Principles of terrestrial ecosystem ecology.pdf

the top? How does each of these atmospheric
layers influence the environment of
ecosystems?
3. Explain how unequal heating of Earth by
the sun and the resulting atmospheric
circulation produce the major latitudinal
climate zones, such as those characterized
by tropical forests, subtropical deserts, temperate
forests, and arctic tundra.
4. How does the rotation of Earth (and the
resulting Coriolis forces) and the separation
of Earth’s surface into oceans and
continents influence the global patterns of
climate?
5. How does the chemical composition of
Earth’s atmosphere influence climate?
6. What causes the global pattern in surface
ocean currents? Why are the deep water
ocean currents different from those at the
surface? What is the nature of the connection
between deep and surface ocean
currents?
7. How does ocean circulation influence
climate at global, continental, and local
scales?
8. How does topography affect climate at continental
and local scales?
9. What are the major causes of long-term
changes in climate? How would you expect
future climate to differ from that of today
in 100 years? 10,000 years? 2 billion years?
Explain your answers.
Additional Reading 45
10. Explain how the interannual variations in
climate of Indonesia, Peru, and California
are interconnected. Would these patterns
influence eastern North America or
Europe? How?
11. Explain the climatic basis for the global distribution
of each major biome type. Use
maps of global winds and ocean currents to
explain these distributions.
12. Describe the climate of your birthplace.
Using your understanding of the global
climate system, explain why that location
has its particular climate.
Additional Reading
Ahrens, C.D. 1998. Essentials of Meteorology: An
Invitation to the Atmosphere. Wadsworth,
Belmont, CA.
Bradshaw, M., and R. Weaver. 1993. Physical Geography.
Mosby, St. Louis.
Graedel, T.E., and P.J. Crutzen. 1995. Atmosphere,
Climate, and Change. Scientific American Library,
New York.
Oke, T.R. 1987. Boundary Layer Climates. 2nd ed.
Methuen, London.
Skinner, B.J., S.C. Porter, and D.B. Botkin. The Blue
Planet: An Introduction to Earth System Science.
2nd ed. Wiley, New York.
Sturman, A.P., and N.J. Tapper. 1996. The Weather
and Climate of Australia and New Zealand. Oxford
University Press, Oxford, UK.