chapter 6 : climate
TRANSCRIPT
Global Warming
• Is the increase in the average global
surface temperature.
• Possible reasons –
1) Changes in the amount of radiation
received by the Sun
Global Warming
• Possible reasons –
• 2) Human Activities that increase in the
amount of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere :
• Increase in the burning of fossil fuels
• Deforestation and the development of
cities
Greenhouse Effect
• It is a natural heating process that
occurs when certain gases in the Earth’s
atmosphere trap heat.
• The gases are: carbon dioxide, water
vapor and methane and they are
normally found in the atmosphere.
Greenhouse Effect x Global Warming
• The amount of gases in the atmosphere
can increase with the increase in the
burning of fossil fuels, accentuating the
Greenhouse effect.
Some scientists believe that an
accentuated Greenhouse effect can
contribute to global warming
Deforestation
• It is to destroy and cut down trees.
• This process can increase the level of
CO2 in an area:
1) Usually the trees are burned increasing
the CO2 in the area
2) With less trees, there will be less
absorption of the CO2 present in the
atmosphere
• Climate is the pattern of weather that occurs in an area over many years. It determines the types of plants or animals that can survive in that area, and it influences how people live.
Climate x Weather
What is climate?
1
• Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a certain time and place
The 3 Climate Zones with location1
Each zone
receives a
different
amount of
radiation from
the Sun.
Seasonal Changes
• Because of fairly constant solar radiation near the equator, the tropics do not have much seasonal temperature change.
• The temperate zones, have warm summers and cool winters. Spring and fall are usually mild.
• In the polar zones is always cold
Climatic Changes
3
Earth’s Seasons
• Seasons are short periods of climatic change caused by Earth’s revolution around the Sun and,
• Because Earth is tilted, different areas of Earth receive different amounts of solar radiation throughout the year.
3
Sun – Climate Zones and Seasons
• Seasons – depending on the position of
the Earth in relation to the Sun, different
areas will receive different amounts of
sunlight throughout the year, resulting in
the seasons and in the different climate
zones
Hibernation
• Is a behavioral adaptation to cold weather.
2
• Several mammals undergo a period of reduced activity in winter , during which body temperature drops and body processes are reduced to a minimum.
• During this period, the animal will slowly consume the reserves of energy accumulated during warmer months
Estivation
• It is another behavioral adaptation, but
this one is in response to hot weather.
• Estivation is also a period of minimal
activity and all the body processes are
reduced to a minimum.
El Niño
• El Niño is a climatic event that involves the tropical Pacific Ocean and the atmosphere.
• It happens periodically , usually from 2 to 7 years
• El Niño can affect weather patterns causing droughts or heavy rain in areas that usually don’t experiment this sort of climate conditions.
3
• On the windward side of a mountain range, air rises, cools, and drops its moisture.
Mountain ranges - barriers
What is climate?
1
• On the leeward side of a mountain range air descends, heats up, and dries the land.
• At the same latitude, the climate is colder in the mountains than at sea level.
Mountains
What is climate?
1
Mountains
What is climate?
1
• Earth’s atmosphere
gets thinner at
higher altitudes,
So the air in the
mountains has fewer molecules to absorb heat.
Adaptations
Climate Types
2
• An adaptation is any structure or behavior that helps an organism survive in its environment. Structural adaptations are inherited.
Structural Adaptations
• Some organisms have body structures that help them survive in certain climates.
Climate Types
2
• The fur of mammals is really hair that insulates them from cold temperatures.
• The waxy stem covering prevents water inside the cactus from evaporating.