Download Climate - MRMWILLIS

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Pretend you are entering a contest for a free
trip to a place with perfect climate. To win,
write a description of your idea of the perfect
climate in 25 words or less. Do you know of
any real place where your dream climate really
exists?
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Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a
particular time.
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Climate is the average weather condition in an
area over a long period of time.
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Solar Energy and Latitude The amount of
direct solar energy a particular area receives is
determined by latitude. Latitude is the distance
north or south, measured in degrees, from the
equator.
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Seasons and Latitude Seasons happen
because the Earth is tilted on its axis at a 23.5°
angle. This tilt affects how much solar energy
an area receives as Earth moves around the
sun.
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Winds that blow mainly from one direction are
prevailing winds.
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Prevailing winds affect the amount of
precipitation that a regions receives.
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The circulation of warm and cold air cause
prevailing winds.
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Mountains can influence an area’s climate by
affecting both temperature and precipitation.
Elevation is the height of surface landforms
above sea level.
As the elevation increases, the ability of air to
transfer energy from the ground to the
atmosphere decreases.
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Large bodies of water can influence an area’s
climate. Water absorbs and releases heat slower
than land does. Because of this quality, water
helps to moderate the temperatures of the land
around it.
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As surface currents move, they carry warm or
cool water to different locations. The surface
temperature of the water affects the
temperature of the air above it.
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The Earth’s three major climate zones are
determined by latitude.
Polar
 Temperate
 Tropical
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Climates zones are made up of different
biomes. Biomes are characterized by certain
types of plant and animal communities.
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Imagine you are a zoologist hired to design a
camel and a deer exhibit for your community's
new zoo. Describe the differences between a
deer and a camel. Where and in what kind of
climate are you most likely to find these
animals? What would you have to provide for
each of these animals so they would continue
to flourish?
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The region that surrounds the equator and that
extends from about 23.5˚ north latitude to 23.5˚
south latitude is called tropical zone.
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Tropical Rain Forests Tropical rain forests are
always warm and wet. Because they are
located near the equator, they receive strong
sunlight year-round.
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Tropical rain forests contain the greatest
number of animal and plant species of any
biome.
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Tropical Savannas Tropical savannas, or
grasslands, are composed of tall grasses and a
few scattered trees. The climate is usually very
warm.
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Tropical savannas have a dry season that lasts
four to eight months and that is followed by
short periods of rain.
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Tropical Deserts A desert is an area that
receives less that 25 cm of rainfall per year.
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Daily temperatures in tropical deserts often
vary from very hot daytime temperatures to
cool nighttime temperatures.
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You have been selected to join an expedition to
the North Pole. What kinds of gear will you
need? How will you travel both to the Pole
and once you arrive in the Arctic? What will
you bring to eat? Will you be able to hunt?
Write a description in your science journal of
what activities you might engage in during an
average week of your expedition.
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The climate zone between the Tropics and the
polar zone is the temperate zone. Latitudes in
the temperate zone receive less solar energy
than latitudes in the Tropics do.
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Temperate Forests The temperate forest
biomes tend to have high amounts of rainfall
and seasonal temperature differences.
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Both deciduous trees and evergreen trees grow
in temperate forests.
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Temperate Grasslands Temperate grasslands
are regions that receive too little rainfall for
trees to grow. This biome has warm summers
and cold winters.
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Grasses are the most common kind of plant
found in this biome.
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Chaparrals Chaparral regions have cool, wet
winters and hot, dry summers. The vegetation
is mainly evergreen shrubs.
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These shrubs are short, woody plants with
thick waxy leaves. The waxy leaves are
adaptations that help prevent water loss in dry
conditions.
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Temperate Deserts The temperate desert
biomes tend to be cold deserts. Like all deserts,
cold deserts receive less than 25 cm of
precipitation yearly.
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Temperate deserts can be very hot in the
daytime. But, unlike hot deserts, they are often
very cold at night.
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The climate zone located at the North or South
Pole and its surrounding area is called the
polar zone. Polar climates have the coldest
average temperatures of all the climate zones.
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Tundra The tundra biome has long, cold
winters with almost 24 hours of night. It also
has short, cool summers with almost 24 hours
of daylight.
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In the summer, only the top meter of soil
thaws. Underneath the thawed soil lies a
permanently frozen layer of soil, called
permafrost.
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Taiga (Northern Coniferous Forest) The taiga
has long, cold winters and short, warm
summers.
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The majority of the trees are evergreen needleleaved trees called conifers. The needles and
flexible branches allow these trees to shed
heavy snow before they can be damaged.
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The climate and the biome of a particular place
can also be influenced by local conditions.
Microclimate is a climate of a small area.
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Cities are also microclimates. In a city,
temperatures can be 1°C to 2°C warmer than
the surrounding rural areas.
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Imagine that the climate in the area where you
live has changed so that it is now warmer than
it used to be. Write down five ways how you
think warmer temperatures would affect the
area.
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An ice age is a period during which ice collects
in high latitudes and moves toward lower
latitudes.
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During glacial periods, enormous sheets of ice
advance to cover a larger portion of the Earth.
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Interglacial Periods Warmer times that
happen between glacial periods are called
interglacial periods. During an interglacial
period, the ice begins to melt and the sea level
rises again.
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Ice Ages The Earth’s climate is further
influenced by plate tectonics and continental
drift. One theory proposes that ice ages happen
when the continents are positioned closer to the
polar regions.
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Many natural factors can affect global climate.
Catastrophic events, such as volcanic
eruptions, can influence climate.
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Dramatic Climatic Change Scientists believe
that if an asteroid this big hit the Earth, it could
change the climate of the entire world.
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Some changes in the climate can be linked to
changes in the sun.
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A gradual increase in the average global
temperature is called global warming.
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The Earth’s natural heating process, in which
gases in the atmosphere trap thermal energy, is
called the greenhouse effect.
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Many scientists think that if the global
temperature continues to rise, the ice caps will
melt and cause flooding.