ap environmental science ch. 7

Warm up question◊ It’s a hot summer

day in Ceres, CA. ◊ Where would it

likely be hottest (upstairs or downstairs) in this house? Why?

Climate & Terrestrial Biodiversity

Ch. 7

Ch. 7

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1.What factors influence climate? 2.How does climate

affect the nature and locations of biomes?

3.How have we affected the world’s terrestrial ecosystems?

What is Climate? ◊ Weather - short term; today◊ Climate - general atmospheric or

weather conditions over time

Climate is what we expect; weather is what we get.

Climate varies over the surface of the earth◊ 2 2 mainmain factors: factors:

1.1. Wind - air circulationWind - air circulation2.2. Ocean currentsOcean currents

◊ Move warm & cold moisture from one place to another, but unevenly

Focus on AIR◊ Air

circulates warmth & moisture from the tropics to other places

Focus on AIR 3 forces responsible:1. Tilt of the earth - Earth is heated

unevenly

http://goo.gl/5AVXfx  

Focus on AIR 3 forces responsible2. Rotation of the Earth on its axis◊ equator spins faster than

poles◊ Warm air rising over equator

goes N or S then deflected E or W◊ creates “prevailing winds” -

major surface winds that blow almost continuously

Quick Demo◊ What happened to the line as you

rotated the whiteboard? ◊ What happens to the line as you get

further toward the edge?

Focus on AIR3 forces responsible3. The water cycle ◊ heat from the sun

evaporates ocean water and transfers it to air

◊ this creates convection cells that circulate heat, air, and moisture

Quick Write◊ In 1 sentence – DESCRIBE how AIR

affects the climate of an area

Focus on OCEAN CURRENTS◊ Prevailing winds blow over ocean &

move surface water --> currents

Focus on OCEAN CURRENTS◊ Currents move warm water to

other places • Changes vegetation & climate of the

area, especially near the coastline

Focus on OCEAN CURRENTS ◊ Continents and wind currents

shape path of ocean currents

Focus on OCEAN CURRENTS◊ Currents go clockwise in Northern

Hemisphere◊ Currents go counterclockwise in

Southern Hemisphere

Focus on OCEAN CURRENTS◊ Also vertical mixing of water

• Cold water sinks - more dense, saltier• Warm water rises - less dense, less

salty

Quick Write◊ In 2 sentences – EXPLAIN how

OCEAN CURRENTS affect the climate of an area

OCEAN CURRENTS + AIR CURRENTS 4EVER◊ Ocean currents

affected by wind◊ Heat from ocean

affects air circulation patterns

For Example◊ El Niño Southern

Oscillation (ENSO)• Normal east

west trade winds weaken or reverse

• Changes climate for 2/3 of the planet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPA-KpldDVc

Also - The Atmosphere – what it is made up of affect the climate of our planet◊ Greenhouse gases warm the Earth

• H2O, CO2, CH4, N2O

How they work◊ Light from sun passes

through atmosphere◊ Surface absorbs heat◊ Heat radiates back up◊ Some escapes to

space◊ Some absorbed by

greenhouse gases - its good! :)

Also - Earth’s Surface Features also affect climate◊ Rain shadow effect

• Windward side of mountains wet• Leeward side of mountains dry

All of this creates BIOMESHigh Mountains Polar Ice Arctic Tundra Temperate

GrasslandTropical grassland (savanna)

Chaparral Temperate Coniferous forest

Temperate deciduous forest

Tropical rainforest Tropical dry forest

Tropical Desert Temperate rain forest

Temperate desert Cold desert Taiga

Tropical and subtropical coniferous forest

Pond Littoral, intertidal zone

Mangrove forest Kelp forest

Coral reef Neritic zone (coastal waters)

Continental shelf Pelagic zone (open sea)

Benthic zone (bottom of lakes and oceans)

Hydrothermal vents Cold seeps Estuaries Riparian (rivers and surrounding area)

Inland wetlands (swamps, marshes, prarie potholes)

All of this creates BIOMESHigh Mountains Polar Ice Arctic Tundra Temperate

GrasslandTropical grassland (savanna)

Chaparral Temperate Coniferous forest

Temperate Deciduous forest

Tropical rainforest Tropical dry forest

Tropical Desert Temperate rain forest

Temperate desert Cold desert Taiga

Tropical and subtropical coniferous forest

Inland wetlands (swamps, marshes, prairie potholes)

Mangrove forest Riparian (rivers and surrounding area)

Quick Write◊ So…What factors influence the

climate of an area? ◊ Make a list of all the things you can

think of

So…◊ Air circulation + winds

+ ocean currents + continents in the way = 6 giant convection cells that shape climate

◊ (3 in north, 3 in south)◊ Warm wet air rises◊ Cool dry air sinks

Climate Change (global warming)◊ LOTS and LOTS of

evidence supports the hypothesis that humans are contributing excess greenhouse gases to the atmosphere - altering earth’s climate

◊ 90-99% sure of this◊ Why not 100%?◊ Precautionary Principle