Download Biosphere

Earth’s Climate
What is Climate?
Climate Basics…
What is climatology?
 the study of Earth’s climate and the
factors that affect it
What is climate?
 long-term weather patterns of an area
What are four main factors that climate describes
about an area?
 Temperature
 Precipitation
 Wind
 Seasonality
Factors That Affect Climate…
Latitude
http://www.brockmann-consult.de/iavisa-info-web/data-set-generation.html
Factors That Affect Climate…
Topographical Effects
http://www.sonoma.edu/users/f/freidel/global/figure%2002-20.jpg
Factors That Affect Climate…
Air Masses
A tropical island in
the Atlantic Ocean
has a maritime
tropical climate
(warm and humid)
because it’s
climate is
controlled by the
mT air mass.
http://www.atmos.illinois.edu/earths_atmosphere/images/airmasses_fronts/air_masses.gif
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/bahamas-guide/
Ocean Currents Determine
Climate… Write notes on Lesson!
Currents affect climate…
a. East coasts have warm currents. (The
Gulf Stream… causes our climate to
be humid subtropical.)
b. West coasts have cold currents. (The
California current from the Bering Sea…
causes it to have a Mediterranean
climate that is cool and dry.)
See next slide…
Proximity to Oceans Determine Climate
Coastal climates are more temperate than
continental (interior) climates…
a. Differential heating of water and land means
that … oceans take longer than
continents to cool down or warm up
(Remember how long hurricane season
lasts? Until Nov 30th!)
b. Oceans take longer to cool down after
summer. Oceans act as heaters in the
winter.
c. Oceans take longer to warm up after
winter. Oceans act as air conditioning
in summer.
d. Our coastal communities – such as the
Outer Banks or Wilmington - are cooler in
the summer and warmer in the winter.
High Altitudes Determine Climate…
http://www.appstate.edu/about/
a. Boone is over 3000 ft above sea level
so it is almost always 10° F cooler than
Winston-Salem.
A mountain top is cooler b/c… it is farther
from the conduction of heat from Earth’s
surface.
Climate Classification
Climate Classification…
The Koeppen Classification Scale
http://theweatherchannelkids.com/climate-code/be-eco-friendly-for-the-animals/tropical-climate/
Climate Classification…
TROPICAL – found
along the equator
(23.5º S to 23.5º N)
– Constant high
temperatures
– A lot of rain (up
to 600 cm of
rain)
– high biodiversity
http://accessscience.com/search.aspx?rootID=798501
Climate Classification…
DRY (arid or semiarid) – western USA,
central Asia &
Australia, N. Africa
– cT air (warm &
dry)
– Low rainfall
(precipitation)
– Scarce
vegetation
http://accessscience.com/search.aspx?rootID=798501
Climate Classification…
MILD – NC is in
humid subtropical
a. The North Atlantic
Current (Gulf
Stream) is
responsible for
N.C.’s climate
b. The other two…
• Marine West
Coast (WA, OR)
• Mediterranean
(CA)
http://www.solcomhouse.com/gulfstream.htm
Climate Classification…
CONTINENTAL…
found in
the Northern Hemisphere
a. Weather…
• Rapid, violent changes
• Extreme seasonal temps
• Clashing air masses (tornado alley)
b. These locations have more seasonal extremes
b/c …they are far away from moderating effect
of the ocean which warms and cools slower
than land.
http://accessscience.com/search.aspx?rootID=798501
Climate Classification…
POLAR (& Subarctic
and Tundra) are found
near or at the poles.
– Subarctic is a
subclass of
continental climates
– Tundra is a
subclass of polar
climates
http://accessscience.com/search.aspx?rootID=798501
http://www.squidoo.com/machupicchuruins?utm_source=google&utm_medium=imgres&utm_campaign=framebuster
Microclimates…
1. What is a microclimate?
 localized climate that
differs from main
regional climate
a. These microclimates
are colder than the
surrounding climate.
b. The microclimate of
a very high mountain
is classified as “high
elevation” which is
pink/purple on map.
A Llama in at Machu Picchu
in the Andes Mountains
Heat Islands…
What is a heat island?
 localized place climate is warmer
than the area around
it – lots of buildings &
little vegetation.
Where would you expect to
find heat islands in the
Piedmont?
 Greensboro,
Winston- Salem,
Raleigh
http://www.weatherquestions.com/What_is_the_urban_heat_island.htm
Biomes
Biomes…
Biomes… large geographic
regions with similar climate
and plants & animals with
similar adaptations.
http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/polar/images/polar_bear_sm.jpg
http://sasd.k12.pa.us/uploadedImages/ShalerAreaMS/Staff/GuidishD/tundra.jpg
• Climate…
Tundra (Polar
Zone)
precipitation low (cold air)
Average temps constantly low
 seasons - very long
winters!
• Plants…
 grasses (shallow roots
stay alive under snow)
• Animals…
Polar bears (big and fat!)
• Air Masses – cP and cA
• Soil – permanently frozen
(permafrost)
The Tundra
• Climate…
 Avg precipitation –
Biomes…Taiga
little – mostly snow!
