“Fishery Failure” Declared for West Coast Salmon FisheryDeclaration Clears Path for Congressional ActionSecretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez today declared a commercial fishery failure for the West Coast salmon fishery due to historically low salmon returns. Also today, NOAA’s Fisheries Service issued regulations to close or severely limit recreational and commercial salmon fishing in the area.“The unprecedented collapse of the salmon population will hit fishermen, their families, and fishing communities hard, and that is why we have moved quickly to declare a fishery disaster,” Gutierrez said. “Our scientists are working to better understand the effects that ocean changes have on salmon populations. We are also working closely with fishing communities to improve salmon habitat in river systems to support sustainable fishing.”

“The early decades of the canning industry in the Pacific Northwest can be described as nothing less than an all-out attack on salmon”. Lichatowich 1999:111

Chapter Chapter ##55Ecosystems and the Physical Ecosystems and the Physical

EnvironmentEnvironmentpg. 88 - 112pg. 88 - 112

Readings last Week Readings last Week and this Week:and this Week:

Chapter Chapter ##5 – “Free Wealth”5 – “Free Wealth”Facilitators: Labecca Hampton and Jessica Facilitators: Labecca Hampton and Jessica VidalVidal

Chapter Chapter ##6 – “Cultivate the 6 – “Cultivate the Waters”Waters”Facilitators: Facilitators: Patrick Grennan and Scott Patrick Grennan and Scott ArnoldArnold

Solar RadiationSolar Radiation

o 69% of incoming solar 69% of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by radiation is absorbed by atmosphere and earthatmosphere and earth• Remainder is reflectedRemainder is reflected

o AlbedoAlbedo• The reflectance of solar The reflectance of solar

energy off earth’s surfaceenergy off earth’s surface• Dark colors = low albedoDark colors = low albedo

• Forests and oceanForests and ocean• Light colors = high Light colors = high

albedoalbedo• Ice capsIce caps

o Sun provides energy for life, powers Sun provides energy for life, powers biogeochemical cycles, and determines climatebiogeochemical cycles, and determines climate

Temperature Changes with LatitudeTemperature Changes with Latitude

o Solar energy does not hit earth Solar energy does not hit earth uniformlyuniformly• Due to earth’s spherical shape and tiltDue to earth’s spherical shape and tiltEquator (a)Equator (a)

High High concentration concentration Little Reflection Little Reflection High TemperatureHigh Temperature

Closer to Poles Closer to Poles (c)(c)

Low Low concentration concentration

Higher Higher Reflection Low Reflection Low

TemperatureTemperature

From (a) to (c)From (a) to (c)

In diagram In diagram belowbelow

Temperature Changes with Temperature Changes with SeasonSeason

o Seasons Seasons determined determined by earth’s tilt by earth’s tilt (23.5°)(23.5°)

o Causes each Causes each hemisphere to hemisphere to tilt toward the tilt toward the sun for half sun for half the yearthe year

o Northern Hemisphere tilts towards the sun Northern Hemisphere tilts towards the sun from March 21- September 22 (warm season)from March 21- September 22 (warm season)

The AtmosphereThe Atmosphere

o Invisible layer of gases Invisible layer of gases that envelopes earththat envelopes earth

o ContentContent• 21% Oxygen21% Oxygen• 78% Nitrogen78% Nitrogen• 1% Argon, Carbon dioxide, 1% Argon, Carbon dioxide,

Neon and HeliumNeon and Helium

o Density decreases with Density decreases with distance from earthdistance from earth

o Shields earth from high Shields earth from high energy radiationenergy radiation

Atmospheric LayersAtmospheric Layers

Atmospheric LayersAtmospheric Layers

o Troposphere (0-10km)Troposphere (0-10km)• Where weather occursWhere weather occurs• Temperature decreases with Temperature decreases with

altitudealtitude

Atmospheric LayersAtmospheric Layers

o Stratosphere (10-45km)Stratosphere (10-45km)• Temperature increases with Temperature increases with

altitude- very stablealtitude- very stable• Ozone layer absorbs UVOzone layer absorbs UV

Atmospheric LayersAtmospheric Layers

o Mesosphere (45-80km)Mesosphere (45-80km)• Temperature decreases with altitudeTemperature decreases with altitude

Atmospheric LayersAtmospheric Layers

o Thermosphere (80-500km)Thermosphere (80-500km)• Gases in thin air absorb x-Gases in thin air absorb x-

rays and short-wave UV rays and short-wave UV radiation = very hotradiation = very hot

• Source of auroraSource of aurora

Atmospheric LayersAtmospheric Layers

o Exosphere (500km and up)Exosphere (500km and up)• Outermost layerOutermost layer• Atmosphere continues to thin Atmosphere continues to thin

until converges with until converges with interplanetary spaceinterplanetary space

