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Climate Interactions
Table of Contents
Ch. 7.3
Climate and Climate Regions
Ms. De Los Rios
Vocabulary 7.3
1.
Climate- The average annual conditions of temperature, precipitation, winds,
and clouds in an area.
2.
Rain Forests- A forest that receives at least 2 meters of rain, mostly
occurring in the tropical wet climate zone.
3.
Savanna- A grassland located close to the equator that may include shrubs
and small trees and receives as much as 120 centimeters of rain per year.
4.
Desert- A dry region that on average receives less than 25 centimeters of
precipitation per year.
5.
Steppe- A prairie or grassland found in semiarid regions.
6.
Subarctic- A climate zone that lies north of the humid continental climates.
Vocabulary 7.3
7. Humid Subtropical- A wet and warm climate found on the edges of the
tropics.
8. Tundra- an extremely cold, dry biome climate region characterized by
short, cool summers and bitterly cold winters.
9. Permafrost- Permanently frozen soil found in the tundra Biome climate
region.
10. Ice ages- Times in Earth’s history during which glaciers covered large
parts of the surface.
11. Aerosols- Solid particles or liquid droplets in the atmosphere.
12. Sunspots- Relatively dark, cool regions on the surface of the sun.
How Do Scientist Differentiate Between Weather and
Climate? Pg. 245
Climate Vs.
Climate is the typical weather pattern
in an area over a long period of time.
Weather
Weather refers to the conditions of
Earth’s atmosphere at a particular
time and place.
Climate refers to the average, year-after-year weather
patterns in a given area.
temperature
• Scientists classify climates by their
precipitation.
Climate areas have distinct: vegetation, or plant growth
Climate and Climate Regions
Reading Climate Graphs
A graph of temperature can be combined with a graph of precipitation to form a
climate graph. The graphs below show climate data for Makindu, Kenya.
Climate Regions
There are 6 climate regions:
1. Tropical Rainy Climates
2. Dry Climates
3. Temperate Continental Climates
4. Temperate Marine Climates
5. Polar Climates
6. Highlands
Tropical Rainy Climates pg. 246
In tropical rainy climates, rainy days
and afternoon thunderstorms are common.
Trade winds also bring moisture from the
oceans to some tropical areas.
Rain forests are forests in which large amounts of
rain fall year-round. (Can be found in some
tropical rainy climates)
Savannas, or tropical grasslands are common
in these areas.
__________is the only place in the United States
with a tropical rainy climate.
Climate and Climate Regions
Bangkok, Thailand
A tropical, rainy climate.
Dry Climates pg. 246
A desert is a very dry region with extreme
temperatures.
Example; American Southwest
• A climate is dry if the amount of
precipitation that falls is less than the
amount of water that could evaporate.
• Only specialized plants can survive
there.
• Steppes are dry climates on the edge of
deserts that are large and semiarid.
These generally receive enough rainfall
for short grasses and low bushes to
grow.
Example: The Great Plains
Temperate Continental Climates pg. 247
Temperate continental Climates are not
influenced by the oceans and often
have extreme temperatures.
• Forests and grasslands grow well in
these climates.
Example: Northeast & Midwest
Subarctic climates
• Have short cool summers and long,
bitterly cold winters.
• These climates lie north of some
continental climates. Firs and spruce
forests often grow in these climates.
Example: Alaska
Temperate Marine Climates pg. 247
Temperate marine climates are found on the coasts of continents in
latitudes just outside the tropics.
Due to the oceans:
They are humid
and have mild winters.
Humid subtropical climates are warm temperate marine climates, but
they are not constantly hot as the tropics.
• Most of Florida has this type of climate.
• Climate
Hot summers
Much rainfall occurs during the winter
• Vegetation: Cypress trees, Sabal Palm, oak, pines, freshwater
marshes
Climate and Climate Regions
Orlando, Florida
Nearly all of Florida lies within a
temperate marine climate.
Polar Climates pg. 248
Polar climates are the coldest climate with short, cool summers
followed by bitterly cold winters.
• Climate: Dry (cold air has little moisture)
• Vegetation: cannot grow in these climate.
During the summer, grasses, wildflowers and
Shrubs grow.
Example: ALASKA
A tundra covers great areas and is a treeless
plain beneath which the ground may always
be frozen.
Permafrost is permanently frozen ground.
Ice caps have polar climate.
Climate and Climate Regions
Godthåb, Greenland
Polar climates are the coldest climates.
In polar climates, short, cool summers
follow bitterly cold winters.
Highlands pg. 248
The climate on the lower slopes of a
mountain range is like that of the
surrounding countryside.
• Example: Rocky Mountains FoothillsSemiarid climate such as the one of the
Great Plains. But in the highlands, or
higher slopes of mountains, the
temperatures are lower and precipitation
increases.
• Climate is cool.
• Trees such as a fir and spruce grow here.
Climate and Climate Regions
Mexico City, Mexico
The climate on the lower slopes of a mountain range is like that of the surrounding
countryside. But in the highlands, or the higher slopes of mountains, temperatures
are lower and precipitation increases.
What Natural Factors Can Cause Climate
Change?
Possible explanations for major climate changes include:
• the movement of the continents
• variations in the position of Earth relative to the sun
• major volcanic eruptions
• changes in the sun’s energy output.
Movement of Continents
The movements of continents over time changed the locations of land
and sea. These changes affected the global patterns of winds and
ocean currents,and changed climates.
Movement of Continents land & sea  winds& ocean currents climates
Climate and Climate Regions
Moving Continents
How has continental movement affected climate?
Earth’s Position and Ice Ages
Over time, Earth’s climate has been affected by:
• the angle of Earth’s axis
• the shape of Earth’s elliptical orbit around the sun.
Over a period of 100,000 years, the shape of the ellipse of this orbit
varies. When the orbit is more elliptical, less sunlight reaches
Earth.
This change causes a cold ice age, a period of glacial advance.
During each ice age, huge sheets of ice called glaciers covered
large parts of Earth’s surface.
Scientists have concluded that there have been about 20 ice ages
on Earth during the last two million years, the last ending
about 10,000 years ago.
Climate and Climate Regions
Glaciers in North America
The map shows the parts of North
America that were covered by
glaciers 18,000 years ago.
Climate and Climate Regions
Ice Ages and Temperature
The estimated average worldwide temperature for the past 350,000
years was about 14°C. Cold glacial periods have alternated with
warm interglacial periods.
Volcanic Activity
Major volcanic eruptions release huge quantities of ash and
aerosols into the atmosphere. Aerosols are solid particles or
liquid drops in gas. Scientists believe that the presence of
these substances in the upper atmosphere reflect away some
incoming solar radiation, lowering temperatures on Earth.
Solar Energy
Short-term changes in climate have been linked to changes in
the amount of light given off by the sun.
Changes in the amount of the sun’s energy output happen
during cycles of eleven years as well as cycles of
hundreds of years.
Scientists use sunspots to measure solar output over the
past 400 years. The number of sunspots, dark, cooler regions
on the surface of the sun, increases when the sun gives off
more light.