Transcript Because the Earth is tilted at an angle

EARTH’S
CLIMATE
S6E2.c. relate the tilt of earth to the distribution of
sunlight through the year and its effect on climate.
What is climate?
The pattern of weather that
occurs in an area over many
years.
 Determines the kinds of plants & animals that
can live in an area and influences how people
live.
 It’s the average of the area’s temperatures,
precipitation, air pressure, humidity & the
number of days of sunshine in the area.
What factors affect climate?
1. Latitude – the measure North & South from the
equator, affected by direct solar radiation
1. Polar Zones – solar radiation hits at a
lower angle, heat is spread out more,
it’s never warm here
2. Tropical Zones – (the tropics) warmest
areas due to the direct solar radiation
3. Temperate Zones – more moderate
temps, most of the United States is in
this zone
What factors affect climate?
2. Landforms
Along similar latitudes, mountains are colder
than other locations at sea level due to the
higher elevation. There are fewer molecules
available to absorb the heat at the higher
altitudes and the atmosphere is thinner.
What factors affect climate?
3. Locations of lakes and oceans
Large bodies of water can affect coastal areas
by absorbing or giving off heat, making these
areas warmer in the winter & cooler in the
summer than inland areas at similar latitudes
What factors affect climate?
4. Ocean currents
Currents are warmer near the equator. When
they flow past higher latitudes, they warm
the land that they pass.
When they cool off and flow back towards the
equator, they cool the air & climates of
nearby land
Other factors affecting
climate:
Rain Shadows
The side of the mountain facing the wind gets
more rain because as the air rises & cools it
drops its moisture (precipitation falls!)
On the opposite side of the mountain air drops,
heats up & dries the land (deserts found here)
How do cities affect
climate?
In large cities streets, buildings, and parking lots
heat up.
Air pollution traps this heat.
Temperatures can be 5 degrees higher in the
city than in rural areas.
Different Types of Climates:
6 types:
tropical, dry, continental, mild, polar & high
elevation
Depending on the different climate, plants and
animals have adapted to live in that area…
HOW?
Plants & Animals Survive Due
to:
Structural Adaptations – fur on animals in cold
regions, thick skin and prickles on cacti in
deserts protect & help hold water
Behavioral Adaptations-hibernation, desert
turtles get the water they need from their
food
Why do we have different
seasons?
Because the Earth is tilted at
an angle. As it revolves
around the Sun, areas
receive more direct solar
energy at different times of
the year.
4 seasons
Major Climate Changes
El Nino:
Changes the winds to allow upper waters of the Pacific
Ocean to flow towards South America, warming the
oceans 1 – 7 degrees
Can affect weather patterns
Change the position & strength of the jet
streams
Changes atmospheric pressure in California
Can cause droughts in Australia & Africa
Affects monsoons in Indonesia
Major Climate Changes
La Nina:
Stronger than usual winds blowing across the
Pacific
Causes warm water to collect in the western
Pacific
May cause droughts in the southern U.S. &
floods in the northwest U.S.
If fossils of tropical
plants are found in
arctic regions, what
does it tell us about
climate changes?
What has caused climate changes
in the past?
*Catastrophic eventsVolcanic eruptions & meteor collisions
can blow large amounts of ash & dust
into the atmosphere
*Varying amounts of energy given off by the sun
possibly due to sunspots
*Changes in the tilt of the Earth
*Movement of plates affects the land & ocean
distribution & heat transfer, which affects wind
patterns & the amount of precipitation
Why are there changes in the
climate now?
The Greenhouse Effect
The natural heating due to gases in the
atmosphere trapping heat
Common Greenhouse gases = water vapor,
carbon dioxide & methane make life possible
on Earth, but if they warm up too much, it’s a
problem. It creates…
Global Warming
The average global temperature of Earth is rising
Results of global warming: melting glaciers would
cause sea levels to rise which would increase
flooding in coastal areas
What causes global warming?
Burning fuel & Cutting trees
Choices PEOPLE make!
1.Burning fossil fuels – natural gas, coal & oil used
for energy. All of these contain carbon which
combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide.
This has caused a 25% increase in CO2 in the last
150 years!
2.Deforestation – destroying & cutting down trees
increases CO2 levels because the trees are no
taking in CO2 for the natural process of making
wood & leaves
How do we reduce CO2 levels?
Conserve electricity (means less fossil
fuels are burned)
Plant vegetation to help remove CO2
from the atmosphere naturally
Go Green!