Climates and Ecosystems Chapter 2 Climates and Ecosystems

 Bell ringer  In what ways has weather influenced your life since you left school yesterday? Answer: ?????? Clothing Outdoor activities Sports

Objectives SWBAT- Describe how weather and climate are affected by the relative positions of the earth and sun Explain how wind and ocean currents redistribute the sun’s heat List factors that influence the world’s climate regions Summarize why climate change is a cause for concern

“Climate is what you expect; weather is what you get” Weather- is the condition of the bottom layer of the earth’s atmosphere in one place over a short period of time Climate – weather patterns that an area experiences over a long period of time “Climate is what you expect; weather is what you get”

Greenhouse effect – the earth’s atmosphere traps the sun’s warmth for growing plants

Rotation v. Revolution Rotation – the earth spinning on its axis (24 hours) Revolution – the earth revolution around the sun (365 ¼ days)

Latitude v. climate ** Latitude – distance from the equator closer to equator = warmer farther away = colder Precipitation – all forms of moisture that falls to the earth

Distribution of the Sun’s Heat Process of Convection – in both air and water Warm rises, cold falls Wind, Wind Patterns, Currents

 Partner  question What do houseplants need to stay healthy? Answer: water, fertilizer, sunlight, proper temperature. In the wild, plants survive without help from humans. Why would they need help when they are in a house? Answer: Houseplants live in an artificial environment.

Influences on Climate Nearby Bodies of Water Land (quick change) and water (slow change ) store heat differently Wind blowing over water – milder temp. Wind blowing over land is usually much colder Elevation – higher the elevation, colder the temperature Nearby Landforms - mountains, desert, lakes, forests, even tall buildings effect temperature

Changing Climate Global warming – rise in the earth’s temperature

Ecosystems Is formed by the interaction of plant life, animal life, and the physical environment in which they live Environmental change Change in one aspect of an ecosystem leads to other change Biomes - Major types of ecosystems that can be found in various regions

Forest Regions Tropical Rain Forest Near equator Mid-Latitude Forest Deciduous – loses leaves Coniferous Forest - Needles and cones Other types of Forests -mixed has both deciduous and coniferous Chaparral – small evergreens and low bushes

Grasslands Tropical Grasslands Savannas – tropical Herbivores – plant eater Carnivores – meat eater Temperate Grasslands Cooler parts of world Prairies – N. America

Scarcity of water and extreme temperatures Tundra Desert Scarcity of water and extreme temperatures Tundra Cool or cold temperatures Specialized plants Permafrost – layer of soil below surface stays permanently frozen

Partner Questions Why do regions near the equator have warmer climates than the northern and southern poles? Answer: The sun’s rays always fall most directly at or near the equator, while the northern and southern regions receive less direct sunlight making them colder Why do the temperate zones have greater temperature ranges than the polar or tropical zones? Answer: Temperate zones experience a greater variation in the amount of sunlight they receive throughout the year.