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

Vitamins requirements for ulcerative colitis, Q. Vitamins requirements for ...

Q. Vitamins requirements for ulcerative colitis? Vitamins: Commercial multivitamin preparation should be administered orally especially the ones needed for the healing process

Protozoans and cnidarians, compare and contrast the structure of the follow...

compare and contrast the structure of the following: hyrda plain, hydra mematocysts, obelia, amoeba, euglena, paramecium caudatum conjugation, euglena acus.

Define the toxicity of vitamin b12, Define the Toxicity of Vitamin B 12 ? ...

Define the Toxicity of Vitamin B 12 ? Intake of 1000 μg vitamin B 12 has never been reported to have any side-effects.  Similar large amounts have been used in some preparati

Cation exchange capacity, Cation Exchange Capacity The adsorption of a ...

Cation Exchange Capacity The adsorption of a cation by a colloid nucleus or micelle and the accompanying release of one or more ions held by the micelle is termed as 'cation ex

State the term - antecedent and consequence control, Antecedent and consequ...

Antecedent and consequence control Therapy and consultation cannot be effective unless the behaviours to be changed are understood within a particular context. The process of u

Determination of erythrocyte transketolase (etk) activity, Determination of...

Determination of Erythrocyte Transketolase (ETK) Activity? The enzyme transketolase requires TPP for its activity, for the metabolism of pentose phosphate sugars as described u

Why greenhouse gases lead to global warming, Explain briefly why 'greenhous...

Explain briefly why 'greenhouse' gases lead to global warming. The greenhouse gases do not interfere with the short-wave radiation reaching the Earth from the sun but take up t

Action of light the basis of the photosynthesis process, Is it correct to c...

Is it correct to consider water decomposition by the action of light the basis of the photosynthesis process? Besides ADP photophosphorylation, photic energy is also responsibl

Animal and plant cells, Animal and Plant Cells The internal structural ...

Animal and Plant Cells The internal structural organisation and information related with hereditary characters and metabolic pathways are similar in all eucaryotic cells whethe

Determine the final cell volume, Find the initial osmotic pressure at room ...

Find the initial osmotic pressure at room temperature for a cell if the only ions present are KCl and NaCl on either side of the membrane. Assume the concentrations for K+ and Na+

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