Chapter 3 Section 2 Climate

Key Terms Convection El Nino Greenhouse Effect

Factors Affecting Climate Wind Currents- Distribute heat from one part of the earth to another Ocean Currents- Push heated and cooled water around the world like rivers in the ocean Zones of Latitude- Between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn it is warm year around. It is cold year around by the poles. Elevation and Topography- The temperature drops 3.5 degrees for every 1,000ft. above sea level. Mountains also create dry air, and even deserts.

Changes in Climate El Nino- It’s the warming of the waters off the west coast of South America, this brings rain and some flooding (p.57) La Nina- It’s the cooling of the waters off the west coast of South America, this brings rain and some flooding to India and Asia Global Warming- The warming of the earth can change the climate of earth by melting ice caps and raising sea levels (p.58)

Section 3 World Climate Regions

Key Terms sections 3&4 Tundra Permafrost Ecosystem Biome Deciduous Rain Forest Coniferous Savanna Steppe

To define a CR, we must make generalizations about weather over a period of many years 2 most important factors – temperature & precipitation We use latitude to help define climate

Climate Regions Tropical (low latitude) Dry Mid-latitude High latitude Highland (Study pages 60 and 61) Know the characteristics of these regions

Section 4 Soils and Vegetation

Soil Regions Food depends on soil type Depth, texture, humus content determine what type of vegetation can grow

Vegetation Regions Natural environments where farming, ranching, & logging occur Soil, temp., & moisture determine what type of vegetation is present Ecosystem – an interdependent community of plants & animals Biome – the ecosystem of a region

Forestlands Forest regions defined by types of trees – deciduous & coniferous Deciduous – broadleaf trees; maple, oak Coniferous – needleleaf; cone bearing Rain forest – located in tropical zone; mostly deciduous trees

Grasslands Mostly flat regions w/ a few trees Savanna - tropical grassy regions, mostly treeless Steppe – temperate grasslands in the Northern Hemisphere (plains)

Desert and Tundra Plants in deserts are especially tolerant to dry weather. They can conserve water. Plants in the tundra are especially tolerant to cold weather. They are mosses, and other low lying vegetation.

Human Impact People change the environment in order to make it easier on themselves. An example is that in Texas there is only one lake not man made. (Caddo Lake) Another example is on page 67