CHAPTER 5

*CLIMATE CHANGE

*CLIMATE

*Weather is daily changes in temp and precipitation.

*CLIMATE is the average year to year conditions.

*CLIMATE

*TEMPERATURE

1.Latitude Location

2.Altitude

3.Distance from Water

4.Ocean Currents

*PRECIPITATION

1.Prevailing Winds

2.Mountains

3.Seasonal Winds

*MARINE CLIMATES: Located near large bodies of water. Climate has mild winters and cool summers. Wind off the ocean prevents extreme changes in temp (mild climate).

*CONTINENTAL CLIMATES: Surrounded by land. Climate has cold winters and hot summers. More extreme changes in temp.

*DISTANCE from WATER

*Which side is the WINDWARD and which is the LEEWARD?

*WINDWARD has lots of moisture (snow and rain) but little moisture is left when the air mass reaches the LEEWARD side.

*LEEWARD side is dry / less moisture.

*MOUNTAINS

*TEMP Always above 18 C

*PRECIPITATION Lots of moisture

Year round / Wet and Dry seasons

*TROPICAL REGION

http://www.mathsisfun.com/measure/thermometer.html

*TEMP: Can be cold or hot

*PRECIPIATION:Very, Very LOW precipitation

*DRY REGION

*TEMP:Warmest is 10 C or above

Coldest is between -3 C and 18 C

Mild changes in temp

*PRECIPIATION:Humid and more rainfall in winter

*TEMPERATE MARINE REGION

*TEMP: Warmest is 10 C or above

Coldest is -3 C or below

More extreme temps than marine

*TEMPERATE CONTINENTAL REGION

*TEMP:In the warmest months temp is BELOW 10 C

*PRECIPITATION:Cold air contains little moisture

Relatively dry

*POLAR REGION

MOVEMENT of CONTINENTS:

*location of land and ocean change

*Affects GLOBAL WIND and OCEAN CURRENTS – which changes global climate.

*NATURAL CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE

*ICE AGES: More elliptical orbit causes less sunlight to reach Earth – results in ice ages (100,000 yr cycles)

*VOLCANIC ACTIVITY:Release ash and aerosols into the atmosphere

Reflects sun rays causing cooler temps

*SOLAR ENERGY:Cause short term changes

Less solar energy can cause small ice ages*NATURAL CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE

*GREENHOUSE EFFECT

*Greenhouse gases (water vapor, CO2, methane) absorb/trap heat.

*This is a natural effect that helps insulate Earth and keep it warm.

*Increase in greenhouse gases cause and INCREASE in global temperatures.

*EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING

*Melting Glaciers and Rising Sea LevelsOver the last century glaciers have been melting worldwide

Antarctica ice sheet temp has risen 6 degrees

As ice sheets and glaciers melt, sea level rises

*Regional Temp ChangesChanges in regional climate

*Drought and DesertificationRising temps causes regions to warm and become very dry. This can lead to desertification and food shortage.

*Biosphere ChangesAs climate regions change, organisms are pushed to find new locations.

Adaptations and Extinctions