1. Climates and Ecosystems
Chapter 2
Climates and Ecosystems

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

3. 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

4. “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”

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

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

7. 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

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

9.  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.

10. 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

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

14. 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

15. 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

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

18. 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

19. 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.