Plant distribution and health is controlled by properties of the atmosphere such as climate, hurricanes, lightning, and pollution. Plants also play a large role in controlling the atmosphere. In fact, the atmosphere at any one location is not only the result of global atmospheric weather patterns, it is also the end result of the type and amount of vegetation.

Effect of Plants on Climate

Over the course of a day, the bulk of energy from the Sun is used in one of two processes: raising temperatures or changing water from a liquid or solid state to vapor form. (Photosynthesis uses only about 2 percent of the Sun's energy.) If a large amount of vegetation is present and is actively conducting photosynthesis, most solar energy is used to convert liquid water in leaves to water vapor. This release of water vapor from leaves is called transpiration...