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