Explore the physical aspects of Earth's biomes in this 43-minute lecture from Yale University's "Principles of Evolution, Ecology and Behavior" course. Delve into how temperature, water, latitude, and altitude shape the distribution of life on our planet. Discover how regions with similar climatic features tend to host similar life forms and how weather patterns, influenced by these same factors, can alter habitats and ecosystems. Examine large-scale phenomena like El Niño and their global impact on life. Journey through topics including the physics and chemistry of climate, hurricanes, ocean-coast interactions, Earth's biomes, and climatic history. Gain a comprehensive understanding of how climate influences the distribution and diversity of life on Earth.