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

Study of food texture, Q. Study of food texture? We learnt earlier that...

Q. Study of food texture? We learnt earlier that texture is observed in terms of tactile sensations i.e. finger feel and mouth feel. Finger feel is sensed before ingestion, by

Show the ploidy of life cycles, Q. For each of the three kinds of life cycl...

Q. For each of the three kinds of life cycles what is the respective ploidy of the individual that represents the adult or lasting form? In the haplontic haplobiontic life cycl

Ciliates, how the structure of ciliates facilitates their parasitism

how the structure of ciliates facilitates their parasitism

Digestion of various disaccharides of the diet, Digestion of various disacc...

Digestion of various disaccharides of the diet The enzymes from brush border membrane of small intestine complete the digestion of various disaccharides of the diet and the pro

Water demands vary among communities, a)  Water demands vary among communit...

a)  Water demands vary among communities. Discuss some of the factors affecting water uses.  b)  A coastal town has a resident population of 8000 people during the winter months

What is hmp pathway, What is  HMP pathway The HMP pathway like glyco...

What is  HMP pathway The HMP pathway like glycolysis occurs in the cytosol of the cell. However, C02  which is not produced  in glycolysis, is a characteristic product in HMP

Define secondary level care - public nutrition, Define Secondary level care...

Define Secondary level care - public nutrition? More complex health problems of the community are resolved at the secondary level care through the district hospitals and the Co

Relapse and recurrence, Relapse of infective endocarditis usually occurs wi...

Relapse of infective endocarditis usually occurs within two months of the discontinuation of antimicrobial therapy. The relapse rate for patients with native-valve endocarditis cau

What is oxytocin receptors, Which of the following serves as an actuating s...

Which of the following serves as an actuating signal, or as part of an actuating signal, in a positive feedback system? A. Blood plasma levels of PTH (Parathryroid Hormone).

Find the genotypes and phenotypes of the f1, Determine the genotypes and ph...

Determine the genotypes and phenotypes of the F1 generation from a colour blind father and a mother who is homozygous for normal colour vision.

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