Atmospheric CirculationAtmospheric Circulation

o Near EquatorNear Equator• Warm air rises, cools Warm air rises, cools

and splits to flow and splits to flow towards the polestowards the poles

• ~30°N&S sinks back to ~30°N&S sinks back to surfacesurface

• Air moves along surface Air moves along surface back towards equatorback towards equator

o This occurs at higher This occurs at higher latitudes as welllatitudes as well• Moves heat from Moves heat from

equator to the polesequator to the poles

Surface WindsSurface Winds

o Large winds due in Large winds due in part to pressures part to pressures caused by global caused by global circulation of aircirculation of air• Left side of diagramLeft side of diagram

o Winds blow from Winds blow from high to low pressurehigh to low pressure• Right side of diagramRight side of diagram

LowLow

LowLow

LowLow

HighHigh

HighHigh

HighHigh

HighHigh

Coriolis EffectCoriolis Effect

o Earth’s rotation influences direction of Earth’s rotation influences direction of windwind• Earth rotates from East to WestEarth rotates from East to West• Deflects wind from straight-line pathDeflects wind from straight-line path

o Coriolis EffectCoriolis Effect• Influence of the earth’s rotation on movement Influence of the earth’s rotation on movement

of air and fluidsof air and fluids• Turns them Turns them RightRight in the Northern Hemisphere in the Northern Hemisphere• Turns them Turns them LeftLeft in the Southern Hemisphere in the Southern Hemisphere

Coriolis EffectCoriolis Effecto Visualize it as a Merry-Go-Round (see Visualize it as a Merry-Go-Round (see

below)below)

Global Ocean Global Ocean CirculationCirculation

o Prevailing winds produce ocean Prevailing winds produce ocean currents and generate gyrescurrents and generate gyres

o Example: the North Atlantic OceanExample: the North Atlantic Ocean• Trade windsTrade winds blow west blow west• Westerlies Westerlies blow eastblow east• Creates a clockwise gyre in the North Creates a clockwise gyre in the North

AtlanticAtlantic

o Circular pattern influenced by coriolis Circular pattern influenced by coriolis effecteffect

Position of LandmassesPosition of Landmasses

Very little land in Very little land in the Southern the Southern HemisphereHemisphere

Large landmasses Large landmasses in the Northern in the Northern Hemisphere help Hemisphere help to dictate ocean to dictate ocean currents and flowcurrents and flow

Vertical Mixing of Vertical Mixing of OceanOcean

Ocean Interaction with Ocean Interaction with Atmosphere- ENSOAtmosphere- ENSO

o El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)• Definition: periodic large scale warming of surface Definition: periodic large scale warming of surface

waters of tropical eastern Pacific Oceanwaters of tropical eastern Pacific Ocean

o Alters ocean and atmospheric circulation Alters ocean and atmospheric circulation patternspatterns

o Normal conditions- westward blowing Normal conditions- westward blowing tradewinds keep warmest water in western tradewinds keep warmest water in western PacificPacific

o ENSO conditions- trade winds weaken and ENSO conditions- trade winds weaken and warm water expands eastward to South Americawarm water expands eastward to South America• Big effect on fishing industry off South AmericaBig effect on fishing industry off South America

Ocean Interaction with Ocean Interaction with Atmosphere- ENSOAtmosphere- ENSO

ENSO Climate PatternsENSO Climate Patterns

Weather and ClimateWeather and Climateo WeatherWeather

• The conditions in the atmosphere at a The conditions in the atmosphere at a given place and timegiven place and time

• Temperature, precipitation, cloudiness, Temperature, precipitation, cloudiness, etc.etc.

o ClimateClimate• The The averageaverage weather conditions that weather conditions that

occur in a place over a period of yearsoccur in a place over a period of years• 2 most important factors: temperature and 2 most important factors: temperature and

precipitationprecipitation• Earth as many Earth as many climatesclimates

World ClimatesWorld Climates

Rain ShadowsRain Shadowso Mountains force humid air to riseMountains force humid air to riseo Air cools with altitude, clouds form and Air cools with altitude, clouds form and

precipitation occurs (windward side)precipitation occurs (windward side)o Dry air mass moves down opposite Dry air mass moves down opposite

leeward side of mountainleeward side of mountain

TornadoesTornadoeso Powerful funnel of air associated with a Powerful funnel of air associated with a

severe thunderstormsevere thunderstormo FormationFormation

• Mass of cool dry air collides with warm Mass of cool dry air collides with warm humid airhumid air

• Produces a strong updraft of spinning air Produces a strong updraft of spinning air under a cloudunder a cloud

• Spinning funnel becomes tornado when it Spinning funnel becomes tornado when it descends from clouddescends from cloud

o Wind velocity= up to 300mphWind velocity= up to 300mpho Width ranges from 1m to 3.2kmWidth ranges from 1m to 3.2km

Tropical CycloneTropical Cycloneo Giant rotating tropical stormsGiant rotating tropical stormso Wind >119km per hourWind >119km per houro FormationFormation

• Strong winds pick up moisture over warm surface Strong winds pick up moisture over warm surface waters waters