Avg temperatures -
low most of the year
 seasons - long winters
• Plants…
 evergreen trees (needle
like leaves conserve
water)
• Animals…
• grizzly bears, elk, moose
(hibernate/migrate)
• Air Masses – cP and A
• Soil – supports trees
Taiga, Grand Teton NP, WY
• Climate…
Average precipitation –
Deciduous Forests
moderate
Average temperatures -
warm, humid summers/
dry, cool winters
 4 equal seasons
• Plants…
US!
 seasonal forests – drop
leaves to conserve water
• Animals…
black bears, foxes, deer
– give birth in the spring
• Air Masses – mT & cP
• Soil – rich and thick
http://www.solcomhouse.com/gulfstream.htm
• Climate …
Average precipitation extremely low (dry)
Average temps usually high/ can be
cold at night
 Semi-arid have rainy
seasons
• Plants…
 cactus - stores water
• Animals…
coyote, javelina,
mountain lions – active
at night
• Air Mass – cT
• Soil – light-colored, salty,
thin due to lack of water
Deserts
Monument Valley, Utah
• Climate…
 Average
precipitation…low to
moderate
Biomes…
Grasslands
 Average temperatures
Extreme summer /
winter temps!
 4 seasons (temperate)
• Plants…
 grasses dominate –
thrive on fire
• Animals… bison, wolves,
prairie dogs (grazers)
• Air Masses – mT and cP
• Soil – temperate grasslands
can be very rich (grainbelts)
High Plains of Wyoming
• Climate …
Average precipitation
- high (600 cm/yr)
Average temperatures
- constantly high
• Plants…
large leaves to
capture sunlight
• Animals…
jaguar, tapirs,
primates – many live
in trees
• Air Mass – mT
• Soil – intensely weathered
Biomes…
Rainforests
Climate Changes
Ice Ages…
What was the ice age?
 periods of extensive glacial
coverage
a. An interglacial interval is a
warm period.
b. We are currently in an
interglacial period.
Seasons…
What causes the seasons?
 the tilt of the Earth as it orbits the sun (We are tilted
towards the sun during our summer and away from
the sun during our winter.)
http://kennedy-outerspace.wikispaces.com/file/view/seasons.gif/168395377/seasons.gif
http://www.galapagosonline.com/Galapagos_Natural_History/Oceanography/Currents.html
El Niño
What is El Niño?
 Warm ocean
current that
develops off W.
coast of S. America
& can cause shortterm, worldwide
climatic changes
Recent Major El Niño Years – 1982 and 1998
Change Can Be Natural…
What type of studies provide
evidence of past climatic
changes?
(Before thermometers, that is!)
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
tree rings
ice-core samples
fossils & pollen samples
radio-carbon samples
http://titlemn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/tree-rings1.jpg
Dendrochronology is
the study of tree rings.
Earth’s Orbit…
When Earth’s orbit
elongates to
become more
elliptical…
it passes closer to
Sun & temps rise
or farther from Sun
and temps fall
http://grendelreport.posterous.com/ipcc-corruption-included-ignoring-facts-and-s
http://www.cgrer.uiowa.edu/people/carmichael/atmos_course/ATMOS_PROJ_99/bilskemp/natural_variability.html
Earth’s Tilt…
If the angle of the tilt of
Earth’s axis increased
(nutation)…
there would be
more (or less) temp
contrast b/tw
summer & winter.
Earth’s Wobble (precession)…
When Earth wobbles towards the star Vega
winters will be colder in the N. hemisphere.
http://www.shiftoftheage.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/precession-earth-spintop.jpg
Volcanoes
Large volcanic eruptions tend to…
 cool the Earth.
 b/c volcanic ash & dust block solar radiation.
Tambora,
1815
During El Niño pressure over…
a. Western pacific increases
b. Eastern pacific decreases
Spotlight
on El
Niño
Recent Major El Niño Years – 1982 and 1998
Trade winds weaken. (which
causes warm water to flow
back to S. America)
Spotlight
on El
Niño
Recent Major El Niño Years – 1982 and 1998
Warm equatorial current moves east
towards S. America.
a. Peru becomes warm and rainy.
b. Australia experiences drought.
Spotlight
on El
Niño
Recent Major El Niño Years – 1982 and 1998
The jet streams
experience a southern shift.
a. California and the Gulf Coast…
experience severe weather
b. Fewer hurricanes in the Atlantic. (b/c
of southern shift of the jet streams)
Spotlight
on El
Niño
Climate Change: Manmade or
Natural?
One Major Issue
The issue of climate change is probably one
of the most important of our day.
No scientist questions that we have
experienced warming and cooling lately.
The question is the cause of the warming – is
it caused by people releasing carbon dioxide
into the atmosphere or by natural forces
such as the sun and water vapor?
There are two main groups of scientists –
those who believe that climate change is
manmade and those who believe that
climate change is natural.
