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Environmental Science

Environmental Science. Climate. What is CLIMATE?. Climate is the average weather conditions for an area over a long period of time Can include information about temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation. Factors that affect climate.

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Environmental Science

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  1. Environmental Science Climate

  2. What is CLIMATE? • Climate is the average weather conditions for an area over a long period of time • Can include information about temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation

  3. Factors that affect climate • Climates are usually described by using average temperatures and precipitation • TEMPERATURE= how hot or cold it is • PRECIPITATION=how much rain, sleet, or snow (any form of water from the sky!

  4. What the heck is latitude and who cares? • Different latitudes receive • different amounts of solar • energy • Solar energy determines the temperature, and wind patterns of an area which influences the average yearly temperature and precipitation

  5. Latitude…even more you need to know! Areas of warm, less dense air form near the equator • Areas of cool, dense air form at the poles • Differences in air pressure (density) cause wind.

  6. Heat absorption and release • Different areas absorb and release heat differently • LAND heats faster than WATER • Land and water then influence the amount of heat that the air above it absorbs or releases

  7. El Nino • Affects the Pacific Ocean • El Nino causes the surface-water temperatures along the west coast to rise • Causes typhoons, cyclones, and floods to occur in the Pacific Ocean region Check it out at: http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/environment/environment-natural-disasters/landslides-and-more/el-nino/

  8. Monsoon Climates Droughts…. • or Floods,depending on the season

  9. Monsoons • Caused by temperature differences between land and ocean causing winds to shift • This can lead to droughts or flooding • Check it out at: • http://youtu.be/uFilBJsu224

  10. Topography • Topography is the features on the surface area of the land like rivers, mountains and even highways and railroads • Certain topographical features of an area can influence the climate there. • In a mountainous area the land is elevated. The air is colder the higher up the land is, which is why mountains are often covered in snow at the top

  11. Climate zones 3 major climate zones on Earth: • Tropical • Middle latitude (temperate) • Polar Look on page 654 in your Earth Science book for a climate map…

  12. Tropical • High temperatures • Located in near the equator • There are 3 types of tropical climates: • Tropical rain forest • Tropical desert • Savanna

  13. Tropical Climate • Tropical Rainforests are humid and warm • Lots of different animals live here • Plants are plentiful and dense • (Central Africa, Amazon River, Central America and Southeast Asia)

  14. Tropical Climate • Tropical Deserts are very dry and have few plants • (North Africa, Southwest Asia)

  15. Tropical Climate • Savannahs are grasslands that have plants that resist drought. • The summers are wet and the winters are dry • (Southeast Asia, South America, Africa, Northern Australia)

  16. Middle Latitude Climate • There are 5 middle latitude climates • Marine West Coast • Steppe • Humid Continental • Humid Subtropical • Mediterranean

  17. Middle Latitude Climate • Marine West Coast climates have cooler yearly temperatures on average • There are deciduous trees, dense forests, mild winters & summers • (Pacific Northwest)

  18. Middle Latitude Climate • Steppe climates have a wider temperature range throughout the year • It is dryer here so the plants have adapted to this dryer climate. • Winters are cold and dry and summers are warm and wet • (Great Plains)

  19. Middle Latitude Climate • Humid Continental Climates have a bigger temperature range • More precipitation than other areas • Lots of plant-life and evergreen trees • (Northeast America)

  20. Middle Latitude Climate • Humid subtropical climates get lots of precipitation and have broadleaf as well as evergreen trees…very moist environment • (Southeast America….Think Florida)

  21. Middle Latitude Climate • Mediterranean climates are mild with a small temperature range between winter and summer. • These areas have both broadleaf and evergreen trees • (Areas around Mediterranean Sea and Central/Southern California)

  22. Polar Climates • Polar Climates are located near the Earth’s North and South poles. • There are 3 types of polar climates: • Subarctic • Tundra • Polar Icecaps

  23. Polar Climates • Subarctic climates have the largest temperature range • These areas have evergreen trees, brief, cool summers and long, cold winters

  24. Polar Climate • Tundra climates have a very low average temperature (4 degrees celcius) • Treeless plains with nine months of the year below freezing temperatures (BRR!)

  25. Polar Climate • Polar Icecap climates have an average temperature below 0 degrees celsius • There is little or no life in these areas • Freezing temperatures and high winds

  26. Color a Climate Map • Use page 654 in your Earth Science book to label and color the map I give you!

  27. Climate Change • Scientists who study the climate are called Climatologists. • They gather info about past and present climate patterns so that they can make predictions about how climates may change • Climatologists study ice cores, sea-floor sediment, fossils, and tree rings to give them clues

  28. Climate Change • The amount of carbon dioxide in ICE CORES indicate that there was once a warmer climate in that area

  29. Climate Change • If there is a higher amount of microorganism shells in the SEA-FLOOR SEDIMENT this indicates that there was once a cooler climate in that area

  30. Climate Change • FOSSILS show what kinds of animals once lived in the area, indicating what the climate was once like.

  31. Climate Change • Thin TREE RINGS indicate cooler weather and less precipitation in the past

  32. Modeling Climates • Climatologists use computers to create models to study climate • They enter millions of pieces of data • Climate models help predict many factors of climate

  33. Potential Causes of Climate Change… • Plate tectonics (movement of land masses and continents)

  34. Potential Causes of Climate Change… • Orbital Changes (changes in the Earth’s orbit or axis

  35. Potential Causes of Climate Change… • Human activity

  36. Potential Causes of Climate Change… • Volcanic Activity

  37. Possible Effects of Climate Change • Global Warming—a gradual increase in average global temperature due to higher concentration of greenhouse gases • Sea-Level Changes—if the polar ice caps melt, sea levels could rise, shifting the coastline miles inward

  38. What can we do??? • Pass laws to reduce pollution • Turn lights off when they are not in use • Turn down the heat in the winter • Reduce air conditioning use in summer • Recycle • Use public transportation or fuel efficient vehicles

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