Transcript (9)x - Studyclix

CLIMATES AND
NATURAL REGIONS
Climate
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Climate is the average condition of the weather
over a long period of time (normally 30 years)
across a large area of the world's surface.
Factors that influence climate include:
Latitude
Distance from the sea
Prevailing winds and air masses/ocean currents
Latitude
Latitude is the distance north or
south of the equator.
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south of the equator an area is,
the colder it will be.
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Distance From the Sea
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Water in the sea absorbs heat very slowly during
the Summer.
It also loses its heat very slowly during the Winter.
Areas of land close to the sea will be cooled by the
water in the Summer and warmed up by the water
in the Winter.
Prevailing Winds and Ocean
Currents/Air Masses
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Winds and air masses can make an area colder, warmer,
wetter or drier.
Their influence will depend on the direction they came from
and whether they pass over land or water.
Easterly winds bring dry, warm weather in the Summer but
bring very cold and possibly snowy weather in the Winter.
Northerly winds always bring cold weather and bring snow
only in the Winter.
South-westerly winds bring rather mild, wet weather, whether
it is the Summer or Winter.
Southerly winds bring warm and dry weather but if it is too
hot or a front forms (cold and warm air battling), a thundery
breakdown occurs.
Factors That Influence Local Climates
Aspect
Altitude
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Aspect
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Aspect refers to the direction in which a slope is
facing. For example, a slope can be facing north or
south.
In the northern hemisphere, south-facing slopes are
warmer.
There are 3 reasons why:
The sun shines directly onto south-facing slopes.
Warm southerly winds blow against south-facing
slopes.
They are protected from the cold northerly winds.
Altitude
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Altitude refers to the height above sea level.
In general, the higher you go, the colder it is.
This is why mountains, even in Spain have snow at the
summit.
The temperature drops 7°C for each 1000m you go up.
There are two reasons for this:
This is because the air is thinner and it can hold less
heat.
Upland areas are more exposed to the wind which also
makes it colder. This is known as the Wind Chill Factor.
Natural Regions and World Climates
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A natural region is an area of the world that has its
own unique characteristics that make it different to other
areas.
These characteristics include:
Climate
Natural vegetation
Wildlife
Human activities
Natural vegetation is the cover of plants and trees that
grow in an area before it is changed by human
interference.
Types of World Climates
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World climates can be put into 3 groups.
Hot climates
Temperate climates
Cold climates
Types of World Climates
Hot Climates of the World
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Most hot climates are found between latitudes 30°N
and 30°S. They include hot desert climates,
equatorial climates and savanna climates.
Hot Climates of the World
Equatorial Climates
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Equatorial climates are generally found in countries
like Nigeria, parts of Brazil & Peru and Indonesia.
They have a one season climate because of
averaging a very hot temperature of around 32°C.
It rains generally every afternoon because of high
humidity with an annual total of over 2,000mm.
The natural vegetation consists of rain forests or
jungles and hardwoods which have mahogany, teak
and cherry trees.
Parrots, snakes, monkeys and butterflies all live in
this type of climate.
Savanna Climates
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Savanna climates are found in northern parts of
Australia, Madagascar, Mali, Venezuela, parts of Brazil
etc.
They have a two season climate with temperatures
averaging 25−35°C all year round.
It rains generally during the Summer and Winters are
very dry with an average annual total of over 800mm.
The natural vegetation consists of scattered trees and
grassland.
Herds of cattle, lions, cheetahs and giraffes live in these
climates.
Hot Desert Climates
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Hot desert climates are generally found in very warm deserts such as the
Sahara Desert, the Kalahari Desert, the Arabian Desert and the Australian
Outback.
They consist of a one season climate generally. Temperatures average
30−50°C during the day but rapidly drop to as low as 5°C during the night.
Reasons for this large temperature range:
The absence of cloud cover and vegetation meant that there is a rapid loss
of heat at night.
Night is said to be the 'winter of the desert'.
Rainfall is very rare with an annual total of less than 100mm. This means
that it frequently gets threatened by droughts.
Luxor and Aswan in Egypt had the longest-drought ever with NO RAINFALL
from 2001-2014.
These droughts though soon be avoided by sudden downpours.
Vegetation is very little due to the shortage of moisture. It consists of cactus,
date palm and Joshua trees.
Rattlesnakes, desert foxes and jack-rabbits lived in these climates.
Desertification
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Desertification means turning land into desert. It
occurs when desert conditions spread into areas that
were once fertile.
The areas most affected by desertification are those
at the edge of existing deserts. The Sahel for
example, a region at the southern edge of the
Sahara Desert.
