Earth’s geological structure and processes - Fundamentals of the Physical Environment - page 218

Surface albedo effects on
radiation balance

Location and distribution

Sea-level

Gas and particulate content

Size and depth

Atmospheric circulation

Circulation

Temperature and
precipitation patterns

Gateways

Solutes

uplift

subduction

Temperature

sea-floor spreading

TECTONICS

ocean-continent
distribution
seismo-volcanics

Orogens

Geomorphology

Location within
global thermal and
moisture regimes

Biogeochemical
cycling

Biogeochemical
cycling

Basin/sediment
character

Sea-level (base level)

Figure 10.17 The central controlling influence of tectonic processes on each of the major Earth surface systems.

Cooling
Loss of subtropical
and warm-adapted
decidous vegetation

Drying
Desertification and
loss of wet-adapted
vegetation

Cooling
Appearance
and increase
in arctic sea ice

Drying
Increased
desert dust

Cooling
Glaciation and
loss of frost-
sensitive trees

Drying
Forest changed
to prairie grassland

Summer drying
Loss of summer-
wet vegetation

Summer drying
Loss of summer-
wet vegetation

Climatic stability
Persistence of warm-and
wet-adapted vegetation

Climate stability
Persistence of warm-and
wet-adapted vegetation

Region of
major uplift

Region of
major uplift

Figure 10.18 The effects of high topography on climate in Asia and western North America.
Source: Ruddiman and Kutzbach (1991)