Manmade Climate Change …
Who’s On This Side?
a. United Nations
IPCC
(Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate
Change)
b. Al Gore (Former
Vice President)
c. James Hansen
(NASA)
Manmade Climate Change…
Basic Belief About Cause of
Climate Change…
People are causing
climate change by
burning fossil fuels
& it will cause
catastrophic
changes
An Inconvenient
Truth?
Manmade Climate Change …
The Role of Carbon Dioxide…
Carbon dioxide is
warming the
atmosphere.
CO2 is often referred
to as “carbon
emissions”.
It is released by
burning fossil fuels,
Manmade Climate Change…
Evidence to Support View?
a. Carbon dioxide
studies showing that
levels have gone up.
b. Climate studies
represented by the
discredited “hockeystick” graph
c. Computer models
showing extreme
warming & results
Manmade Climate Change…
What to Do About Climate
Change?
1. Reduce our use
of fossil fuels
(or buy carbon
credits to offset
usage)
2. Use alternative
energy sources
Natural Climate Change…
Basic Belief About Cause of Climate
Change…
Climate’s
always
changed, it’s
natural, &
caused
mostly by
changes in
the Sun’s
output.
Natural Climate Change…
The Role of Carbon Dioxide…
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a trace greenhouse
gas & not a major cause of warming.
vs.
A trace greenhouse gas or the Sun? Which is more
powerful? Hmmmm…
Natural Climate Change
Evidence to Support View?
a. Climate studies
showing Medieval
Warming & Little Ice
Age
b. Sunspot data
showing global
temps go up & down
with sun spot activity
c. Ice core data
showing carbon
dioxide (CO2) levels
go up AFTER temps
go up.
5. What to Do About Climate
Change?
Natural Climate Change
Adapt for future
changes!
Continue the research
& the debate
Biodiversity
Biodiversity
The biosphere is…
…all life on Earth!
Biodiversity refers to
… number & variety of
species on Earth
Genetic biodiversity is
… difference in
genetic makeup within
a species.
There are 1.6 million known
species on earth.
Most of these known species
are insects!
There are an estimated 11.4
million species yet to be
discovered!
www.istockphoto.com
Biodiversity…
a. The biome with the
most biodiversity is…
… rainforest b/c warm &
lots of water available
for living things
b. The biomes with the
least biodiversity are…
… tundra b/c very cold
& little liquid water
available.
… followed by the desert
b/c least water
available
Factors That Reduce Biodiversity…
Human Population Growth…
As our population grows the demand for
natural resources…
… increases
75% of all species
become extinct due
to habitat loss.
• (Why? If its habitat is
destroyed, where
will it live? What will
it eat?)
• A growing population
demands more
natural resources!
Factors That Reduce
Biodiversity…
tpeblog.wordpress.com
Habitat Alteration…
Ecosystems with a high biodiversity are more
stable b/c…
… they can recover more quickly from
harmful events such as disease and
drought
Habitat alteration …
… changing of a natural habitat (in these
examples, human-caused)
… includes monoculture, deforestation,
and urbanization
Habitat
Alteration
a.
Monoculture - planting
just one species
(Basically, one crop take the
place of many species.)
It decreases biodiversity &
can lead to crop failure
if disease wipes out the
single plant species.
Example – Palm oil
plantations in
Borneo
http://wwf.panda.org
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Deforestation/Images/slash_and_burn_children.jpg
Habitat Alteration…
Deforestation is the removal of trees without
adequate replanting.
… It reduces biodiversity b/c animals are left without homes
and food (not to mention, people are also left homeless!)
Example:
This occurs in
rain forests
like Borneo
around the
world.
Habitat Alteration
Urban Development:
People moving to
urban areas
reduces
biodiversity
… natural habitats are
lost as forests are
cleared & wetlands
are filled
… solid waste pollutes
land, water, & air.
Invasive Species…
An invasive species is one that is not
native to an area.
Invasive species reduce biodiversity in one
of two ways…
– They have no natural enemies so they can
take over an ecosystem. (Burmese python)
– Native species have no defenses against an
exotic species.
Invasive species take over!
This is kudzu…a local invasive species!
Pollution…
The major source of near-shore pollution
… sewage water
High levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in human
wastewater creates...
… blooms of algae that die & use up oxygen (O2) in water
as they decompose (Remember eutrophication?)
Pumping untreated sewage into the ocean
creates…
… large dead zones on ocean floor where there are no
living organisms (example: Australia)
Overharvesting…
1. Overharvesting is…
… excessive fishing of aquatic animals
… excessive harvesting plants
2. Examples of species that might be
overharvested here in North Carolina are…
… Ramps (wild leeks)
… Fish such as bass
…http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/20/dining/20forage.h
tml?pagewanted=all&_r=0
3. This leads to a reduction in biodiversity by…
reducing population of harvested species.
Global Impact…
The loss of biodiversity
affects our survival needs on a global scale!
–
–
–
–
–
Food
Water
Air
Shelter
Energy
To prevent death, famine, exposure, and wars and
to possibly find cures for diseases, and even
prevent, we need to preserve biodiversity!