An ecoregion is a geographical area that is defined by distinct ecological characteristics, including climate, vegetation, soil types, and wildlife. Ecoregions are used by ecologists and environmental scientists to categorize and analyze the diversity of ecosystems and the relationships between different organisms and their environments. Ecoregions can vary in size and can be classified at different levels, such as global, national, or local.
Landscape ecology is a subfield of ecology that focuses on the study of landscapes and the interactions between ecological processes and spatial patterns within those landscapes. It examines how the arrangement of habitats, ecosystems, and species across a geographical area influences ecological dynamics and processes. Key concepts in landscape ecology include: 1. **Spatial Patterns**: Landscape ecologists analyze how spatial arrangements of different ecosystems, land uses, and habitat types affect ecological functions and the distribution of species.
The Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS) is a global, collaborative initiative aimed at providing access to data on marine biodiversity. It serves as a platform for aggregating, integrating, and disseminating data related to the distribution of marine species and their associated habitats. OBIS is a part of the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), which is a part of UNESCO.
Phytogeography is the branch of biogeography that focuses on the distribution of plant species and ecosystems across the Earth. It studies how various factors, including climate, soil type, topography, and human activity, influence the spatial distribution of plant life. Phytogeography seeks to understand patterns of plant diversity, the historical and ecological factors that shape these patterns, and the relationships between plants and their environments.
The River Barrier Hypothesis is a concept in the field of ecology and biogeography that seeks to explain patterns of species distribution, particularly in relation to freshwater organisms such as fish, amphibians, and invertebrates. The hypothesis suggests that rivers and their physical characteristics act as barriers to the movement and gene flow of species, leading to genetic differentiation and speciation.
**Isopycnal** refers to a surface or a condition in which the density of a fluid remains constant. The term is most often used in oceanography and fluid dynamics to describe layers or surfaces within a fluid (such as seawater) that have the same density, regardless of variations in temperature or salinity. In the ocean, isopycnal surfaces can play a significant role in the movement and mixing of water masses.
The Theory of Island Biogeography is a key ecological theory that was developed by ecologists Robert MacArthur and Edward O. Wilson in the 1960s. It seeks to explain the factors that influence the number and diversity of species on islands and other isolated habitats. The theory is primarily concerned with two main processes: immigration (the arrival of new species) and extinction (the loss of species).
The term "Western Palaearctic" refers to a biogeographical region that encompasses parts of Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia. It is one of the regions defined within the larger Palaearctic realm, which is one of the eight biogeographical realms of the world. The Western Palaearctic includes a diverse range of habitats, from Mediterranean climates to temperate forests and tundra.
A current meter is an instrument used to measure the flow of electric current in a circuit. It typically provides a reading of current in amperes (A) and is an essential tool in electrical engineering, electronics, and related fields. There are various types of current meters, including: 1. **Analog Current Meters**: These use a moving-coil mechanism to provide a reading on a dial. The deflection of the needle on the dial is proportional to the current flowing through the meter.
An Ekman current meter is an instrument used to measure the velocity of ocean currents. It operates based on the principles of the Ekman layer, which is a thin layer of water in the ocean affected by wind and the Coriolis effect, leading to complex flow patterns. The Ekman current meter typically consists of a series of rotating blades or fins attached to a rotating shaft.
The Faroe-Bank Channel overflow refers to a significant oceanographic phenomenon occurring in the North Atlantic Ocean, specifically involving the movement of dense water from the Nordic Seas into the Atlantic. The Faroe-Bank Channel is a deep underwater trench located between the Faroe Islands and the Scottish coast.
A "flaw lead" typically refers to a potential sales opportunity or a prospect that has been identified as having issues or needs that your product or service could address. In a sales context, "lead" generally means a potential customer, while "flaw" might indicate specific problems, pain points, or deficiencies that the lead is experiencing. In essence, a flaw lead is a more targeted type of lead because it highlights a specific issue that your business can solve.
"Message in a bottle" typically refers to a method of communication where a written message is placed inside a sealed bottle and then thrown into a body of water, with the hope that it will eventually be found by someone else. This practice can serve various purposes, such as expressing feelings, seeking connection, or simply as a whimsical act of adventure. The concept can also be symbolic, representing feelings of longing, isolation, or the desire for human connection.
