ap environmental science ch. 7
TRANSCRIPT
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
Focu
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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