the sources of chemical potential en

Define the clinical experience of anorexia nervosa, Define the Clinical exp...

Define the Clinical experience of anorexia nervosa? Clinical experience suggests that many of the untoward consequences of refeeding can be minimized or avoided by starting the

What functions regulates by hypothalamus, Q. What functions regulates by hy...

Q. What functions regulates by hypothalamus? HYPOTHALAMUS - Main visceral control center of the body (yet small in size). Central to virtually all homeostatic control . Th

Define regulation of malice enzyme by starvation & refeeding, Define regula...

Define regulation of malice enzyme by starvation & refeeding? ME catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of malate to pyruvate and CO 2 simultaneously generating the reduced

Floriculture, Floriculture: This is the cultivation and development of com...

Floriculture: This is the cultivation and development of commercially important floral plants like rose, lilies, etc. Floriculture is called flower farming is a discipline of hort

Explain the dietary fibre and colon cancer, Explain the Dietary fibre and c...

Explain the Dietary fibre and colon cancer? The relationship between colorectal cancer and dietary fibre remains complex. Although a cause-and-effect relationship between fibre

Smack, SMAC K - It is a crud by product of heroin synthesis, commo...

SMAC K - It is a crud by product of heroin synthesis, commonly called brown sugar (Poor man's heroin). The addicts heat the smack powder & inhale its vapour. It is

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