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

What is the secondary structure of a protein, The secondary protein structu...

The secondary protein structure is produced by the manner its amino acids interact by intermolecular bond. These interactions make a spatial conformation of the polypeptide filamen

Explain the storage of vitamin a, Explain the Storage of vitamin A? The...

Explain the Storage of vitamin A? The primary organ for storage of vitamin A is the liver. Reserves are found in the stellate cells, as mentioned above. The average liver weigh

Acute heart failure, Ac ute heart failure The acute heart failure is c...

Ac ute heart failure The acute heart failure is characterized by sudden loss of consciousness and falling with or without convulsions. The mucous membranes become pale followe

How were the classification systems of aristotle, How were the classificati...

How were the classification systems of Aristotle and Linnaeus similar?  Both systems divided all living things into two major groups, animals and plants, but Aristotle's system

What are their respective modes of transmission, What are some human diseas...

What are some human diseases caused by bacteria and what are their respective modes of transmission? The major human bacterial infections transmitted by respiratory secretions

Active or moderately active lifestyles - physical activity, Define Active o...

Define Active or moderately active Lifestyles - physical activity? These people have occupations that p-e not strenuous in terms of energy demands, but involve more energy expe

Define conservation genetics and hybridization, Define Conservation genetic...

Define Conservation genetics and hybridization? Is the genetic integrity of European wolves threatened by hybridization along with free-ranging dogs? To ascertain the extent of

Blood, what are the component of hemoglobin

what are the component of hemoglobin

Future - development biology, Future - Development Biology Fertilizati...

Future - Development Biology Fertilization in flowering plants is essential for sustaining life on earth. Production of most crops depends on the effectivity of the fertilisat

How the allele frequencies in a population, A dominant allele will always i...

A dominant allele will always increase in frequency over time. Yes No Q44. When a gene has two alleles, the allele frequencies in a population automatically move toward an equilibr

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