1. Geological and Meteorological Effects on an Ecosystem
By Julia Wren and Jamie Knaub

2. Examples of Geological and Meteorological Impacts
El Nino
Continental Drift
Meteor Impacts
Acid Rain
Global Warming

3. El Nino
The warming of ocean currents and distribution of water temperatures
Warm water currents cause fish to vanish in Tropical Pacific Ecosystems
Wind currents cause upwelling which moves the thermocline to the top of the surface and results in a decrease of nutrients
Warm years are bad for fisherman and cause flooding
Cold years are good for fisherman but bad for farmers due to drought and crop failure

4. Continental Drift
When Pangaea existed, plants could disperse their seeds over large areas due to connected land masses
For example, the cycad seeds are very large and heavy, could have only been distributed to nearby land
However the cycad plants is found in Australia, South Africa, and Americas
Increased diversity and variation of ecosystems
Allowed ecosystems to have a common plants

5. Meteor Impacts
Alters ecosystem through effects on temperature, photosynthesis, and air and water composition
Impact causes sky to darken, blocking out the sunlight not allowing photosynthesis to take place causing shortage in food and a food web collapse
Direct impact sparks fires that damage ecosystem
In the ocean, flooding and immediate death of organisms however nutrients are made available
Nitrogen and Oxygen form nitric acid causing acid rain

6. Acid Rain Two different effects on ecosystem: chronic and episodic
Chronic: long term acid rain causes an increase in acidity and a decrease in nutrients
Episodic: Sudden shifts of chemical compositions causing an increase in the concentration of certain elements
Overall weakens trees’ natural defenses, currently decreasing spruce-fir forests
Removes Ca and Mg from soil and deposits excess nitrogen causing nitrogen saturation and eutrophication in water bodies

7. Global Warming
Direct melting of ice, rising sea levels, and a decrease in land for polar bears, penguins, seals, etc.
Water becomes too warm and chemical composition changes affecting ecosystem
Salinity increases which damages freshwater ecosystems and cause a rapid change in the distribution of plants

8. Works Cited
(El Nino)
(Continental Drift)
(Meteor Impact)
(Acid Rain)
(Global Warming)