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Climate
What is the difference between
weather and climate?
 Weather – Current conditions of the
atmosphere that vary from day to day.
 Climate – Average weather conditions in an
area over a long period of time.
Latitude and climate
 Latitude is the distance north or south from
the equator.
 Remember that latitude is like a ladder.
 The higher the latitude, the colder the
climate.
 This is why Missouri will have a colder
winter than Texas.
3 climate zones
 1. Tropical – from 0 degrees to 23.5 degrees. The
suns rays strike the equator about the same all
year, so the temperatures stay about the same
year round.
 2. Temperate – from 23.5 degrees to 66.5
degrees.
 3. Polar – from 66.5 degrees to 90 degrees.
Biomes
 A biome is a large region characterized by a
specific type of plant and animal
communities.
 Plants and animals that have adapted to
one climate may not be able to survive in
another climate.
What affects a region’s climate?
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Seasons
Prevailing winds
Mountains
Water and ocean currents
Seasons
 Earth’s tilt causes the seasons. The Earth is
at a 23.5 degree angle. When we are tilted
toward the sun, it is summer. When tilted
away, it is winter.
Prevailing Winds
 Prevailing winds can affect how much
precipitation a region receives.
 Winds can bring moisture into a region
causing precipitation or bring dry air into a
region and cause droughts.
Mountains
 Elevation is the height of a surface landform
above sea level
 As elevation increases, temperature
decreases.
 Mountains may block prevailing winds. The
windward side of a mountain usually has
precipitation. The other side can be very
dry.
Water and Ocean Currents
 Surface currents are stream like movement
of water on or near the surface of the ocean.
 Warm water may warm a region that would
normally be cool.
 Cold water may cool a region that would
normally be warm.
Microclimates
 Microclimates are climates of a small area
that have unusually conditions causing its
climate to be different from surrounding
areas.
 Example: cities
 Example: alpine biome – cold biome found
on mountains all around the world. It can
even be in the tropics. This is due to high
mountain elevation.
Sections 2 and 3
Climate Zone Biomes
Tropical Zone Biomes
Tropical Rain
Forest
Tropical
Savannas
Tropical Desert
Always warm and wet
Greatest number of
plant and animal
species of any biome
 Soil nutrients poor
because the nutrients
get used up by all the
plants and animals.
Dry season and wet
season
Grassland
Fires are an important
factor for plant growth.
Fires enrich soil and
allow for seed
dispersal.
Little rainfall
Soil is poor
Few animals and
vegetation
ex.: Sahara
Temperate Zone Biomes
Temperate
Forest
Temperate Chaparrals
grass lands
Temperate
dessert
High amounts
of rainfall
Seasonal
differences in
temperature
Deciduous trees
(leaves drop in
winter)
Fertile soils
from dropped
leaves
Too little rainfall
for trees
Grasses are the
most common
plant
Good land for
farming because
fertile soils
little rain
few plants and
animals
Hot in the day
and cold at night
Soil is nutrient
poor
Cool wet winter
and warm dry
summer
Evergreen
shrubs
Fires are
common and
necessary
Polar Zone Biomes
Tundra
Taiga
Cold winters with 24hrs of dark
Cold summers with 24hrs of day
Permanently frozen soil
The top lay of soil thaws into mud
in the summer. Bottom layers
remain frozen.
Birds visit in the summer for
insects breading in the mud
South of Tundra
Cold winter
Short warm summers
Evergreens (conifers) do well
because their flexible branches and
needles shed snow quickly, before
they can be damaged.
Pine needles dropping cause soil
to be acidic, so little grows under
the pines
Section 4 – pg536
Changes in Climate
Ice Ages
 The Geological record shows that the Earth
goes through cycles of cooler climates and
warmer climates. The Earth has been much
colder than it is today. It has also been
warmer than it is today.
 Theories of causes (What is a theory?)
1. Change in Earth’s tilt?
2. Plate tectonics – Continents are closer to
polar regions during ice ages?
Volcanic eruptions
 Particles sent in the atmosphere during an
eruption cause the suns rays to reflect back
into space, causing the Earth to cool.
Asteroid impact
 Debris goes into atmosphere and blocks
suns rays.
 Plants need sun, animals need plants.
 Possible cause of dinosaur extinction 65
million years ago.
Sun’s cycle
 Sun’s radiation cycles every 11 years
Global Warming?
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The greenhouse effect is a natural process in which gases in
the atmosphere trap heat energy.
We are producing more carbon dioxide from burning fuels.
This co2 is trapping the sun’s energy, possibly causing the
atmosphere to heat up.
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Human activities thought to be related to global warming
include burning forests for farmland, burning fossil fuels for
transportation, and cutting down trees for building materials.
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1.
2.
3.
If this is happening…
Ice caps will melt
Sea level will rise
Dry areas will become dryer