At what point is the aerial layer of vegetation fully adjusted to local climate conditions?

As an AI language model, I am unable to provide visual diagrams, but I will gladly explain the concepts and relationships between temperature, wind, carbon dioxide, radiation, and humidity as they relate to the "fully adjusted" or canopy layer of plant communities. You can use this information to create your own diagrams to complement the explanations. 1. Temperature Profile: The temperature within plant communities refers to the variation of air temperature as you move from the ground to the top of the tree canopy. Due to the absorption of solar radiation by the plants, the air surrounding the plants becomes warmer, leading to a temperature gradient. Typically, the temperature is cooler at the bottom of the canopy and gradually increases as you move towards the top. 2. Wind Profile: Wind plays an essential role in the distribution of heat and moisture within plant communities. Within the canopy layer, wind speed is minimal near the ground due to obstruction caused by trunks, branches, and leaves. As you move towards the top of the canopy, wind speed increases, aiding in the dissipation of heat and moisture. 3. Carbon Dioxide Profile: Plants require CO2 for photosynthesis. In the fully adjusted layer, CO2 concentration tends to be higher near the ground, given that the gas is heavier than air. As you move towards the top of the canopy, the CO2 concentration reduces because it is being used up by plants during photosynthesis. 4. Radiation Profile: Solar radiation is critical for plant growth and is absorbed by the plant canopy. Within the fully adjusted layer, the amount of radiation absorbed and reflected is highly dependent on plant type, density, and canopy structure. The top part of the canopy absorbs the majority of the sunlight, leading to reduced light levels as you move towards the ground. 5. Humidity Profile: Humidity refers to the amount of moisture in the air. In plant communities, it varies significantly within the fully adjusted layer due to transpiration and evaporation processes. Generally, humidity will be higher near the ground due to the combination of plant transpiration and reduced wind speed. As you move towards the top of the canopy, humidity levels may decrease as wind speed increases and the air gets warmer. You can visualize these profiles in a cross-sectional diagram of a plant community, showing the gradients of temperature, wind, carbon dioxide, radiation, and humidity from the ground to the top of the canopy. This will help illustrate the complex interactions between these environmental factors and their influence on plant communities.