ESS CH-7: - CLIMATE CHANGE

1.Explain how climate affects the productivity of

ecosystems around the world?
Ans: - The conversion of energy into biomass (for a given period of
time) is

measured as productivity

energy capture during photosynthesis is partially determined by

limiting
factors of water, light and temperature

energy available to an ecosystem is ultimately determined by the

amount of energy captured and converted by autotrophs/plants

the tricellular model of atmospheric circulation explains the

distribution of precipitation and temperature

this influences the structure and relative productivity of different

terrestrial biomes

when solar radiation (insolation) and precipitation are not limiting,

productivity is very high

tropical rainforests have the highest (terrestrial) levels of

productivity due to this reason
ESS CH-7: - CLIMATE CHANGE

when solar radiation is abundant but precipitation is low, eg deserts,

productivity is low.

low temperatures, usually associated with low insolation, limit

productivity.
eg tundra
climate change is altering the distribution of biomes and thus their
productivity