World Geography and Cultures Ch 3 Climates of

World Geography and Cultures Ch. 3: Climates of the Earth Yorkville High School 2014

Ch. 3 Section Break-Down • Section 1: Earth-Sun Relationships • Section 2: Factors Affecting Climate • Section 3: World Climate Patterns

Think About It… – Where is it nighttime right now? – What time is it in California, Hawaii, Japan, Afghanistan?

3. 1 Earth-Sun Relationships • Essential Question: Explain how the Earth’s position (in space) in relation to the Sun affect life on Earth?

Climate and Weather v. Climate Weather = short term – Think: I should bring my umbrella, it might rain today. Climate = long term – Think consistently rainy in Seattle, I always need my umbrella. …cold snowy winters in Chicago

Earth’s Tilt and Rotation • Axis – determines how much direct sunlight the Earth receives at a given point – Temperature • Fahrenheit v. Celsius – Rotation – 1 every 24 hours

Earth’s Revolution • Revolution – One trip around the sun – 365 ¼ days – Seasons - reversed north and south of the Equator • • Spring Equinox – March 21 Summer Solstice – June 21 Fall Equinox – September 23 Winter Solstice – December 22 – The Poles • North – Midnight sun • Rotation – one 24 hour period (day)

24 hour sunlight in Alaska

The Greenhouse Effect • Earth’s atmosphere traps the sun’s heat and energy and keeps it from escaping back into space. – w/o = too cold to live for most – 50% of Sun’s radiation • Global Warming – Rise in temps – Cause- burning of coal, oil, natural gas • Releases CO 2 – Potential problems? ? ?

Greenhouse effect with Global Warming

3. 2 Factors Affecting Climate • Essential Question: What factors can affect how climates are distributed on Earth’s surface? • Think about… – Why are Chicago Winters usually so cold and snowy but summers extremely hot? – Antarctica…would you go there? He’s there …→

Latitude, Elevation and Climate • Low Latitudes – Between 30°South and 30°North – Tropic of Capricorn, Equator, Tropic of Cancer are in this zone …sun all year = Warm to hot • High Latitudes – Between 60°North and 90°North and between 60°South and 90°South – Arctic/Antarctic circle- direct sunlight 180 days

Latitudes, Elevation and Climate • Midlatitudes – Between 30° North and 60° North and 30° South and 60° South – Varying weather – Temperate Climate – dramatic seasonal changes

Latitudes, Elevation and Climate • Elevation – Influence Temp regardless of latitude – Thinner air retains less heat SEE chart on page 55

Winds and Ocean Currents • Wind Patterns – Happen because of Temp differences – Tropical winds towards poles and vice versa – Prevailing winds – Coriolis Effect • Trade winds • Westerlies • Polar Easterlies

Winds and Ocean Currents • Horse Latitudes – At the Equator – little wind • Doldrums • Ocean Currents – Warm and cold streams of water • Causes – rotation, air pressure, water temps

Distributing the Sun’s Heat

Winds and Oceans Currents • Weather and the water cycle – How does the water cycle cool or change the weather (think back to chapter 2) • El Nino – Periodic change in ocean currents, water temps and weather in mid-pacific region – Appears infrequently – So what happens?

Landforms and Climate • How do physical features affect climate? – Water – Coasts – Mountains • Windward • Leeward • Rain Shadow

World Climate Patterns • Essential Question: How do Geographers classify Earth’s climate and vegetation?

Climate Regions • • • Tropical Dry Midlatitudes High latitude Highland – Soils and Vegetation

Climate Regions • Tropical Climates – Low Latitudes – Tropical Areas • Tropical wet – Hot and Wet throughout the year (80 Degrees) – Daily Rain (80 in) » Ex. Amazon River Basin • Tropical dry – Dry winters, wet summers (Hot) – Fewer trees (Not lush) » Ex. Parts of Africa, central and south America, Australia

Amazon River Basin

Savannah in Austraila

Climate Regions • Dry Climates – Desert • • Dry areas Sparse plant life Less than 10 in of rain Scrub, cactus, plants…oasis? – Ex. Sahara – Steppe • Border deserts • Largely treeless grasslands • 10 -20 in rain per year – Ex. Eastern Europe and western and central Asia

Sahara Desert

Climate Regions • Midlatitude Climates – 4 regions • • Marine West Coast Mediterranean Humid subtropical Humid Continental

Climate Regions - Midlatitude • Marine West Coast – Cool summers – Cool damp winters – Lots of rain • Coniferous - evergreens • Deciduous – broad leaves, change colors, lose leaves in winter • Ex. Pacific coast of North America

Climate Regions - Midlat • Mediterranean – Mild rainy winters – Hot sunny summers – Woody bushes, short trees

Climate Regions – Mid lat • Humid Subtropical – Short mild winters – Year round rain – High humidity – Prairies, inland grasslands, evergreens and deciduous trees • EX. Southeastern US

Climate Regions – Mid Lat • Humid Continental – Inland location (Ocean…little impact) – North = long and severe snowy winters, shorter cooler summers – More evergreens • Ex. Much of the Very north, Northern Hemisphere.

Climate Regions • High Latitude Climates – Freezing Temperatures • Lack of direct sunlight • Vegetation limited – Subarctic • North of arctic circle – bitter winters, short cool summers • Permafrost – Tundra – near the poles • Indirect sun, vegetation limited, snow and ice • Highland Climates – High elevation, mixed forests…

Climate Changes • Ice ages – over 2 million years • HEI – – Fuels, acid rain, deforestation, smog, changes in water flows

Up Next: • The Human World – World Population – Global Cultures – Political and Economic Systems – Resources, trade and the environment