1. Chapter 3: Climate, Environment, and Resourcespp

2. Ch. 3 Section 1: Weather and Climate
The short-term changes in the air for a given place and time.
Temperature and precipitation from hour to hour or day to day
A region’s average weather conditions over a long period
The expected weather for a place based on data and experience

3. Ch. 3 Section 1: Weather and Climate
Weight of air
Cold air is heavier than warm air.
When air cools, it gets heavier and sinks.
When air warms, it gets lighter and rises.
As warm air rises, cooler air moves in to take its place, creating wind.
The rising, sinking, and flowing of air creates Earth’s prevailing wind patterns.
At the equator, hot air rises and flows toward the poles.
At the poles, cold air sinks and flows toward the equator.
Earth’s rotation causes prevailing winds to curve east or west.
Prevailing winds are winds that blow in the same direction over large areas of Earth. Prevailing winds can make a region warmer or colder and drier or wetter.

4. Ch. 3 Section 1: Weather and Climate
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, such as an ocean or sea, also affect climate.
Water heats and cools more slowly than land does.
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.
Can produce rain, snow, thunderstorms, and blizzards.

5. Ch. 3 Section 1: Weather and Climate
Thunderstorms
Tornadoes
Produce rain, lightning, and thunder
Most common in spring and summer
Small, rapidly twisting funnel of air that touches the ground
Can be destructive and deadly

6. Ch. 3 Section 1: Weather and Climate
Blizzards
Hurricanes and Typhoons
Produce strong winds and large amounts of snow
Most common during winter
Large, rotating storms that form over tropical waters in the Atlantic Ocean (hurricanes) or Pacific Ocean (typhoons).
Produce drenching rains, strong winds, and storm surges
Largest, most destructive storms

7. Ch. 3 Section 1: Weather and Climate
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 also create wet and dry areas.
Air blowing against mountains is forced to rise.
As the air rises, it cools and precipitation falls.
This effect produces a rain shadow, a dry area on the mountainside facing away from the direction of the wind.

8. Ch. 3 Section 2: World Climates
Earth is divided into five general climate zones.
Tropical—occur near the equator, in low latitudes
Temperate—occur about halfway between the equator and the poles, in the middle latitudes
Polar—occur near the poles, in the high latitudes
Dry—occurs at many different latitudes
Highland—occurs at many different latitudes
Geographers divide some climate zones into more specific climate regions.

9. Tropical climate zones are wet and warm
Humid Tropical Region
Tropical Savanna Region
At the equator
Warm, muggy and rainy year-round
Temperatures average 80F.
Rainfall ranges from 70 to 450 inches.
Some areas have monsoons, seasonal winds that bring either dry or moist air.
Can support lush tropical rain forests that host a great diversity of plant and animal life
North and south away from the equator
Long, hot, dry season followed by short periods of rain
Temperatures are hot in the summer, cooler in the winter.
Can support savannas—areas of tall grasses and scattered trees and shrubs

10. Dry climate zones receive little or no rain
Desert Climate Region
Steppe Climate Region
Earth’s hottest and driest climate
Receive less than 10 inches of rain a year
Temperatures can reach as high as 130F.
Only very hardy plants and animals can live in these conditions.
Semidry grasslands or prairies—called steppes
Often border deserts
Receive slightly more rain than deserts
Short grasses are most common plants, but shrubs and trees grow along streams and rivers.

11. Temperate Climate Zones
Temperate Climates
Mild and tend to have four seasons
Warm or hot summers
Cool or cold winters
Occur in the middle latitudes, the regions halfway between the equator and the poles

12. Temperate Climate Zones
Mediterranean Climate Region
Humid Subtropical Climate Region
Sunny, pleasant climate occurring mainly in coastal areas
Summers hot, dry, and sunny; winters mild and somewhat wet
Occurs along east coasts near the tropics
Summers are hot and muggy; winters are mild
Storms occur year-round.

13. Temperate Climate Zones
Marine West Coast Climate Region
Humid Continental Climate Region
Occurs on west coasts where winds carry moisture in from the seas
Mild temperatures year-round
Occurs closer to the poles, in the upper-middle latitudes
Four distinct seasons

14. Polar climate zones are cold and dry
Subarctic Climate Region
Tundra Climate Region
Occurs mainly in Northern hemisphere south of Arctic Ocean
Winters are long and bitterly cold; summers short and cool
Below freezing half the year
Coastal areas along the Arctic Ocean
Long, bitterly cold winters
In some parts is permafrost, or permanently frozen layers of soil

15. Polar climate zones are cold and dry
Ice Cap Climate Region
North and South poles
Temperature lows of more than -120F
Snow and ice remain year-round, but little precipitation

16. Highland Climate Zone Found on mountains
Includes polar climates plus others; several climates in one
As you go up a mountain, temperatures drop and plant life grows sparser.

17. Ch. 3 Section 3: Natural Environments
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

18. Ch 3 Section 3: Natural Environments
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

19. Ch. 3 Section 4: 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.

20. Ch. 3 Section 4: Natural Resources
Types of Natural Resources
Managing Natural Resources
Renewable resources are resources Earth replaces naturally.
Nonrenewable resources are resources that cannot be replaced; they will run out one day.
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.

21. Ch. 3 Section 4: Natural Resources
Nonrenewable Resources
Renewable Resources
Most energy we use comes from 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
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—can heat water for homes and be turned into electricity.

22. Ch. 3 Section 4: Natural Resources
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.

23. Ch. 3 Section 4: Natural Resources
Mineral resources include metals, salt, rocks, and gemstones.
Minerals are nonrenewable, and therefore need to be conserved.
Recycling can make the supply of mineral resources last longer.

24. Ch. 3 Section 4: Natural Resources
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.