1. Chapter Three Climate and Vegetation

2. WHERE DO SEASONS COME FROM? Earth rotates on it’s axis at a 23.5 degree angle in relation to the sun Earth rotates on it’s axis at a 23.5 degree angle in relation to the sun Earth rotates once every 24 hrs Earth rotates once every 24 hrs Earth makes one revolution around the sun every 365.25 days Earth makes one revolution around the sun every 365.25 days

3. SEASONS Earth’s axis always points to the same spot in the sky Earth’s axis always points to the same spot in the sky Revolution and tilt cause the seasons Revolution and tilt cause the seasons (different parts of the earth receive direct rays from the sun for more hours at certain times of the year) (different parts of the earth receive direct rays from the sun for more hours at certain times of the year)

4. Season Diagram

5. WHAT CAUSES WEATHER? Amount of solar energy Amount of solar energy How air masses absorb and distribute the energy How air masses absorb and distribute the energy Landforms / bodies of water Landforms / bodies of water Water Vapor (determines if there will be precipitation) Water Vapor (determines if there will be precipitation) Cloud cover Cloud cover Elevation Elevation

6. PRECIPITATION Convectional- Orographic- Frontal-

7. WEATHER EXTREMES Hurricanes Hurricanes form over warm tropical waters, takes days to developform over warm tropical waters, takes days to develop can cover 100’s of milescan cover 100’s of miles winds from 75- 200 mphwinds from 75- 200 mph

8. Tornadoes Tornadoes develop very quicklydevelop very quickly wind speeds up to 300 mphwind speeds up to 300 mph small diameters (about 300 ft.)small diameters (about 300 ft.) can stay on ground for hourscan stay on ground for hours can cause massive damagecan cause massive damage WEATHER EXTREMES

9. Blizzards- heavy snowstorms; winds more than 32 mph; reduced visibility Blizzards- heavy snowstorms; winds more than 32 mph; reduced visibility Droughts- long period of time without water; leads to crop failures and water shortages Droughts- long period of time without water; leads to crop failures and water shortages Floods- when water flows over land faster than the land can absorb it Floods- when water flows over land faster than the land can absorb it

10. CLIMATE FACTORS Zones of latitude Zones of latitude Low or TropicalLow or Tropical Middle or TemperateMiddle or Temperate High or PolarHigh or Polar

11. El Nino Warming of the waters off the coast of South America Warming of the waters off the coast of South America Occurs about every 2-7 years Occurs about every 2-7 years Prevailing easterly winds slow or reverse direction changing the ocean’s temperature Prevailing easterly winds slow or reverse direction changing the ocean’s temperature This affects weather worldwide This affects weather worldwide

12. El Nino Normally easterly winds bring rain and push warm ocean toward Asia and Australia Normally easterly winds bring rain and push warm ocean toward Asia and Australia In El Nino years, winds push warm water and heavy rains toward Americas. We get floods and Australia and Asia get droughts In El Nino years, winds push warm water and heavy rains toward Americas. We get floods and Australia and Asia get droughts

13. La Nina Occurs when the winds blow opposite El Nino Occurs when the winds blow opposite El Nino Winds blow the warmer water to the lands on the western Pacific Rim Winds blow the warmer water to the lands on the western Pacific Rim Causes increased rain in India and drought along Pacific coast of USA Causes increased rain in India and drought along Pacific coast of USA

14. WORLD CLIMATE REGIONS Two most significant factors in defining different climates are: Two most significant factors in defining different climates are: TemperatureTemperature PrecipitationPrecipitation

15. CLIMATE GRAPHS

16. SOILS AND VEGETATIONS World’s food supply grows in the top 6 inches of soil, topsoil. World’s food supply grows in the top 6 inches of soil, topsoil. Type of vegetation is determined by the depth, mixture and humus content of the soil. Type of vegetation is determined by the depth, mixture and humus content of the soil.

17. VEGETATION REGIONS Vegetation patterns are identified by the ecosystems they support. Vegetation patterns are identified by the ecosystems they support. The ecosystems of a region, (biomes) are divided into: The ecosystems of a region, (biomes) are divided into: ForestGrassland DesertTundra

18. FORESTS Categorized by the types of trees they support Categorized by the types of trees they support  Broadleaf (i.e. Maple & oak called deciduous)  Rain forest is covered with broad-leafs  Needle-leaf (i.e. Pine and fir called coniferous)

19. GRASSLANDS Savannas in tropical regions Savannas in tropical regions Steppes in Northern Hemisphere Steppes in Northern Hemisphere Many names in South America – Pampas, Cerrado, Llanos Many names in South America – Pampas, Cerrado, Llanos

20. Tundra- plants like lichen and mosses are specially adapted to grow there in dry, cold conditions Tundra- plants like lichen and mosses are specially adapted to grow there in dry, cold conditions Desert- plants must be able to conserve water and withstand heat. Plants like cacti and sagebrush are good there. Desert- plants must be able to conserve water and withstand heat. Plants like cacti and sagebrush are good there.