Chapter 6Chapter 6

Weather and Climate Weather and Climate Determine BiomesDetermine Biomes

Core Case StudyCore Case StudyClimate Change: IndiaClimate Change: India

Severe DroughtsSevere Droughts What are farmers What are farmers

doing to insure doing to insure they can plant and they can plant and harvest crops?harvest crops?

Figure 5-1Figure 5-1

Layers of the AtmosphereLayers of the Atmosphere

Layers of the AtmosphereLayers of the Atmosphere

CLIMATE: A BRIEF INTRODUCTIONCLIMATE: A BRIEF INTRODUCTION

Weather is a local area’s short-term physical Weather is a local area’s short-term physical conditions such as temperature, precipitation conditions such as temperature, precipitation and wind.and wind.

Climate is a region’s average weather Climate is a region’s average weather conditions over a long time. Data for conditions over a long time. Data for temperature and precipitation averages are temperature and precipitation averages are used to determine predicted biomes.used to determine predicted biomes. Latitude and elevation help determine climate.Latitude and elevation help determine climate. (Latitude is attitude, Longitude is longer dude)(Latitude is attitude, Longitude is longer dude)

Weather examplesWeather examples

Jet stream: Jet stream: http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgMWwx7Cll4&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=activ=CgMWwx7Cll4&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=activeve

Tornadoes: Tornadoes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvOut9VUqKY&feature=fvwrel&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mov=cvOut9VUqKY&feature=fvwrel&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=activede=1&safe=active

Hurricanes: Hurricanes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&v=5iN352idLks&NR=1&safety_mode=true&persist_safetyfeature=fvwp&v=5iN352idLks&NR=1&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active_mode=1&safe=active

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEPZOC6YHUc&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_v=OEPZOC6YHUc&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=activemode=1&safe=active

Earth’s Current Climate ZonesEarth’s Current Climate Zones

Figure 5-2Figure 5-2

Climates and BiomesClimates and Biomes

Biome Temperature Range Precipitation

Polar Ice S high 50 C, W Avg -27 C 10 inches

Subarctic 5 to 7 months sub zero 15 inches

Cool Temperate NY, NY: 25 F to 81 F 28 to 62 inches, rain shadow

Highland Mountains Varies

Warm Temperate North Carolina 25 inches

Dry Range above freezing < 20 inches

Tropical 64 F all year 28 inches (2.4 in/month)

Solar Energy and Global Air Solar Energy and Global Air Circulation: Distributing HeatCirculation: Distributing Heat

Global air Global air circulation is circulation is affected by the affected by the uneven heating of uneven heating of the earth’s surface the earth’s surface by solar energy by solar energy causing seasonal causing seasonal changes in changes in temperature and temperature and precipitation.precipitation.

Figure 5-3Figure 5-3

Students try:

In groups of 5, imitate the photo with a globe and flashlight.

Discussion Questions:

What part of the earth receives the most sun?Why are seasons different in Australia compared to the US?What part of the earth receives the least sun?Why is it dark for large lengths of time in Alaska?What else did you notice?

Fig. 5-3, p. 102

Spring(sun aims directly

at equator)

Fall(sun aims directly at equator)

Summer(northern hemisphere

tilts toward sun)

Solarradiation

23.5 °

Winter(northern hemispheretilts away from sun)

Fig. 5-5, p. 103

Warm,dry air

Flows toward low pressure,picks up moisture and heat

Moist surface warmed by sun

HIGHPRESSURE

LOW PRESSURE

Falls, is compressed, warms

Rises, expands, cools

HIGH PRESSUREHeat released

radiates to space

LOWPRESSURE

Condensationand

precipitationCool, dry

air

Hot, wet air

Demo: Humidity

Dew point: Temperature at which water vapor condenses

Relative Humidity: the amount of water vapor in a mixture of air and water vapor, when it reaches 100% we say the air is saturated.

Clouds creation and beaker Demo

Phet: gas-properties_en (1)http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/gas-properties

Fig. 5-6, p. 103

Cell 3 North

Moist air rises — rain

Cell 2 North

Cool, dryair falls

Cell 1 North

Moist air rises,cools, and releasesMoisture as rain

Cell 1 South

Cool, dryair falls

Cell 2 South

Moist air rises — rain

Cell 3 South

Cold,dry airfalls

Polar cap

Temperate deciduousforest and grassland

Desert

Tropical deciduous forest

Tropicalrain forest

Equator

Tropical deciduous forest

Cold,dry airfalls

Polar capArctic tundra

Evergreenconiferous forest

Temperate deciduousforest and grassland

Desert

60°

30°

0°

30°

60°

Fig. 5-4, p. 102

Cold deserts

Equator

Cold deserts

Forests

Forests

Hot desertsSoutheast trades

Westerlies

ForestsWesterlies

Hot desertsNortheast trades

Coriolis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeY9tY9vKgs&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

Topography and Local Climate:Topography and Local Climate:Land MattersLand Matters

Interactions between land and oceans and Interactions between land and oceans and disruptions of airflows by mountains and disruptions of airflows by mountains and cities affect local climates.cities affect local climates.

Figure 5-8Figure 5-8

Fig. 5-8, p. 105

Prevailing winds pick up moisture from an ocean.

Dry habitats

Moist habitats

On the leeward side ofthe mountain range, air descends, warms, and Releases little moisture.

On the windward side of a mountain range,air rises, cools, and releases moisture.

Sea Breezes: Day

Sea Breeze: Day Vs. Night

BIOMES: BIOMES: CLIMATE AND LIFE ON LANDCLIMATE AND LIFE ON LAND

Different climates lead to different Different climates lead to different communities of organisms, especially communities of organisms, especially vegetation.vegetation. Biomes – large terrestrial regions characterized Biomes – large terrestrial regions characterized

by similar climate, soil, plants, and animals.by similar climate, soil, plants, and animals. Each biome contains many ecosystems whose Each biome contains many ecosystems whose

communities have adapted to differences in communities have adapted to differences in climate, soil, and other environmental factors.climate, soil, and other environmental factors.

BIOMES: BIOMES: CLIMATE AND LIFE ON LANDCLIMATE AND LIFE ON LAND

Figure 5-9Figure 5-9

Fig. 5-9, p. 106

Polar ice

Equator

Tropic ofCapricorn

Tropic ofCancer

High mountains

Polar grassland (arctic tundra)Temperate grasslandTropical grassland (savanna)ChaparralConiferous forestTemperate deciduous forestTropical forestDesert

Recognizing Climates:

In the biome map the southern tip of South America is brown, but the northern is green. Come up with a hypothesis why that happens.