• Starts to spin due to Earth’s Starts to spin due to Earth’s rotationrotation• Spin causes upward spiral Spin causes upward spiral of cloudsof clouds

o Damaging on landDamaging on land• High windsHigh winds• Storm surgesStorm surges

Biogeochemical CyclesBiogeochemical Cycleso Matter (elements) moves Matter (elements) moves

between ecosystems, biotic between ecosystems, biotic & abiotic environments, & abiotic environments, and organismsand organisms• Unlike energyUnlike energy

o Biogeochemical cycling Biogeochemical cycling involves:involves:• Biological, geologic and Biological, geologic and

chemical interactionschemical interactionso Five major cycles: Five major cycles:

• Carbon, Nitrogen, Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulfur and Phosphorus, Sulfur and Water (hydrologic)Water (hydrologic)

The Carbon CycleThe Carbon Cycle

x 1015g

of Carbo

n

The Nitrogen CycleThe Nitrogen CycleNitrate

NO3

NitriteNO2

-

AmmoniaNH3

AmmoniumNH4

+

x 1012g of

Nitrogen

The Phosphorus CycleThe Phosphorus Cyclex 1012g of Phosphor

us

The Sulfur CycleThe Sulfur Cyclex

1012g of

Sulfur

The Water (Hydrologic) The Water (Hydrologic) CycleCycle

km3 year

Internal Planetary Internal Planetary ProcessesProcesses

o Layers of the earthLayers of the earth• LithosphereLithosphere

• Outermost rigid rock layer composed of platesOutermost rigid rock layer composed of plates• AsthenosphereAsthenosphere

• Lower mantle comprised of hot soft rockLower mantle comprised of hot soft rock

o Plate Tectonics- study of the processes Plate Tectonics- study of the processes by which the lithospheric plates move by which the lithospheric plates move over the asthenosphereover the asthenosphere

o Plate Boundary- where 2 plates meetPlate Boundary- where 2 plates meet• Common site of earthquakes and volcanoesCommon site of earthquakes and volcanoes

Plates and Plate Plates and Plate BoundariesBoundaries

Types of Plate Types of Plate BoundariesBoundaries

o Divergent Plate Divergent Plate Boundary-2 plates Boundary-2 plates move apartmove apart

o Convergent Plate Boundary-Convergent Plate Boundary-2 plates move together 2 plates move together (may get subduction)(may get subduction)

Types of Plate Types of Plate BoundariesBoundaries

o Transform Transform Plate Plate Boundary- 2 Boundary- 2 plates move plates move horizontally in horizontally in opposite, opposite, parallel parallel directionsdirections

EarthquakesEarthquakeso Caused by the release of accumulated Caused by the release of accumulated

energy as rocks in the lithosphere energy as rocks in the lithosphere suddenly shift or breaksuddenly shift or break• Occur along faultsOccur along faults• Energy released as seismic waveEnergy released as seismic wave

o Focus- the site where the earthquake Focus- the site where the earthquake originates below the surfaceoriginates below the surface

o Epicenter- located on the earth’s surface, Epicenter- located on the earth’s surface, directly above the focusdirectly above the focus

o Richter scale and the moment magnitude Richter scale and the moment magnitude scales are used to measure the scales are used to measure the magnitudemagnitude

TsunamiTsunami

o Giant undersea wave caused Giant undersea wave caused by an earthquake, volcanic by an earthquake, volcanic eruption or landslideeruption or landslide

• Travel > 450mphTravel > 450mpho Tsunami wave may be 1m Tsunami wave may be 1m

deep in oceandeep in ocean• Becomes 30.5m high on Becomes 30.5m high on

shoreshoreo Magnitude 9.3 earthquake in Magnitude 9.3 earthquake in

Indian OceanIndian Ocean• Triggered tsunami that Triggered tsunami that

killed over 230,000 people killed over 230,000 people in South Asia and Africain South Asia and Africa

Human Impacts of Nutrient CyclesHuman Impacts of Nutrient Cycles

o Hubbard Brook Watershed StudyHubbard Brook Watershed Studyo Long term ecological researchLong term ecological research

LoggingLogging

Human ImpactHuman Impact

Impact of Salmon on EcosystemsImpact of Salmon on Ecosystems

SummarySummary

o Biogeochemical cycles in which elements are Biogeochemical cycles in which elements are movedmoved

o Biogeochemical cycles are composed of Biogeochemical cycles are composed of reservoirs and pathways. Fluxes between reservoirs and pathways. Fluxes between compartments can be measured.compartments can be measured.

o Some elements cycle quickly such as those Some elements cycle quickly such as those with a gaseous phase.with a gaseous phase.

o Some cycles are internal with an ecosystemSome cycles are internal with an ecosystemo Ecosystems can lose nutrients and be Ecosystems can lose nutrients and be

deposited elsewhere.deposited elsewhere.o Humans can have an impact on nutrient Humans can have an impact on nutrient

cycling.cycling.