Chapter 3: Climates, Environments, and Resources.

What is Weather? The short-term changes in the air for a given place and time Temperature and precipitation from hour to hour or day to day

What is Climate? A region’s average weather conditions over a long period The expected weather for a place based on data and experience

What affects weather and climate? The sun, location, wind, water, and mountains affect weather and climate.

Sun and Location Earth’s Tilt, Movement, and Shape affect the amount of direct sunlight a place receives. Solar rays are more concentrated near the equator. Areas close to equator called low-latitudes are mainly hot. Areas near the poles called high-latitudes are cold year-round.

Wind and Water Air and water warmed by the sun are constantly on the move, making different areas of Earth warmer or cooler. Wind, or the sideways movement of air, blows in great streams around the planet.

Wind and Water Prevailing winds are winds that blow in the same direction over large areas of Earth. Hot Air: rises and then cools Cold Air: sinks but is reheated by sun

Ocean Currents Ocean currents —large streams of surface seawater driven by winds—move heat around Earth. Carry warm or cool water to different areas Water’s temperature affects air temperature near it.

Large Bodies of Water Large bodies of water, such as an ocean or sea, also affect climate. Water heats and cools more slowly than land does.

Large Bodies of Water Large bodies of water make the temperature of the land nearby milder. The place where two air masses of different temperatures or moisture content meet is a front.

Storms Thunderstorms: Rain, lightning, and thunder Mostly Spring and Summer

Storms Blizzards: Strong winds and large amounts of snow Mostly winter

Storms Tornadoes: Small, rapidly twisting funnel of air that touches the ground Can be destructive and deadly

Storms Hurricanes & Typhoons: Large, rotating storms that form over tropical waters in the Atlantic Ocean (hurricanes) or Pacific Ocean (typhoons). Drenching rains, strong winds, and storm surges Largest, most destructive storms

Mountains Mountains can influence an area’s climate by affecting both temperature and precipitation. Temperature decreases with elevation, the height on Earth’s surface above sea level.

Mountains Mountains also create wet and dry areas. Air blowing against mountains is forced to rise. As the air rises, it cools and precipitation falls.

Mountains This effect produces a rain shadow, a dry area on the mountainside facing away from the direction of the wind. Rain Shadow

RAIN SHADOW: Please label and color your diagram of the Rain Shadow Effect. Glue to pg. 28

Videos to Check Out: Desertification Toxic Love: Environment Destruction

World Climate Zones Check in with home group. Meet with expert group and discuss climate. Pick 4 important facts: Focus on Temperature, Precipitation, Vegetation and Location Report back to group with information. Take turns teaching your home group about your climate.

World Climate Regions

There are 5 major climate regions Tropical Dry Temperate Polar Highland

Objective Identify the 5 major climate types Identify characteristics of each climate type.

Behavioral Expectations Work QUIETLY in your own groups Everyone MUST participate! Remember, you are the teacher and your group is counting on YOU!

World Climate Regions

If the climate regions of the world could talk which one would say…..

I am the climate type that receives less than 10-20 inches of rain each year Dry

My climate’s name means “moderate” or “mild.” Temperate

I am the climate type can be found in mountain ranges and can change drastically with elevation Highland

My climate is very cold and usually covered by ice or snow year round. Polar

My warm climate type spans from the Topic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn. Tropical

If you went to the North and South Poles you would find my climate type there! Polar

Tennessee is located in my climate type! Temperate

Natural Environments and Natural Resources

Natural Environments The Big Idea Plants, animals, and the environment, including soil, interact and affect one another. Main Ideas The environment and life are interconnected and exist in a fragile balance. Soils play an important role in the environment.

The environment and life are interconnected and exist in a fragile balance. Plants and animals live where they are suited to the environment, or surroundings. Factors such as temperature, rainfall, and soil conditions limit options of where they can live. All plants and animals are adapted to specific environments.

Ecosystem— a group of plants and animals that depend on each other for survival and the environment in which they live Formed from interconnections between living things and the environment Can be any size and can occur wherever air, water, and soil support life

Changes to Environments Ecosystems exist in a fragile balance; a small change to one part can affect the whole system. People can affect ecosystems in many ways. Some actions can destroy a habitat —the place where a plant or animal lives. Extreme changes in ecosystems can cause species to die out, or become extinct. Many countries are working to balance people’s needs with the needs of the environment.

Soils play an important role in the environment. Soils help determine what plants will grow and how well. Fertile soils are rich in minerals and humus, decayed plant or animal matter. Support abundant life Soils can lose fertility in many ways. Erosion Planting the same crops over and over When soil becomes worn out, it cannot support as many plants. Can lead to desertification, the spread of desert like conditions

Pg. 33 in Passport What factors can limit where plants and animals live? What affect does the smallest change on the ecosystem have overall? Explain. Fertile soils contain what two things? What is desertification?

Main Ideas The Big Idea Natural Resources Earth’s natural resources have many valuable uses, and their availability affects people in many ways. Main Ideas Earth provides valuable resources for our use. Energy resources provide fuel, heat, and electricity. Mineral resources include metals, rocks, and salt. Resources shape people’s lives and countries’ wealth.

Natural Resources Using Natural Resources A natural resource is any material in nature that people use and value. Some are used as is. Some are changed to make something new. Types of Natural Resources Renewable resources are resources Earth replaces naturally. Nonrenewable resources are resources that cannot be replaced; they will run out one day. Managing Natural Resources People must manage resources to ensure they will be available in the future. Deforestation, the clearing of trees, is a result of lack of management. Reforestation, planting trees to replace lost forestland, works to prevent resource loss.

Renewable vs. Nonrenewable Nonrenewable Energy Resources Fossil fuels, nonrenewable resources that formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals. Coal—pollutes the air; used mainly to create electricity at power plants Petroleum, or oil—used to make fuels and other products Natural gas cleanest-burning fossil fuel; used mainly for heating and cooking Renewable Energy Resources Will not run out Generally better for the environment Hydroelectric power —the production of electricity from waterpower—is the main alternative to fossil fuels. Wind is used to power wind turbines that create electricity. Solar power and geothermal energy —heat from within Earth

Nuclear Energy Obtained by splitting atoms, small particles of matter Uses the metal uranium, so some consider it a nonrenewable resource Produces dangerous wastes that must be stored for thousands of years before they are safe Accidents at nuclear power plants have terrible effects.

Mineral Resources Mineral resources include metals, salt, rocks, and gemstones. Minerals fulfill countless needs. Minerals are nonrenewable, and therefore need to be conserved. Recycling can make the supply of mineral resources last longer.

Resources and People The natural resources available to people affect their lifestyles and needs. People in areas with many natural resources sometimes have more choices on ways to dress, eat, live, travel, and entertain themselves. People in areas with fewer natural resources will likely have fewer choices and different needs. Availability of natural resources affects countries’ economies. The many resources available in the United States have helped it become one of the world’s wealthiest economies. Countries with few natural resources often have weak economies. Some countries have only one or two valuable resources but few others.

Oil

Fossil Fuels

Gold

Water

Water

Crops

Solar Energy