BDE 214: Individuals
Lecture One: Physical Environment
Definitions Isotherm: A line on a map connecting points that have the same
temperature at a given time or on average over a given period.
Physical Environment This is influenced by
● Climate
● Aquatic environment
● Terrestrial
These unique characteristics impose selective forces on
populations. Plants and animals adapt to their environment,
evolution acts on the individual so they survive their niches.
Interacting with the
Environment
Shorter Periods Evolutionary Time
● Survival of individual ● Survival of species
● Physiology ● Influenced by
● Resource availability interaction
Climate Weather: Conditions at a specific time
Climate: Long-term average pattern of weatheer
Climate can be described on a local, regional and global scales.
Climate also determines availability of heat and water.
Image:
, https://www.globalweatherclimatecenter.com/weather-education/weather-and-c
limate-whats-the-big-difference
Features of Climate Climate stems from solar radiation which heats air particles,
changing air temperature.
The air particles move which causes wind.
Wind causes currents.
Currents are affected by the Earth’s rotation and latitude and
longitude.
Intercepted Solar This varies seasonally.
Radiation
Seasons are a result of:
● Latitude (distance from the equator)
● Earth’s tilt of 23.5
● Earth’s 24 hour rotation
● Earth’s yearly movement around the sun
Tropics
Tropic of Cancer Tropic of Capricorn
● Northern hemisphere ● Southern hemisphere
● 20 June: Austral ● 21 December: Austral
(southern) winter (southern) summer
solstice. solstice.
● This is the longest day ● Longest day in the
for the northern southern hemisphere
hemisphere and and vice versa.
shortest for southern
hemisphere.
Image:
https://www.businessinsider.com/when-is-winter-solstice-shortest-day-year-dec
, ember-2018-12?IR=T
Vernal and Autumnal Equinox
● 21 March and 22 September
● The Earth is perpendicular to the sun
● 12 hour day, 12 hour night
Image: https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/september-equinox.html
Air Temperature Air temperature if affected by latitude.
“Together with the longitudes, latitudes are used to indicate a
precise location of any feature on the earth's surface.
Temperature is inversely related to latitude. As latitudeincreases,
the temperature falls, and vice versa. Generally, around the
world, it gets warmer towards the equator and cooler towards
the poles.”
Information:
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-the-effect-of-latitude-on-temperatur
e.html
Isotherms: Lines of equal temperatures around the Earth.
Image:
https://www.chegg.com/homework-help/using-isotherm-maps-average-january-
july-sea-level-temperatu-chapter-4-problem-9sq-solution-9780134195421-exc
Lecture One: Physical Environment
Definitions Isotherm: A line on a map connecting points that have the same
temperature at a given time or on average over a given period.
Physical Environment This is influenced by
● Climate
● Aquatic environment
● Terrestrial
These unique characteristics impose selective forces on
populations. Plants and animals adapt to their environment,
evolution acts on the individual so they survive their niches.
Interacting with the
Environment
Shorter Periods Evolutionary Time
● Survival of individual ● Survival of species
● Physiology ● Influenced by
● Resource availability interaction
Climate Weather: Conditions at a specific time
Climate: Long-term average pattern of weatheer
Climate can be described on a local, regional and global scales.
Climate also determines availability of heat and water.
Image:
, https://www.globalweatherclimatecenter.com/weather-education/weather-and-c
limate-whats-the-big-difference
Features of Climate Climate stems from solar radiation which heats air particles,
changing air temperature.
The air particles move which causes wind.
Wind causes currents.
Currents are affected by the Earth’s rotation and latitude and
longitude.
Intercepted Solar This varies seasonally.
Radiation
Seasons are a result of:
● Latitude (distance from the equator)
● Earth’s tilt of 23.5
● Earth’s 24 hour rotation
● Earth’s yearly movement around the sun
Tropics
Tropic of Cancer Tropic of Capricorn
● Northern hemisphere ● Southern hemisphere
● 20 June: Austral ● 21 December: Austral
(southern) winter (southern) summer
solstice. solstice.
● This is the longest day ● Longest day in the
for the northern southern hemisphere
hemisphere and and vice versa.
shortest for southern
hemisphere.
Image:
https://www.businessinsider.com/when-is-winter-solstice-shortest-day-year-dec
, ember-2018-12?IR=T
Vernal and Autumnal Equinox
● 21 March and 22 September
● The Earth is perpendicular to the sun
● 12 hour day, 12 hour night
Image: https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/september-equinox.html
Air Temperature Air temperature if affected by latitude.
“Together with the longitudes, latitudes are used to indicate a
precise location of any feature on the earth's surface.
Temperature is inversely related to latitude. As latitudeincreases,
the temperature falls, and vice versa. Generally, around the
world, it gets warmer towards the equator and cooler towards
the poles.”
Information:
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-the-effect-of-latitude-on-temperatur
e.html
Isotherms: Lines of equal temperatures around the Earth.
Image:
https://www.chegg.com/homework-help/using-isotherm-maps-average-january-
july-sea-level-temperatu-chapter-4-problem-9sq-solution-9780134195421-exc
