You should be able to do the following kinds of things:

1. Describe how a body in an energy flux comes into thermal equilibrium. You should be able to deal with bodies differing in absorbtivity, reflectivity and transmissivity.

2. Describe how the earth comes into thermal equilibrium.

3. Describe the greenhouse effect and explain its role in the earth's energy balance.

4. Describe how the greenhouse effect is an important aspect of microclimate (e.g. coastal and interior Humboldt Co. during the summer; large temperature fluctuations on deserts, etc.)

5. Describe how insolation and evapotranspiration are related and how they interact with precipitation to have a major influence on the growing season or productivity of an ecosystem.

6. Describe how various kinds of energy exchange at the surface of an organism are important in its thermoregulation.

7. Describe how the concept of tolerance enhances our understanding of ecosystem structure.

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