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Elements & Global Distribution of Climates
Weather - condition of the atmosphere at a given place and time
Climate - the average of the weather conditions over a period of time
Atmosphere - the layer of gases enclosing the earth
Precipitation - dew, rain, sleet, snow, or hail
* Location will affect climate
- areas near oceans generally have warmer temperatures and more rainfall than interior
lands
- temperatures fall 3.5 F every 1,000 ft.
- windward side of mountain is rainy
- leeward side of mountain is dry
* Climates are based on four things:
1. warm or cold (temperature)
2. wet or dry (precipitation)
3. maritime or continental (location)
4. highland (elevation)
Tropical Climates
-located in the tropics
Rainforest - always hot and wet
Tropical Monsoon - like rainforest but with a drier winter
Tropical Savanna - like rainforest but not as much rain and a drier winter
Dry Climates
- found just north and south of the tropics
Desert - hot and dry year round
Steppe - more rainfall than dessert
Temperate Climates
- in middle latitudes
- all have warm and cool seasons
Marine - rainfall most of the year
Humid Subtropical - hot, muggy summer, cool winter
Mediterranean Climate - mild and wet winter and hot, dry summer
Continental Climates
- long, cold winters
- short, hot summers
Humid Continental Climate - southern part of continental climate
- hot summer that provides a great agricultural environment
Subarctic - colder winter and less rainfall than humid continental climate
Polar Climates
- in polar regions
- low rainfall
Tundra - have at least one month of above freezing temperatures
Ice Cap - permanently frozen
Highland Climates
- cooler temperatures at higher elevations
- rainfall is high on windward side
- vegetation changes with elevation
- tree line is 10,000 feet
The earth’s physical geography
4 parts – atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere
Atmosphere – blanket of air surrounding the earth
Lithosphere – earth’s outer shell; land areas
Problems – mining
Loss of topsoil
Deforestation – cutting down forests without replanting
Crop rotation – changing crops every few years; allows minerals to be restored to the
soil
Hydrosphere – all the earth’s water
Conservation – careful use of resources
Irrigation – manually watering crops
Drip irrigation
Pesticides – chemical to kill insects that destroy crops
Biosphere – all living things and their environments
Ecosystem – places where plants and animals are dependent upon one another for
survival
*Humans are expanding into various ecosystems
*Tough balancing act ----- people or environment??
Climate, Vegetation and Soils
Vegetation - all plants that grow in an area
Temperate Forest - contains deciduous and coniferous trees
Prairies - middle latitude grasslands
Changing Environments: An Altered Planet
People change the environment to fit their needs. This has caused many problems in the
environment.
Problems in the Atmosphere
*increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere traps energy and contributes to global
warming
co² comes from cars, factories and the burning of wood, oil, and coal
*CFCs have caused the depletion of the ozone layer. This leads to an increase in
ultraviolet light reaching the earth’s surface.
Problems on the Earth
Deforestation - the rapid destruction of tropical forests
*a reduction of biodiversity ( the loss in the number of species) happens as a result
Desertification - the deserts of the world grow as a result of increasing populations and
poor land use practices
*acid rain in the industrialized world reduces forest growth and affects marine life
*soil erosion of agricultural lands is causing the loss of top soil faster than it can be
replaced