Ch. 3: Climates of the Earth 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 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 CO2 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 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 Steppe Dry areas Sparse plant life Less than 10 in of rain Scrub, cactus, plants…oasis? Ex. Sahara Steppe Border deserts Largely treeless grasslands 10-20in 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 Highland 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

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