Chapter 5 Part 1 – climate
Climate - a region’s general pattern of atmospheric or
weather conditions over a long period of time. They are
determined by average temperature, average precipitation,
latitude and elevation.
Four major factors determine global air circulation
(convection)
1) Uneven heating of the earth’s surface by the sun
- equator heat faster than the poles
- variations in elevations (valley vs. mountains) (rain
shadow effect – Sierra Nevada’s)
- microclimates – cities – heat island effect – heat from
concrete and metal in cities
2) Seasonal changes in temperature and precipitation
- the tilt of the Earth’s axis causing the various seasons
3) Rotation of the earth on its axis
- As cold and warm air move south and north the rotation
(Coriolis Effect) deflects the air east and west
4) Properties of air, water, and land
- water evaporates and circulates in atmosphere
- amount of reflectivity (albedo) of surface light vs. dark
- water and land heat differently - sea and land breezes
(monsoons in India – low pressure over land brings in
moisture for the ocean)
 Ocean currents affect climates EX. Gulf stream and
England
 Difference in water temperature create currents convection
 Irregular shaped continents interrupt these currents
and cause them to flow clockwise in rough circular
patterns.
Greenhouse Effect –
Greenhouse gases -
Terrestrial Biomes – Large geographic regions
characterized by similar climate, soil, plants, and animals
Why are biomes not uniform but a mosaic of patches?
Why do latitudinal patterns exist among the world’s
biomes?
Biome Reports
Create a chart for each of biomes and include the following headings: abiotic
characteristics, characteristic plants and animals, plant and animal adaptation.
Desert
Tropical Grassland
Temperate Grassland
Tundra
Chaparral
Tropical Rainforests
Deciduous Forest
Coniferous Forest
Mountains