Chapter 4Chapter 4Ecosystems and the PhysicalEcosystems and the PhysicalEnvironmentEnvironment

Cycling of MaterialsCycling of Materials

Matter moves between Matter moves between ecosystems, ecosystems, environments, and environments, and organismsorganisms

5 major cycles:5 major cycles: Carbon, Nitrogen, Carbon, Nitrogen,

Phosphorus, Sulfur Phosphorus, Sulfur and Water and Water (hydrologic)(hydrologic)

The Carbon CycleThe Carbon Cycle

The Nitrogen CycleThe Nitrogen Cycle

The Phosphorus CycleThe Phosphorus Cycle

The Sulfur CycleThe Sulfur Cycle

The Water (Hydrologic) The Water (Hydrologic) CycleCycle

Solar RadiationSolar Radiation

Temperature Changes with Temperature Changes with LatitudeLatitude Solar energy does not hit earth Solar energy does not hit earth

uniformlyuniformly Due to earth’s spherical shape and tiltDue to earth’s spherical shape and tiltEquator (a)Equator (a)

High High concentration concentration High High TemperatureTemperature

Closer to Poles Closer to Poles (c)(c)

Low Low concentration concentration

Low Low TemperatureTemperature

From (a) to (c)From (a) to (c)

In diagram In diagram belowbelow

Temperature Changes with Temperature Changes with SeasonSeason

Seasons Seasons determined determined by earth’s tilt by earth’s tilt

The AtmosphereThe Atmosphere

21% O21% O 78% N78% N 1% Ar, CO1% Ar, CO22, Ne and He, Ne and He Shields earth from high Shields earth from high

energy radiationenergy radiation

Atmospheric LayersAtmospheric Layers

Atmospheric CirculationAtmospheric Circulation NearNear

EquatorEquator

Large winds Large winds due in part to due in part to pressures pressures caused by caused by global global circulation of circulation of airair

LowLow

LowLow

LowLow

HighHigh

HighHigh

HighHigh

HighHigh

Surface WindsSurface Winds

Coriolis EffectCoriolis Effect Influence of the earth’s rotation on Influence of the earth’s rotation on

movement of air and fluids (water)movement of air and fluids (water) Turns them Turns them RightRight in the Northern in the Northern

HemisphereHemisphere Turns them Turns them LeftLeft in the Southern in the Southern

HemisphereHemisphere

Coriolis EffectCoriolis Effect

Coriolis EffectCoriolis Effect

Prevailing winds produce ocean Prevailing winds produce ocean currents and generate gyrescurrents and generate gyres Pacific GyrePacific Gyre

Circular pattern influenced by Circular pattern influenced by Coriolis effectCoriolis effect

Patterns of Ocean Patterns of Ocean CirculationCirculation

This becomes important later when we talk about plastics in the ocean.

Patterns of Ocean Patterns of Ocean CirculationCirculation

Trade windsTrade winds

WesterliesWesterlies

Vertical Mixing of OceanVertical Mixing of Ocean

Surfers, Seals, and the Sea

El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Periodic large scale warming of surface Periodic large scale warming of surface

waters of tropical E. Pacific Oceanwaters of tropical E. Pacific Ocean Normal conditionsNormal conditions

westward blowing tradewinds keep warmest westward blowing tradewinds keep warmest water in western Pacificwater in western Pacific

ENSO conditionsENSO conditions trade winds weaken and warm water trade winds weaken and warm water

expands eastward to South Americaexpands eastward to South America Big effect on fishing industry and wildlife off Big effect on fishing industry and wildlife off

South AmericaSouth America

Ocean Interaction with Ocean Interaction with Atmosphere - ENSOAtmosphere - ENSO

ENSO Climate PatternsENSO Climate Patterns

WeatherWeather The conditions in the atmosphere at a The conditions in the atmosphere at a

given place and timegiven place and time Temperature, precipitation, Temperature, precipitation,

cloudiness, etc.cloudiness, etc. ClimateClimate

The average weather conditions that The average weather conditions that occur in a place over a period of yearsoccur in a place over a period of years

2 most important factors: temperature 2 most important factors: temperature and precipitationand precipitation

Weather and ClimateWeather and Climate

Rain ShadowsRain Shadows

Giant rotating tropical stormsGiant rotating tropical storms Wind > 119 km per hourWind > 119 km per hour FormationFormation

Strong winds pick up moisture over Strong winds pick up moisture over warm surface waters and starts to warm surface waters and starts to spin due to Earth’s rotationspin due to Earth’s rotation

Tropical CycloneTropical Cycloneaka: hurricane, typhoon, aka: hurricane, typhoon, cyclonecyclone

Giant undersea wave caused by an Giant undersea wave caused by an earthquake, volcanic eruption or earthquake, volcanic eruption or landslidelandslide Travel > 450 mphTravel > 450 mph

Tsunami wave may be 1m deep in Tsunami wave may be 1m deep in oceanocean Becomes 30.5m high on shoreBecomes 30.5m high on shore

TsunamiTsunami