1. North-South Variations in West Coast Hydrometeorological Parameters 23
3000 .0
2500.0
2000.0
s,
..... (\l 1500.0
.g
Cl
1000.0
500 .0
0.0-t-,.--,---.-.-.--r"'r-f''''T-.--ri--.---.-,---n-.-....-.-.--r-r--'T---.-.--i
-60 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Degrees of Latitude
Figure 1.13. North-south transect of dry matter productivity derived from mean
annual temperatures and annual precipitation along the west coasts of North and
South America using relationships from Lieth (1975).
. [ 3 0 0 0
- 0.000664P\ ]
y = mill 1 + e1.315 -0.1l9MAT' 3000(1 - e
J
(1.4)
where
y = annual productivity (gm2
'yr1
)
MA T = mean annual temperature (0e)
P = annual precipitation (mm)
As indicated by Equation 1.4 the lower of the two computed values of y is
selected as the best estimate of biomass productivity. Based on the
latitudinal profiles of mean annual temperature and annual precipitiation
shown in Figures 1.4 and 1.6, values of biomass productivity were computed for the study zone. The resultant curve of biomass productivity is
shown in Figure 1.13. At latitudes within 35°C of the equator, except near
the ITCZ, precipitation is the limiting factor in biomass productivity.
Toward the poles, temperature becomes the limiting factor. Although
these biomass productivity values have not been validated using field
measurements, the minimum and maximum occur where they should
according to the classification shown in Figure 1.3.
Hydroclimatic parameters also provide some insight into the carbon
balance and the transport of carbon by rivers. Locally, the carbon balance
is maintained by industrial activities that release carbon, plant growth
that fixes carbon, soils that act as sinks for carbon , and rivers that
transport carbon to the oceans.
In particular, Mulholland and Watts (1982) showed the importance of
North American rivers in transporting organic carbon to the ocean. They
3000 .0
2500.0
2000.0
s,
..... (\l 1500.0
.g
Cl
1000.0
500 .0
0.0-t-,.--,---.-.-.--r"'r-f''''T-.--ri--.---.-,---n-.-....-.-.--r-r--'T---.-.--i
-60 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Degrees of Latitude
Figure 1.13. North-south transect of dry matter productivity derived from mean
annual temperatures and annual precipitation along the west coasts of North and
South America using relationships from Lieth (1975).
. [ 3 0 0 0
- 0.000664P\ ]
y = mill 1 + e1.315 -0.1l9MAT' 3000(1 - e
J
(1.4)
where
y = annual productivity (gm2
'yr1
)
MA T = mean annual temperature (0e)
P = annual precipitation (mm)
As indicated by Equation 1.4 the lower of the two computed values of y is
selected as the best estimate of biomass productivity. Based on the
latitudinal profiles of mean annual temperature and annual precipitiation
shown in Figures 1.4 and 1.6, values of biomass productivity were computed for the study zone. The resultant curve of biomass productivity is
shown in Figure 1.13. At latitudes within 35°C of the equator, except near
the ITCZ, precipitation is the limiting factor in biomass productivity.
Toward the poles, temperature becomes the limiting factor. Although
these biomass productivity values have not been validated using field
measurements, the minimum and maximum occur where they should
according to the classification shown in Figure 1.3.
Hydroclimatic parameters also provide some insight into the carbon
balance and the transport of carbon by rivers. Locally, the carbon balance
is maintained by industrial activities that release carbon, plant growth
that fixes carbon, soils that act as sinks for carbon , and rivers that
transport carbon to the oceans.
In particular, Mulholland and Watts (1982) showed the importance of
North American rivers in transporting organic carbon to the ocean. They