PLANTS & THE LANDSCAPE

ELEVATION & ITS AFFECT ON VEGETATION

The atmosphere is like a blanket; at low elevations the insulating blanket of air is thick, while at high elevations this blanket is much thinner. This means that the higher up we move in elevation the colder it gets. In addition high elevation areas tend to be wetter & more exposed to winds than low elevation areas. In Southern California the cooler moister climate of the mountains houses green forests. The presence of trees & moisture means that there has more organic material in it (generally). Above 10,000 feet it is generally too cold for trees to survive.

LATITUDE

The earth is a sphere at its middle (the equator) receives more sunlight & radiation that at its top & bottom (the poles). The climates of the northern hemisphere are mirrored nearly identically in the southern hemisphere. As you move towards the poles the climate becomes colder & the variation between seasons becomes greater. The closer you move to the equator the warmer & more humid it gets. Seasonal variation becomes minimal.

SOIL AFFECTS ON PLANTS

Soils have a great affect on what type of plants grow on them. Some soils are hostile to plant growth or are poor in nutrients. Some plants exploit these niches. They evolve certain mechanisms to cope with the difficulties. The successful plants are rewarded with having little competition for resources’. What is soil? Soil is both the mineral, organic, gas, liquid, & organisms present in a layer on the surface of the earth. Many organisms in the soil make complex relationships with plants. The texture, drainage, PH, & fertility of the soil are the most important factors.

EXPOSURE

How the lay of the land reacts to the atmosphere is exposure. Ridges, hills, & other elevated topography are exposed to the wind & are often cooler in the daytime. The lee sides of these hill & deep valleys / canyons are often warmer & less windy. Some slope angles increase or decrease heat & drought.

PROXIMITY TO WATER

Water has much to do with moderating the climate. Large bodies of water keep areas adjacent to them close to the temperature of the water. The water bodies also provide moisture, wind, & moderate temperatures.