World Geography
Objective:
Climate and
Biomes
Learning Goal 3:
Explain how
physical processes
create climate
regions and explain
how climate
influences the
distribution of
biomes. (TEKS/SE’s
3A,4A, 4C)
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cli·mate
noun \ˈklī-mət\
the average course or condition of the weather at a
place usually over a period of years as exhibited
by temperature, wind velocity, and precipitation
What is a climograph?
World Climate Regions
Warm Up: Write these down on the
back of your cornel notes
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Review this map and tell me the following.
 List
the three continents with the driest climate
 List the two continents with the most tropical weather
 List the three continents with the most cool and subarctic
climate regions
What is the relationship between
weather conditions, climate and the
Earth-Sun relationship?
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Earth’s Tilt and Revolution
The earth is tilted at an angle of 23 ½ as it
revolves around the sun. Because of this, different
areas of the earth receive different amounts of sun
which creates the different seasons on earth.
3A
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The Tropics
The 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.
3A
Polar Areas
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Areas 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.
How do elevation, latitude, wind systems, ocean
currents, position on a continent, and mountain
barriers influence temperature, precipitation, and
distribution of climate regions?
4A
LAMECOW: ACRONYM
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L-atitude
A-ir Masses
M-ountain Barriers
E-levation
C-ontinent Position on
O-cean Currents
W-ind
Factor #1
Elevation
Temperature
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.
Precipitation
Distribution of
Climate Regions
Thinner air at higher Areas of high
elevations makes it elevation occur
difficult for air to
around the globe.
retain heat/
precipitation causing
significant snow at
high elevations.
Factor #2
Latitude
Temperature
Precipitation
Distribution of Climate
Regions
Latitude has the
Latitude has some
-Areas of low elevation
greatest impact on
influence on precipitation. (areas between the
climate since it
For example, the hot
tropics- 23 ½ N and S)
determines the amount of rising air around the
are warm due to the
sunlight an area
equator creates
sun’s direct rays.
receives.
continually moist
-The middle latitudes (23
climates.
½ N/S - 66 ½ N/S) have
Those closest to the
temperate/ seasonal
equator receive more
climates.
sunlight (heat) while
-The higher latitudes (66
those farthest away from
½ N/S- 90) have the
the equator receive less.
coldest climates due to
their distance from direct
sunlight.
Factor #3
Wind Systems
Temperature
-Wind distributes
temperatures across
the earth’s surface.
Wind that moves
across warmer or cool
water or land transfers
those qualities.
Precipitation
Precipitation on the
earth is moved and
distributed by
prevailing winds.
Distribution of
Climate Regions
-Areas of high low
pressure (rising warm
air) tend to receive
more rain while areas
of low pressure (falling
cooler air) tend to get
less rain.
Factor #4
Ocean Currents
Temperature
-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.
Precipitation
Distribution of
Climate Regions
-As in the case of wind -Cooler oceans near
currents, cool and
the poles keep those
warm ocean currents areas cool and warmer
transfer precipitation
waters near the tropics
around the world.
also hold heat.
Factor #5: Position on a Continent
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Oceans are solar energy collectors
Because water heats & cools more
slowly than land…
1. Coastline has a more stable
temperature
2. Areas along coastlines are
influenced by ocean currents, thus
they receive more
rain.(precipitation)
3. Interior of continent has
extreme temperatures
(hotter & colder)
Factor#6
Mountain Barriers
Temperature
*See influence
of elevation on
temperature.
Precipitation
Distribution of
Climate
Regions
When air moves As mountains
over mountains, can occur
precipitation
anywhere on
(orographic)
earth, this
tends to occur
influence on
on the windward climate can as
side. This
well.
creates a wet
side (windward)
and a dry side
(leeward).
The Hobbit
Middle Earth: Apply the climate
factors
On the menu!
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1. Turn in Climographs
HM
2. Cornel Notes:
Completed with 4
questions for each class.
And a summary. Keep
track of them. Due
Thursday. For a grade
3. One question must
use the term Explain
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4. Thursday: Quiz on
the first three learning
goals.
5. After quiz: IDs!!!!!!!
6. Extra Credit
Opportunity: 50 points!
What am I? Warm up: Use your
Phones if you want or P. 594-595
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I am a seasonal
weather phenomenon in
South Asia. I am
characterized by
massive amounts of rain
that cause severe
flooding.
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What causes this
weather event?
What is a country I am
associated with?
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Temp Stable?
What climate factor?
Continental Position
Latitude
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Temp Stable?
What climate factor?
Ocean Currents
Latitude
How does climate influence Biomes
the distribution of biomes in
The ecosystems
different regions?
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(community of
plants and animal)
of a specific region
are called biomes.
Biomes are divided
into four main
categories: forests,
grasslands, deserts,
and tundra
4C
Influence of Climate
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Temperature 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.
4C
Influence of Climate
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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.
4C
Influence of Climate
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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 who have
adapted for such conditions.
4C