Photosynthesis is one of the most important cellular processes in building sugar, but how does that effect the

environment in any way? Well, plants do live in the environment, but there are more broader ways that photosynthesis can affect the climate or weather changes over time. Plants keep our climate stable through transpiration and vegetation plays a huge part in the weather / climate roll. Without plants for photosynthesis and transpiration to cool the air, an affect takes place that involves the overheating of an area which is caused by vegetation without exposure. Lastly, greenhouse gases play a huge role in the effects of climate, and without earth's atmosphere or an ocean surface, these gases would take over the world, in a not so comfortable way. How do these points all tie together? They all have to deal with the importance of photosynthesis on climate and the changes earth experiences through periods of time. Transpiration is a big part in the way the climate stays stable also effecting vegetation and it's role on climate and temperature. By offsetting temperature and moisture uctuations, plants keep the climate stable using transpiration. Also by using transpiration, plants produce their own micro-weather by controlling the temperature and humidity already surrounding their leaves. With vegetation being such a big part in climate and weather changes, it's completely necessary for normal weather and climate. "With vegetation covering about 20% of our planet, it's no surprise that plants affect climate" (Unknown, Vegetation: It's Role in Weather and Climate). Vegetation includes all plants from forests to crop lands, therefore photosynthesis and it's part on climate and weather change is due to the amount of vegetation in an area. However, when there is very little vegetation, the climate becomes unstable and creates an overheated area. Vegetation without exposure may result in an overheating of an area which occurs without plants or transpiration to cool the air. A "heat island" happens mostly in big cities that have a lack of ground exposure and transpiration for the cooling of air resulting in an overheated climate. Since the asphalt tends to have a low albedo, it absorbs the sunlight which is added to the excessive heat. Along with the day, the concrete and asphalt give off their heat during the night resulting in an uncomfortably hot evening. An example of a heat island would be Phoenix's rural areas compared to the city. In the city, the area was said to be more than 10 degrees warmer than Phoenix's rural areas. When such an extreme difference in temperature is in places near each other, the cause of that would be a heat island from no exposed vegetation causing an increase in heat. The world is set at such a stable climate due to the amount of greenhouse gases controlling earth's atmosphere. However, if there was no atmosphere or ocean surface, the gases would come in contact with such extreme differences that there wouldn't be heat islands, but a heat universe.

A comfortable temperature for the earth is an average 15 degrees Celsius(59 F), with both an existing atmosphere and ocean surface. In this case, water evaporates from the water and land which cools the surface. However with no atmosphere, the earth's surface would drop to -18 degrees C. (0 F.). The cause for this being that the solar systems normal temperature is based off the sun's radiation, and without an atmosphere, the temperature drops. Unfortunately after the sun would set, the earth's surface temperature would cool even lower to -160 degrees C. (-250 F.). The earth then could easily be compared to the moon's surface temperature being that when there's no daylight, the land gets cooler because there's no source for heat. With the same atmosphere and gases the earth has now, neglecting a ocean or very little water vapor would increase earth's surface heat to 67 degrees C. (153 F.). This is because the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere help keep the heat towards the surface. However, without convection or transport of heat by winds "Adding winds cools the planet a little, but not enough." (Phillander, Our Affair With El Nio). So in conclusion, the atmosphere and ocean really do play a big part on the world. Without it, earth's temperature would either drastically increase or decrease. In the environment, photosynthesis plays a huge role in the changes according to vegetation and it's affects on the climate. With vegetation, it works together with transpiration to keep the climate stable and even effect the weather. However without any transpiration for the cooling of the air or plants for photosynthesis, the climate / weather can overheat causing a heat island which is unpleasant to the earth's surface and only takes place in areas without ground exposure. Greenhouse gases also largely effect the climate and it can be examined in a theory involving earth's atmosphere and the ocean / water vapor. Without one or the other, the gases can either get too close or not be there at all to provide the heat for earth. The theory can be shown either increasing or highly decreasing earth's surface temperature and really proves how earth relies on these two factors. These points all come together to prove photosynthesis' importance to the Earth's climate and the surface temperature over time.

Sources
Unknown. "Vegetation: It's Role in Weather and Climate | Climate Education Modules for k-12." North Carolina State University, 9 August 2013. Web. 05 Dec. 2013 Philander George S. G. "Chapter 7: Constructing A Model of Earth's Climate." Our Affair with El Nio. N.P.: Princeton UP, 2004 N. Pag. The Ocean and Climate. Texas A&M Unknown, "The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming." University, 21 Dec. 2013. Columbia. Edu. Columbia University, n. d. web. Dec. 2013 Web. 09