SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION: AN ANALYSIS OF IMPACTS ON DESERT ECOSYSTEMS TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................... i I. INTRODUCTION ................................................... 1 II. TYPES OF SOLAR CONVERSION SYSTEMS ............................... 3 Systems in Existence ......................................... 3 Systems in Planning ........................................... 4 III. THEORETICAL ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF SOLAR CONVERSION SYSTEMS. ... 7 Ecosystem Structure ........................................... 7 Biotic Components ........................................... 7 Abiotic Factors ............................................. 9 Ecosystem Cycles ........................................... 10 Environmental Modifications ................................... 11 Shading......................................................... 12 Solar Radiation............................................... 12 Temperature................................................... 16 Soil Moisture................................................. 18 Plant and Animal Response.....................................19 Wind Deflection................................................. 22 Velocity and Turbulence ..................................... 22 Temperature and Heat Flux..................................... 24 Soil Moisture and Humidity................................... 25 Plant and Animal Response..................................... 26 Physical Disturbance ......................................... 27 Soil Structure............................................... 27 Runoff and Erosion........................................... 28 Soil Moisture................................................. 30 Temperature and Heat Flux..................................... 31 Plant and Animal Response..................................... 31
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