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ESC121 Biosphere Lecture 1 - 22 July 2024

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12 views

ESC121 Biosphere Lecture 1 - 22 July 2024

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keaoracreations
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© © All Rights Reserved
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The Biosphere:

MODULE: ESC 121

MISS TRISHA BHAGA

Environmental & Water Science


Institute of Water Studies
Department of Earth Sciences

[email protected]
ESC121 Lecture 1: Introduction to Biosphere October
Module Description

• This module aims to provide you


• an introductory understanding of the processes operating within the Earth System (and how
these change in time).
• The module examines
• the biosphere, and how this system has been, and may continue to be, influenced by human
and naturally-induced environmental changes (in the same manner as the other three earth
systems).
• This interesting system of the Earth will be examined
• in the context of contemporary climate change (the same as the other three).

2
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lecture series, the students are expected to be able to:

• Discuss the fundamental processes operating within the biosphere.


• The role of abiotic factors in the formation of biomes
• Features of freshwater and marine biomes
• Major terrestrial biomes and their characteristics

• Describe and explain (understand) the relationships between environmental change


and biosphere responses.

• Identify points of interference (interactions) between the biosphere and other earth
systems.

• Identify, describe, and/or explain the impacts of human beings on the biosphere.
Biosphere

• the part of the Earth that supports life.

• includes
• the top portion of the Earth’s crust
• all waters that cover the Earth’s surface
• the atmosphere that surrounds the Earth

• is divided into large geographic areas that have


similar climates and ecosystems called biomes.

• What are the 5 major categories of biomes?


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aquatic, desert, forest, grassland, tundra
Each biome is divided into smaller areas called ecosystems

• An ecosystem consists of all the organisms living in an area, as well as the


nonliving parts of that environment.

• Ecology is the scientific study of organisms and how they interact with the
environment around them.

• An ecologist studies the relationship between living things and their habitats.

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• A biological species is a group of organisms that can reproduce with one another in
nature and produce fertile offspring.

• The ecological study of species involves biotic and abiotic influences.


• Biotic = living means everything is alive or was once alive (organisms – behaviours &
interactions between organisms).
• Abiotic = non-living (temperature, water, salinity, sunlight, soil, etc.)

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Hierarchy
Within the biotic environment (ecology), there is a recognisable hierarchy, i.e., the living world (an
ecosystem) is arranged in several levels of organisation.

• An organism – an individual living thing that carries on the activities of life by means of organs which
have separate functions but are dependent on each other, e.g., a living person, plant, animal, or single-
celled life form.

• A population – a group of individuals or organisms of the same species that live in a particular geographic
area at the same time.

• A community – all populations of all the species living in an ecosystem, i.e., an interacting group of various
species in a common location. For example, a forest of trees and undergrowth plants with animals.

• An ecosystem – a community of organisms including the physical factors.

• A landscape – a mosaic of connected ecosystems.

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• A Biosphere (or ecosphere) – global ecosystem
Biosphere Reserve
• is a large protected area for the
conservation of wildlife, plant and
animal resources, and traditional
tribal life in the area.

• contributes to the preservation of a


region's biodiversity and culture.

• may also contain other protected


areas.

• are 'learning places for sustainable


development'
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Biosphere Reserves of South Africa
• South Africa also has 10 UNESCO Biosphere
Reserves. These are

• Collectively covering 115 732 km2 , approximately


9.5% of the country's land area.

• Play a crucial role in securing biodiversity corridors


towards mitigating the effects of climate change.

• International destinations for tourists

• Secure a large percentage of the sources of major


rivers, providing water to residents, agriculture and
business. 10
Climate
• Climate is the long-term average prevailing weather conditions of a particular area.

• Climate = temperature + precipitation + sunlight + wind

• Macroclimate vs microclimate
• Macro = large-scale weather conditions i.e., the overall climate of a region usually a large geographic area.
• Micro = the suite of climatic conditions measured in localized areas at/near the earth's surface. These are small-scale
environmental variations (e.g., under a log or tree, etc.)—which include temperature, light, wind speed, and moisture—
and provide meaningful indicators for habitat selection and other ecological activities.

• Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.


• Causes of Climate Change
• Heat-trapping Greenhouse Gases And The Earth's Climate.
• Greenhouse Gases.
• Reflectivity or Absorption of the Sun's Energy.
• Changes in the Earth's Orbit and Rotation.
• Variations in Solar Activity.
• Changes in the Earth's Reflectivity.
• Volcanic Activity.
• Some species may not survive shifting ranges 11
Global climate
patterns:
sunlight
intensity

12
Global climate patterns: Air circulation and precipitation patterns 13
Global Climate
Patterns:
Ocean Currents

14
Global Climate Patterns: Effect of mountains on rainfall

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Biomes:
major types of
ecosystems that
occupy broad
geographic regions

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Climate and elevation determine
biomes

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Climograph
• a graphical representation of a
location's basic climate.

• display data for two variables:


monthly average temperature
and monthly average
precipitation.

• useful tools to quickly describe a


location's climate.

• used to infer the distribution of


major biome/ecosystems
18
Thank You!

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