Climate
- Most significant influence on global ecology
- driven by variations in solar energy (heat) on the earth's surface
- Distance from equator influences seasonal variation

Climate and Terrestrial Biomes
- Different latitudes have different regimes of Terrestrial Biomes
- Temperature
- Precipation
- Seasonality

- Warm air "holds" more water vapor (increased kinetic energy increases evaporation and condensation)
- Hadley Cells: Circulations driven by the influence of temperature on water vapor saturation

Global Air Circulation and Precipitation Patterns

Global Wind Patterns

Biomes of California
- Defined by climate
- Precipitation
- Temperature
- Climate in CA depends on geography
- Latitude (distance from equator)
- Mountain Ranges

Rain-Shadow Effect

A California Cross-Section