An ocean current is a continuous, directed movement of ocean water that is driven by various factors, including wind, water density differences (due to temperature and salinity), and the Earth's rotation (Coriolis effect). These currents can occur on the surface or at various depths and can significantly influence climate, weather patterns, and marine ecosystems.
A river plume is a body of freshwater that is released from a river and disperses into a larger body of water, such as an ocean or sea. This process often occurs where the river meets the sea, creating a distinct zone where freshwater from the river mixes with the saltwater from the ocean. River plumes can have significant ecological effects, influencing water salinity, temperature, nutrient levels, and the distribution of marine life.
Wave setup is a phenomenon that occurs in coastal environments when waves approach the shore and generate a change in water level. As waves break on the beach, they create a buildup of water in the nearshore zone, leading to an increase in water level above the average sea level. This effect can be attributed to several factors: 1. **Wave Energy**: As waves break, the energy they carry forces water towards the shore, causing an increase in water height.
The Tropical Atlantic Sea Surface Temperature (SST) Dipole refers to a climate pattern characterized by the difference in sea surface temperatures between two regions in the Atlantic Ocean, generally the eastern and western parts of the tropical Atlantic. This dipole pattern can have significant implications for weather and climate, influencing precipitation patterns, tropical cyclone activity, and other atmospheric processes in both the Atlantic region and surrounding continental areas.
A wind wave is a type of surface wave that forms on the surface of a body of water as a result of the wind blowing across it. These waves are generated when the wind transfers energy to the water, causing it to ripple and create oscillations. Key characteristics of wind waves include: 1. **Formation**: Wind waves typically form in open water, where the wind can blow over a distance known as the "fetch.
Color psychology is the study of how colors can influence human behavior, emotions, and attitudes. It examines the ways in which different colors can evoke certain feelings and responses, as well as their effects on perception and decision-making. This field combines elements of psychology, art, marketing, design, and culture. Here are some key points regarding color psychology: 1. **Emotional Associations**: Different colors are commonly associated with specific emotions.
Pinned article: Introduction to the OurBigBook Project
Welcome to the OurBigBook Project! Our goal is to create the perfect publishing platform for STEM subjects, and get university-level students to write the best free STEM tutorials ever.
Everyone is welcome to create an account and play with the site: ourbigbook.com/go/register. We belive that students themselves can write amazing tutorials, but teachers are welcome too. You can write about anything you want, it doesn't have to be STEM or even educational. Silly test content is very welcome and you won't be penalized in any way. Just keep it legal!
Intro to OurBigBook
. Source. We have two killer features:
- topics: topics group articles by different users with the same title, e.g. here is the topic for the "Fundamental Theorem of Calculus" ourbigbook.com/go/topic/fundamental-theorem-of-calculusArticles of different users are sorted by upvote within each article page. This feature is a bit like:
- a Wikipedia where each user can have their own version of each article
- a Q&A website like Stack Overflow, where multiple people can give their views on a given topic, and the best ones are sorted by upvote. Except you don't need to wait for someone to ask first, and any topic goes, no matter how narrow or broad
This feature makes it possible for readers to find better explanations of any topic created by other writers. And it allows writers to create an explanation in a place that readers might actually find it.Figure 1. Screenshot of the "Derivative" topic page. View it live at: ourbigbook.com/go/topic/derivativeVideo 2. OurBigBook Web topics demo. Source. - local editing: you can store all your personal knowledge base content locally in a plaintext markup format that can be edited locally and published either:This way you can be sure that even if OurBigBook.com were to go down one day (which we have no plans to do as it is quite cheap to host!), your content will still be perfectly readable as a static site.
- to OurBigBook.com to get awesome multi-user features like topics and likes
- as HTML files to a static website, which you can host yourself for free on many external providers like GitHub Pages, and remain in full control
Figure 3. Visual Studio Code extension installation.Figure 4. Visual Studio Code extension tree navigation.Figure 5. Web editor. You can also edit articles on the Web editor without installing anything locally.Video 3. Edit locally and publish demo. Source. This shows editing OurBigBook Markup and publishing it using the Visual Studio Code extension.Video 4. OurBigBook Visual Studio Code extension editing and navigation demo. Source. - Infinitely deep tables of contents:
All our software is open source and hosted at: github.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook
Further documentation can be found at: docs.ourbigbook.com
Feel free to reach our to us for any help or suggestions: docs.ourbigbook.com/#contact





