Ch. 2: Climates & Ecosystems
Sec. 1: Weather and Climate
Sec. 2: Ecosystems
Climate vs. Weather
Climate: weather patterns that
an area experiences over a long
period of time, sun as its source
Weather: condition of the bottom
layer of the atmosphere over a
place for a short period of time
Earth’s
Atmosphere
1. Troposphere: atmosphere
closest to Earth, contains the
air we breath
2. Photosynthesis: plants take in
carbon dioxide to make their
food and release oxygen
3. Clouds: masses of tiny particles
of water and dust in the
atmosphere
4. Atmosphere is 78% nitrogen,
21% oxygen, rest is carbon
dioxide and argon
5. Ozone Layer: within the
stratosphere is a band of ozone
that absorbs harmful sun rays,
it’s getting smaller
6. Ozone hole over Antarctica
Oxygen Cycle
A large amount of oxygen is stored in the atmosphere, oxygen is
given off by both land and marine plants. Oxygen is used by all
animals and humans and is used for burning fossil fuels
Greenhouse Effect
1. Some solar radiation is
reflected back into
space and some
reaches Earth’s surface
2. The solar radiation
warms the land and
water
3. Atmosphere keeps
heat from escaping
4. This is the Greenhouse
Effect
Global Warming
1. Increasing amounts of
carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere
2. Could lead to the
melting of the ice caps,
rise in ocean levels
3. Could lead to increase
in deserts
Rotation & Revolution
Rotation: time it takes Earth to
spin 1 full turn on its axis (24 hrs)
Revolution: time it takes the Earth to
make a full trip around the sun (365
days)
Solstices & Equinoxes
Solstice: 1st days of summer &
winter, longest & shortest days of
the year, June 21 & Dec. 21; Tropics
of Cancer & Capricorn
Equinox: 1st days of spring &
fall; 12/12 split, March 22 &
Sept. 22; Equator
Wind Patterns and Climate
1.
2.
3.
4.
Winds move from areas of high pressure to areas of lower pressure, convection
Equator: light, warm breezes called doldrums
30 degrees N & S: light, unpredictable winds called Horse Latitudes
Between 0-30 degrees N & S: Trade Winds, winds from SE & NE blow towards the Equator
Ocean Currents
1. Coriolis Effect: wind blows from the Equator to the Poles, but bends
due to the rotation of the Earth
2. Like air currents, ocean currents move from cool to warm
Precipitation & the Water Cycle
1.
2.
3.
4.
All the forms of water that fall from the atmosphere onto the Earth’s surface
Forms as the air temperature changes
Warm, less dense air absorbs more moisture than cool air
Precipitation falls when the clouds can no longer hold any more moisture, Water Cycle
Types of Precipitation
Convectional: hot, humid air rises &
cools, common along the Equator &
the Tropics, allows for lush rainforests
Frontal: most common, 2 fronts (air
masses) of different temps meet,
warm air is pushed upward by cool air
& precipitation occurs
Orographic
Precipitation
1. Warm moist air is pushed
upward when passing over
high mountains causing
precipitation
2. Common on seacoasts
3. Precipitation falls on the
side of the mountain
facing the coast, but by
the time the air reaches
the other side, it cools and
dries
4. This is called the leeward
side of the mountain –
rain shadow -- desert
Forms of Precipitation
Precipitation isn’t just rain; it’s rain, snow, sleet, hail, even acid rain.
Other Influences
on Climate
1. Near bodies of water:
climate is more
moderate, receives
more rainfall, temps
vary less
2. Continental Climates:
cold, snowy winters;
hot, dry summers
3. Elevation: air temps
drop by 3.5 degrees F
for every 1,000 ft,
causes snow caps
4. Landforms: lakes,
deserts, etc.
Weather Extremes
Hurricanes or Typhoons: form
across areas of ocean with high avg.
temps and lots of moisture, winds
up to 500 mph
Tornadoes: powerful, funnelshaped column of spiraling
area, winds up to 300 mph
More Weather Extremes
Blizzard: heavy snowstorm
with winds >35 mph
Drought: long period of time
without rain
Flood
When water spread over land not normally
covered by water
El Nino vs. La Nina
El Nino: every 2-7 yrs, warm winds
blow warm water & heavy rains over
the Americas, causes floods &
mudslides; however, Asia & Australia
experience drought
La Nina: winds blow warmer air
over the Western Pacific Rim
increasing precipitation while the
Americas experience drought
Tropical Wet Climate
Hot all year (avg. 79 degrees); 100 inches
of precipitation per year
Tropical Wet & Dry
Hot all year (avg. 79 degrees); Summer – 45 inches;
Winter – 5 inches of precipitation
Semiarid
Hot summers, mild to cold winters; Summer – 78 degrees avg.;
Winter – 51 degrees avg.; 18 inches of precipitation per year
Arid
Hot days, cold nights; Summer – 81 degrees; Winter –
55 degrees; Yearly precipitation 5 inches
Mediterranean
Hot summers, cool winters; Summer – 72, Winter – 55 degrees;
yearly precipitation of 23 inches
Humid Subtropical
Hot summers (77 degrees); cool winters (47 degrees); yearly
precipitation 50 inches
Marine West Coast
Warm summers (60 degrees); Cool winters (42
degrees); yearly precipitation 45 inches
Humid Continental
Warm summers (66 degrees); cold winters (21
degrees); yearly precipitation 27 inches
Subarctic
Cool summers (56 degrees); very cold winters (-8
degrees); yearly precipitation 17 inches
Tundra
Cool summers (40 degrees); very cold winters (0
degrees); yearly precipitation 16 inches
Ice Cap
Cold all year; Summer – 32 degrees; Winter –
negative 14 degrees; yearly precipitation 8 inches
Highlands
Temperatures vary depending on elevation;
precipitation ranges from 3 inches to 123 inches
World Climate Zones
Ecosystems & Biomes
Ecosystem: interaction of plant life,
animal life, and the physical
environment
Biome: major types of ecosystems
that can be found in various
regions throughout the world
Forest Regions
Tropical Rain Forests: near the
Equator, temps warm all year, lots
of rainfall, broadleaf evergreens
Mid-Latitude Forests: mostly
deciduous trees (shed their
leaves), mid-latitude regions
More Forest Regions
Coniferous Forest: colder parts of
mid-latitude regions; coniferous
trees have needle-like leaves
Chaparral: includes evergreens and
scrub, unique to a Mediterranean
climate
Grasslands
Tropical Grasslands: savannas,
hot, dry season; warm, rainy
season; wildfire season
Temperate Grasslands: prairies or
steppes; cooler, tall grasses & a
few small trees
The Meat-eaters vs. the Plant-eaters
Herbivores: plant-eating animals
Carnivores: meat-eating animals
Omnivores: eat both plants & animals
Desert
Very dry climate, plants and animals adopt to very
little water
Tundras
Temperatures are always cold, but specialized
plants can grow such as mosses and lichens.
Permafrost exits here.
World Ecosystems Regions