24
R.G. Lawford
correlated TOe (Total Organic Carbon) with long-term average streamflows, but they found there was potential for considerable year-to -year
variablility in TOe transport because low frequency floods had been
found to convey extremely large amounts of carbon to the ocean. However , if it is assumed that TOe transport is correlated with runoff rather
than streamflow (Brinson , 1976), then the contributions to the TOe
transport are largest from the areas in the study zone between 4SO Nand
58°N; 5
0S
and 15°N; 38°S and 42°S, and 47°S and 52°S. Irons et al.
(1992) demonstrated that soil type and the presence of permafrost can
affect the relationship between TOe transport and runoff . Furthermore,
as noted earlier, stream discharge to the ocean is not always uniquely
correlated with local runoff, due to differences in the size and orientation
of drainage systems; consequently, there is a need to consider watershed
characteristics in assessing carbon transport to the ocean.
Conclusions
Hydrometeorological processes and patterns provide a framework for
understanding how the large-scale climate influences terrestrially based
hydrological and biological patterns. However, not all . .aspects of the
diversity of biological patterns and their temporal and spatial variability
can be explained by average values of hydroclimatic parameters. One
important factor not considered in this study involves the role of climatic
extremes in influencing biological regimes. In cases where the biological
patterns are not in equilibrium with their abiotic surroundings, the
deviations may be related to the genetic history of biological communities,
local industrial activities such as harvesting , biological invasions, or
climatic extremes . Both natural and man-induced variations occur at
small scales in biological systems. However, the controls on these variations are the larger chemical and physical environmental fluctuations. The
complexity inherent in these biological systems is the result of combined
variability in the hierarchy of abiotic processes that leads to the distribution of energy and water within the ecosystems and genetic factors that
determine the specific characteristics of the ecosystem components .
More specific results from this study include the following:
• The climatological "equator" is displaced by approximately 5° northward from the geographical equator in the study area .
• Ecosystems in the study zone at the same latitude in the two hemispheres do not necessarily experience similar climatic and hydrometeorological conditions.
• Temperatures at higher latitudes and precipitation at lower latitudes
limit biomass productivity. These factors also influence other biological
characteristics , both on an annual basis and on shorter time scales.
R.G. Lawford
correlated TOe (Total Organic Carbon) with long-term average streamflows, but they found there was potential for considerable year-to -year
variablility in TOe transport because low frequency floods had been
found to convey extremely large amounts of carbon to the ocean. However , if it is assumed that TOe transport is correlated with runoff rather
than streamflow (Brinson , 1976), then the contributions to the TOe
transport are largest from the areas in the study zone between 4SO Nand
58°N; 5
0S
and 15°N; 38°S and 42°S, and 47°S and 52°S. Irons et al.
(1992) demonstrated that soil type and the presence of permafrost can
affect the relationship between TOe transport and runoff . Furthermore,
as noted earlier, stream discharge to the ocean is not always uniquely
correlated with local runoff, due to differences in the size and orientation
of drainage systems; consequently, there is a need to consider watershed
characteristics in assessing carbon transport to the ocean.
Conclusions
Hydrometeorological processes and patterns provide a framework for
understanding how the large-scale climate influences terrestrially based
hydrological and biological patterns. However, not all . .aspects of the
diversity of biological patterns and their temporal and spatial variability
can be explained by average values of hydroclimatic parameters. One
important factor not considered in this study involves the role of climatic
extremes in influencing biological regimes. In cases where the biological
patterns are not in equilibrium with their abiotic surroundings, the
deviations may be related to the genetic history of biological communities,
local industrial activities such as harvesting , biological invasions, or
climatic extremes . Both natural and man-induced variations occur at
small scales in biological systems. However, the controls on these variations are the larger chemical and physical environmental fluctuations. The
complexity inherent in these biological systems is the result of combined
variability in the hierarchy of abiotic processes that leads to the distribution of energy and water within the ecosystems and genetic factors that
determine the specific characteristics of the ecosystem components .
More specific results from this study include the following:
• The climatological "equator" is displaced by approximately 5° northward from the geographical equator in the study area .
• Ecosystems in the study zone at the same latitude in the two hemispheres do not necessarily experience similar climatic and hydrometeorological conditions.
• Temperatures at higher latitudes and precipitation at lower latitudes
limit biomass productivity. These factors also influence other biological
characteristics , both on an annual basis and on shorter time scales.