Climate Affecting Diversity


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Climate Affecting Diversity

Climate Affecting Diverstiy : It includes temperature, photoperiod and precipitation.

Temperature: Temperature alongwith the humidity in the air and precipitation determine the character of vegetation and its extent. As the climate gets colder, either by increase in altitude (above 915m) or by going away from the equator, the vegetation will change from tropical to sub-tropical, temperate and then alpine. For example, on the slopes of the Himalayas and hills of the peninsula, the fall in temperature affects the type of vegetation and its growth.

Temperature Characteristics of the Vogetation Zones

Vegetation ZonesMean Annual Average Temp. (in degree C)Mean Temp. in January (in degree C)Remarks
TropicalAbove 24^{0}CAbove 18^{0}No Frost
Sub-tropical17^{0}C;to;24^{0}C10^{0}C;to;18^{0}CFrost is rare
Temperate7^{0}C;to;17^{0}C-1^{0}C;to;(-10)^{0}CFrost some snow
AlpineBelow 7^{0}CBelow -1^{0}CSnow

Source Environment Atlas of India, June 2001, Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi

Photoperiod (Sunlight): The amount and duration of sunlight is known as photoperiod. The difference in latitude, altitude and season brings variation in duration of sunlight in different places. In warmer regions and climates, plant growth is faster due to longer duration of sunlight, especially with availability of adequate moisture.An instance is the fact that the Southern slopes of the Himalayas are COveTed with thicker vegetation than the Northern slopes.

Precipitation : Advancing South-West monsoon (June to September) and retreating North-East (October-November) monsoons bring almost all the rainfall in India. Areas of heavy rainfall always have denser vegetation than other areas with lesser rainfall. The South-West monsoon rains on the windward side of the Western Ghats, thus cause a heavy growth of tropical evergreen forests there, whereas the leeward side does not have any such forests.

 
 
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