Chapter 3 Section 2 Chapter 3 Section 2

ClimateClimate

Key TermsKey Terms

• Convection

• El Nino

• Greenhouse Effect

Factors Affecting ClimateFactors Affecting Climate

• Wind Currents- Distribute heat from one part of the earth to another

• Ocean Currents- Push heated and cooled water around the world like rivers in the ocean

• Zones of Latitude- Between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn it is warm year around. It is cold year around by the poles.

• Elevation and Topography- The temperature drops 3.5 degrees for every 1,000ft. above sea level. Mountains also create dry air, and even deserts.

Changes in ClimateChanges in Climate

• El Nino- It’s the warming of the waters off the west coast of South America, this brings rain and some flooding (p.57)

• La Nina- It’s the cooling of the waters off the west coast of South America, this brings rain and some flooding to India and Asia

• Global Warming- The warming of the earth can change the climate of earth by melting ice caps and raising sea levels (p.58)

Section 3Section 3

World Climate World Climate RegionsRegions

Key Terms sections 3&4Key Terms sections 3&4

• Tundra• Permafrost• Ecosystem• Biome• Deciduous• Rain Forest

• Coniferous• Savanna• Steppe

• To define a CR, we must make generalizations about weather over a period of many years

• 2 most important factors – temperature & precipitation

• We use latitude to help define climate

Climate RegionsClimate Regions

• Tropical (low latitude)

• Dry

• Mid-latitude

• High latitude

• Highland

(Study pages 60 and 61)

Know the characteristics of these regions

Section 4Section 4

Soils and Vegetation

Soil RegionsSoil Regions

• Food depends on soil type

• Depth, texture, humus content determine what type of vegetation can grow

Vegetation RegionsVegetation Regions

• Natural environments where farming, ranching, & logging occur

• Soil, temp., & moisture determine what type of vegetation is present

• Ecosystem – an interdependent community of plants & animals

• Biome – the ecosystem of a region

ForestlandsForestlands• Forest regions defined by types of

trees – deciduous & coniferous

• Deciduous – broadleaf trees; maple, oak

• Coniferous – needleleaf; cone bearing

• Rain forest – located in tropical zone; mostly deciduous trees

GrasslandsGrasslands

• Mostly flat regions w/ a few trees

• Savanna - tropical grassy regions, mostly treeless

• Steppe – temperate grasslands in the Northern Hemisphere (plains)

Desert and TundraDesert and Tundra

• Plants in deserts are especially tolerant to dry weather. They can conserve water.

• Plants in the tundra are especially tolerant to cold weather. They are mosses, and other low lying vegetation.

Human ImpactHuman Impact

• People change the environment in order to make it easier on themselves.

• An example is that in Texas there is only one lake not man made. (Caddo Lake)

• Another example is on page 67