Transcript Chapter 15
Chapter 15 The Biosphere The Biosphere • The biosphere is the part of the earth where life exists – The hydrosphere is all of Earth’s ice, water and vapor – The atmosphere is the air blanketing Earth’s solid and liquid surfaces – The geosphere includes all of the features of Earth’s surface (continents, rocks and seafloor) and everything below Earth’s surface The Biosphere (cont’d) • Biotic and abiotic factors interact and affect on another in the biosphere – The Gaia Hypothesis proposes that Earth is a kind of living organism in which the hydrosphere, geosphere, biosphere and atmosphere are interacting systems that maintain one another’s balances. • Examples: deforestation leads to erosion, surplus of CO2 spurs plant growth How does climate affect you? • What crops do we grow in this area of the country? • Do you think other crops would do as well here? Why or why not? Weather vs. Climate • Weather – the day to day condition of earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place • Climate – the average year after year conditions based on temperature and precipitation in a particular region • What affect does the sun have on weather? • What affect does topography have on climate? Climate and Microclimate • Microclimate is a small area within a climate that differs significantly in temperature, rainfall totals, etc. • Examples: near Ohio River, Whidbey Island, rooftop gardens The Influence of Sunlight The Greenhouse Effect • What happens to the inside of a car on a hot day? • The sun unevenly heats the earth’s atmosphere and affects wind and water currents around the globe Other Factors that Shape Climate • Air and water movement, which responds to the uneven heating of Earth’s surface by the sun • Landmasses such as mountain ranges Major Biomes pg 463 • • • • • • • • • • Tropical Rain Forest Tropical Dry Forest Tropical Savannah Desert Temperate Grassland Temperate Woodland and Shrubland Temperate Forest Northwestern Coniferous Forest Boreal Forest (Taiga) Tundra What Makes a Biome? Biome Map of North America Aquatic Ecosystems • Important components of aquatic ecosystems are temperature, depth, flow and water chemistry • Three types: – Freshwater – Marine – Estuary Aquatic Ecosystems of the US Freshwater Ecosystems • Include the Great Lakes, Lake Champlain, Lake Cumberland, Ohio River, the Everglades • Three types: – Flowing water – Standing water • Characterized by the presence of plankton and phytoplankton – Wetlands Estuaries • • • • • • Wetlands formed where rivers meet the sea Contain a mixture of fresh and salt water Detritus is a major player in estuaries Serve as breeding grounds Important migratory stops Examples: Mangrove swamps and salt marshes Marine Ecosystems • • • • • • Photic zone vs Aphotic zone Intertidal zone Coastal Zone Coral Reefs Open Ocean Benthic Zone Intertidal zone Oceanic Zones Homework – DUE Wednesday • Pick a current scientific theory that explains the decline of water levels in the Great Lakes. (ex. Dredging of rivers, evaporation, wave patterns, lack of ice cover, etc.) • Construct a rough thesis statement that you might want to use for your paper. • Find two scientific references that you would like to use for your paper.