Causes of Desertification
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Climate change
Rainfall is unreliable
Higher temperatures
Severe droughts
Rivers dried up
Human factors
Overgrazing of the land
No fertilisers
Deforestation
Results of Desertification
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Hundreds of thousands of people have died as a result
of famine.
Millions of people were forced to migrate in search of
food or aid. Many of these still live in refugee camps.
Many people moved into urban areas, leading to the
growth of slums.
Millions of animals have died.
Vast areas of land are now unable to support
agriculture.
Towns and villages have been swallowed up by the
advancing sands.
Solutions to Desertification
Slow down soil erosion by planting trees
as shelter belts.
 Bind the soil particles by planting grasses
that are resistant to droughts.
 Dig deeper wells to find water for
irrigation.
 Introduce new breeds of animals to
produce more milk, but with smaller herds.
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Temperate Climates of the World
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Most temperate climates are found in the midlatitudes. They include warm temperate oceanic
climates and cool temperate oceanic climates.
Temperate Climates of the World
Cool Temperate Oceanic Climates
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Cool temperate oceanic climates are found in Chile,
Ireland, Norway, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Summers are warm with temperatures averaging
15−17°C whilst Winters are mild with temperatures
averaging 4−6°C.
Rain falls throughout the year, but Ireland for example
has different wet and dry months. April is the driest
(average rainfall 48-92mm) and October is the wettest
(average rainfall (77-177mm). Annual totals range
between 700 and 2,000mm. The weather is cloudy and
changeable.
The natural vegetation consists of deciduous forests, oak,
ash, elm and willow trees.
Warm Temperate Oceanic Climates
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Warm temperate oceanic climates are found in southwestern California, central
Chile, southwest South Africa, southwest and southeast Australia as well as regions
around the Mediterranean Sea which include Italy, Spain and Greece.
They have a 4 season climate with very dry Summers and rather wet Winters but
exceptionally wet Springs and Autumns. Annual rainfall ranges between 400 and
700mm.
Temperatures in Summer average around 30°C and 7−11°C in Winter.
Natural vegetation consists of evergreen woodland which include cypress, cedar and
olive trees. They survive the climate because they absorb and store moisture during
Winter, have very thick bark and waxy leaves to prevent moisture loss and are
widely spaced to avoid competition for moisture.
Although most of the woodland has been cleared for agriculture.
Other changes in the Mediterranean include:
Sheepes and goats are the animals most commonly reared.
Overgrazing has damaged the scant vegetation and the soil has been exposed to
erosion by sudden downpours of rain.
Fruit and vegetable farming takes place throughout the year.
Irrigation schemes have been introduced to overcome droughts.
Sunflowers, maize, wheat, tomatoes and citrus fruits are grown here.
Tourism in the Mediterranean Sea
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Tourism is a major factor to countries in the
Mediterranean Sea.
Many of these regions have decorative, attractive
hotels with large, deep appealing swimming pools.
Torremolinos on Spain's Costa Del Sol is a great
example as it has plenty of hotels and pools as well
as a motorway fronting the beach.
Torremolinos, Spain
Cold Climates of the World
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The cold climates of the world are found mainly in
the northern hemisphere because, apart from
Antarctica, there is no matching landmass in the
southern hemisphere. They include tundra climates
and boreal climates.
Cold Climates of the World
Tundra Climates
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Tundra climates are found in northern Alaska, Canada and
Russia as well as Lapland in Finland, Greenland and Iceland.
Summers are short and cool with temperatures averaging
about 5°C and Winters are long and cold with temperatures
averaging about −24°C.
The precipitation is slow because it is too cold for it to rain,
so it snows quite often. Annual total is usually less than
250mm.
There is very little vegetation due to the extreme cold. The
main types are heathers, mosses and lichens.
Animals can survive the Summer but migrate south during the
Winter. Snow leopards and polar bears usually are some of
the animals that can survive the long, cold Winters.
Boreal Climates
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Boreal climates are found in southern Alaska, central
Canada, most of Sweden, Finland and central Russia.
Summers are short but unlike tundra climates, they are
rather mild because they have long hours of daylight
with temperatures about 10−15°C. Winters are long
and cold but slightly warmer than tundra climates with
average temperatures around −13°C.
Unlike tundra climates, the Summer is warm enough for
precipitation to fall as rain. Annual total is generally less
than 400mm.
Natural vegetation consists of evergreen forests called
taiga which have coniferous trees.
Minks, bears, wolves and eagles live in these climates.