Transcript Altitude
WORLD CLIMATES A World of diversity and challenges Themes Location Place Interaction Movement Region Where is it? What do you find there? How people change the environment Movement of people Areas with similar features Climate patterns Trade and immigration Location on the earth Relative Location Absolute location migration emigration Climate Geographers study relationships between climates and human cultures Climate A typical pattern of weather recognized in a particular region over time Results in different kinds of soil, landforms and vegetation Dry Climate Wet Climates Humid Climates Cold Climates Undifferentiated Highland 5 Factors of Climate Latitude (distance from the equator) Altitude (height above sea level) Topography (surface features) Distance from Oceans and Large Lakes Circulation of the atmosphere Terrain and Climate Higher the place is, the colder 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit drop per 1,000 feet of altitude Surface of the Earth influences development of clouds and precipitation Humid air sweeps up the slopes of a mountain range, air cools and so clouds form Windward sides tend to be more wet than Leeward sides Oceans and Lakes make the air temperature less extreme in places downward of them Air temperatures over oceans or lakes vary less than air temperatures over land Influence of Wind a) b) c) d) e) Influences climate by producing winds that distribute heat and moisture 6 belts of wind circle the earth: Trade winds between 30 degree north latitude and the equator Trade winds between the equator and 30 degrees south latitude Westerlies (winds from the west) that blow between 30 degrees and 60 degrees north of the equator Westerlies blowing between 30 degrees and 60 degrees south of the Equator Polar winds north of 60 degree north latitude and f) polar winds south of 60 degrees south latitude Influence of Wind Rain develops often at the Equator so the weather is often referred to as the doldrums in this region 12 Climate Groups Tropical Wet Tropical Wet and Dry Semiarid Desert Subtropical Dry Summer Humid Subtropical Humid Oceanic Humid Continental Subarctic Tundra Icecap Highland Dry Climates Desert has less than 10 inches of annual precipitation Large daily temperature ranges Sandy soils that lack humus Vegetation has deep roots, thick bark and leaves Steppe Transition from dry to humid climates (semi-arid), annual precipitation 10-20 inches Soils thick and black with humus Natural vegetation is short grasses; often used for livestock grazing Steppe Temperature change between day and night is considerable due to clear skies and dry air Cover greater area than other climates East-West bands near 30 degrees north and south latitude Warm Climates Subtropical Dry Summer Warm to hot, dry summers Mild, rainy winters Sometimes called Mediterranean Climates Occur on west side of continents between 30 and 45 degrees latitude Closer to the coast, the more moderate the temperatures and less summer-winter contrast Vegetation has large roots and small leaves to survive summer droughts Warm Climates Tropical Wet Temperatures high, no lower than 64 degrees, temperature difference between night and day greater than the difference between summer and winter Hot and muggy all year Support Dense Tropical Rain Forests Rainfall is heavy and occurs in frequent showers and thunderstorms throughout the year Tropical Rain Forests and Savannas Average annual rainfall varies from about 70 to 100 inches Tropical wet and dry are similar, but shorter rainy season, so no rain forests, but savannas—grasslands with scattered trees No distinct dry season in rain forests Distinct dry season in savannas Vegetation Rain Forests: Dense tree growth with canopies Vegetation Savannas: Tall grasses with tropical trees Warm Climates Humid Subtropical Warm to hot summers Cool winters Rainfall fairly even throughout the year Large storm systems in the winter from east to west Summer thunderstorms or tropical storm/hurricane SE side of continents between 25-40 degrees latitude Vegetation mixed forest Warm Climates Humid Oceanic (Marine) Only on western sides of continents where prevailing winds blow from sea to land Moderating influence of ocean reduces seasonal temperature contrast Moderate precipitation throughout the year Low clouds, fog, and drizzle common Thunderstorms, cold waves, heat waves, and droughts are rare Warm Climate Humid Continental Mild to warm summers Cold winters Temperature differences between summer and winter. Temperature difference is as great as 45 to 63 degree F Precipitation distribution fairly even Snow is common in winter Cool Climates Subarctic Short, Cool summers Long, bitterly cold winters Freezes can occur even in midsummer Most precipitation falls in the summer Snow comes early in the fall and lasts on the ground into early summer Cool Climates Tundra Dry, with a brief, chilly summer Bitterly cold winter Continuous permafrost (permanently frozen ground) lies under much of the treeless tundra regions Cool Climates Highland Mountainous regions Several areas where climates are like those found in flat terrain Air temperature decreases with increasing altitude in the mountains, each climate area is restricted to a certain range of altitude Cool Climates Icecap Coldest on Earth Summer temperatures rarely rise above freezing Temperatures extremely low during the long, dark winter Precipitation is very little and almost always snow Climate of North America Only continent that has every kind of climate from dry, bitter cold of the Arctic to the steamy heat of the tropics Icecap permanently covers the interior of Greenland, where the temperature almost never rises above freezing North American tundra, vast treeless plain of the far north, temperature rises above freezing for only a short period each summer Low-lying areas of the south, it is hot and rainy all of the time Review for Quiz What is Geography? Who is considered the Father of Geography? What are the two main Branches of Geography and what are some characteristics? What are some life skills that one can pick up by studying Geography? Review How many Climate areas does the earth have? What are the five themes of Geography? Explain two possible causes of Global Warming. What are the 6 approaches /Elements of Geography?