u1lg3: climates & biomes performance of understanding learning goal 3: explain how physical...

U1LG3: Climates & BiomesPerformance of Understanding

Learning Goal 3: Explain how physical processes create climate regions and explain how climate influences the distribution of biomes. (3A, 4A, 4C)

Criteria for Success:

• Explain the weather conditions and climate in relation to annual changes in Earth-Sun relationships.

• Explain how elevation, latitude, wind systems, ocean currents, position on a continent and mountain barriers influence temperature, precipitation and distribution of climate.

• Explain how climate influences the distribution of biomes.

Explain the weather conditions and climate in relation to annual changes in Earth-Sun relationships.

Earth’s Tilt and RevolutionThe earth is tilted at an angle of 23 ½ degrees as it revolves around the sun on its axis. Because of this different areas of the earth receive different amounts of sun which creates the different seasons on earth.


The TropicsThe Tropic of Cancer (23 ½ N) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23 ½ S) mark the areas on the earth known as the Tropics which are the areas farthest north and south where the sun’s rays shine directly overhead.


EquatorThe Equator receives the most direct sunlight and is thus warmer. When the sun is directly over the Equator this is known as the Equinox (either Spring or Fall). Days and nights all over the world are equal in length on the Equinox.


Polar AreasAreas around the poles (north and south) receive less direct sunlight due to the earth tilt and are thus much cooler than other places on earth.


SeasonsNorthern Hemisphere: The warmest months in the northern hemisphere are May, June, and July due to the exposure to the most direct rays of the sun. The summer solstice (June 21-22) marks the longest day of the year when the sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer. The coldest months are November, December, and January when the sun’s rays are shining over the southern hemisphere. The winter solstice, when the sun is directly above the Tropic of Capricorn, is beginning of winter.


SeasonsSouthern Hemisphere: Location in the southern hemisphere has the opposite seasons due to the earth’s tilt and revolution. The warmest months in the southern hemisphere are November, December, and January due to the exposure to the most direct rays of the sun over the Tropic of Capricorn. The coldest months are May, June, and July when the sun’s rays are shining on the northern hemisphere.

Explain how elevation, latitude, wind systems, ocean currents, position on a continent and mountain barriers influence temperature, precipitation and distribution of climate.

Elevation

Temperature Precipitation Distribution of Climate Regions

Areas of higher elevation are much cooler due to thinner air’s inability to hold heat, lack of land to reflect heat, and the conditions of the atmosphere.

Thinner air at higher elevations makes it difficult for air to retain heat/ precipitation causing significant snow at high elevations.

Areas of high elevation occur around the globe.

Climate Region Map


Latitude


Latitude has the greatest impact on climate since it determines the amount of sunlight an area receives. Those closest to the equator receive more sunlight (heat) while those farthest away from the equator receive less.

Latitude has some influence on precipitation. For example, the hot rising air around the equator creates continually moist climates.

-Areas of low elevation (areas between the tropics- 23 ½ N and S) are warm due to the sun’s direct rays. -The middle latitudes (23 ½ N/S - 66 ½ N/S) have temperate/ seasonal climates. -The higher latitudes (66 ½ N/S- 90) have the coldest climates due to their distance from direct sunlight.

Climate Region Map


Wind SystemsTemperature Precipitation Distribution of

Climate Regions

-Wind distributes temperatures across the earth’s surface. Wind that moves across warmer or cool water or land transfers those qualities.

Precipitation on the earth is moved and distributed by prevailing winds.

- High pressure situations are generally associated with fair, sunny weather. As high pressure is an area of sinking air, and air tends to dry out as it sinks, leaving sunny skies. Low pressure areas are generally cloudy/rainy areas -- where strong areas of low pressure bring our stormiest weather. That's because it's an area of rising air, and as air rises, it condenses into clouds and rainsource: http://www.komonews.com/weather/faq/4347756.html

Climate Region Map

http://www.komonews.com/weather/faq/4347756.html




Climate Region Map

Ocean Currents


-Waters of the ocean help distribute the earth’s heat. These currents influence the temperature of the areas nearby. -Warm water from the tropics is circulated to the poles and cold water from the poles is circulated to the equator.

-As in the case of wind currents, cool and warm ocean currents transfer precipitation around the world.

-Cooler oceans near the poles keep those areas cool and warmer waters near the tropics also hold heat.


Climate Region Map

Position on a Continent


-Due to water’s better ability to hold heat longer, areas around coastlines tend to have warmer climates than areas that are further away from water. -Locations further inland tend to have a greater change in temperature between seasons.

-Areas along the coastlines are influence more by ocean currents that tend to bring greater amounts of precipitation to coastlines.

Areas of the world most influenced by continental climates exist between the middle latitudes and the poles.


Climate Region Map

Mountain Barriers


*See influence of elevation on temperature.

As air masses move over mountains precipitation (orographic) tends to occur on the windward side of mountains as thinner air drops it heat/ moisture. This creates a wet side (windward) and a dry side (leeward).

As mountains can occur anywhere on earth, this influence on climate can as well.

Explain how climate influences the distribution of biomes.

BiomesThe ecosystems (community of plants and animal) of a specific region are called biomes. Biomes are divided into four main categories: forests, grasslands, deserts, and tundra.


Influence of ClimateTemperature and precipitation determine the distribution of the world’s biomes.


Tropical Biomes: Areas in the lower latitudes are influenced by warmer temperatures and often abundant precipitation. Biomes in these regions include tropical rainforests and tropical grasslands.


Temperate Biomes: Areas in the middle latitudes have biomes adapted to seasonal shifts in temperature in precipitation in temperature. Biomes in these regions include deciduous forests and temperate grasslands. As the latitude increases deciduous forest transition to mixed and coniferous forests.


Polar Biomes: Areas in the higher latitudes tend to be dominated by coniferous forests in the warmer portions that transition to tundra in the cooler areas.


Deserts: These biomes occur in areas with limited precipitation requiring plants and animals adapted to such.

u1lg3: climates & biomes performance of understanding learning goal 3: explain how physical...

Documents

earth tilt

annual changes

revolutionthe earth

weather conditions

direct rays

seasonssouthern hemisphere

seasonsnorthern hemisphere

tropic of capricorn