climates

climates

1. background

   • long term atmospheric conditions of a region or area
   • hot, cold and temperate
   • axis - imaginary line that goes through the earth that the earth spins around
     • earths axis tilted at 32º
     • uneven heat across which causes the seasons
   • microclimates - climate experienced by a small region e.g. wicklow mountains
     • aspect
       • direction something is facing e.g. north or south
       • northern hemisphere - south facing slopes are warmer because the sun shines directly onto them
         • warm winds blow against these slopes
         • protected from cold northerly winds
     • altitude
       • higher you go the colder it is
         • temperature drops 7ºC per 1000m due to less heat retention in the thin air and wind chill factor
       • e.g. mount kilimanjaro

2. factors that affect climate

   • latitude
     • angular distance north or south of the equator
       • further north or south, colder it is
         • rays of sunlight are more concentrated at equator than poles
         • more distance through the atmosphere to travel
   • distance from the sea
     • land absorbs and loses heat very quickly
       • inland - hotter summers, colder winters (large temperature range)
         • e.g. Russia
     • water absorbs and loses heat very slowly
       • beside the sea - colder summers, warmer winters
         • cooled by sea in summer as it takes longer to heat up but warmer in winter as it takes a long time to cool down
         • e.g. ireland
   • direction of prevailing winds
     • winds and air masses can make an area colder, warmer, wetter or dryer
       • influence depends on direction they come and whether they pass over land or water
     • prevailing winds- most common winds in an area
       • southwesterly winds in Ireland
         • cool in summer, warm in winter
     • winds are named in which direction they come from

3. hot climates

   • equatorial
     • hot all year (28º)
     • one season
     • rain every afternoon - 2000mm per year
     • e.g. the amazon
   • savanna
     • hot all year (25ºC-35ºC)
     • two seasons - wet summer, dry winters
     • scattered trees and grassland
     • e.g. kenya - sub saharan
   • hot desert
     • make up 1/5 of earths surface
     • high pressure areas - 15-30º N/S equator, west side of continents
     • 30-50ºC in day, 5ºC at night
     • 0-250mm per year - long droughts followed by downpours
     • e.g. Sahara, Arabian, Kahahari
     • natural world
       • sand, barren no nutrients, humus water or microbes
       • difficult for plants and animals to survive
         • cacti - thick bark, can store water needles for protection, roots spread
         • camels - store fat not water, long lashes, thick skin on legs wide hooves

4. temperate climates

   • warm temperate oceanic
     • e.g. italy, spain, california
     • hot and dry summers (30º)
       • concentrated rays of sunlight
       • high pressure creates settles, calm conditions
     • mild and moist winters
       • close enough to equator to create warmth
       • prevailing winds bring warm, moist air
       • 400-700mm of rain
     • usually on western side of land masses
     • plants and animals
       • evergreen trees e.g. pine, cork oak
         • oak with thick protective bark that stops heat getting out
         • long tap roots for underground water
         • small waxy or sharp leaves - don't loose moisture
         • thorns for protection
       • lizards and snakes
       • agriculture e.g. vineyards, citrus tomatoes etc
   • cold temperate
     • e.g. ireland, england, holland

5. cold climates

   • tundra
     • low precipitation (250mm)
     • long cold winters - as low as 53º
       • large temperature range
     • cool short summers - rarely above 15º
     • animals during summer, hibrination during winter
   • boreal
     • 55º to 66º north or south of equator
     • short summers with long days (10º-15º)
     • very cold winters with long nights (-25º)
     • low precipitation (400mm per year) with heavy snow
     • flora and fauna
       • natural vegetation - taiga, evergreen, coniferous forests
         • cone shaped and branches slope down
         • thick bark retains moisture and offers protection from cold winds
         • shallow roots grow out as thin layer of soil above permafrost
         • needles prevent moisture loss - seeds protected in cones
       • large-sized mammals ( moose, wolf, bison),
         • bear has fur, claws, big muscles, sense of smell, hibernation ability and is omnivorous
     • human activity
       • indigenous tribes e.g. the Sami in Lapland
         • logging, mining, and hunting - primary economic activity