Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
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? 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? 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. 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. 1. 2. 3. If this is happening… Ice caps will melt Sea level will rise Dry areas will become dryer