Climates & Biomes
TYPES OF CLIMATES
• We’ve discussed climate & factors that affect it such as la4tude, eleva4on, water bodies, winds...
• However, climates are mainly classified based on average temperatures & amount of precipita/on • The most commonly used climate classifica4on system is known as the Köppen climate classifica/on system
Climates around the globe
Köppen SYstem
• The Köppen system uses mean monthly and annual values of temperature & precipita/on (& vegeta/on) to classify climates • Developed in 1900 by the Russian-‐ German climatologist Wladimir Köppen
Köppen: Review
• For decades, the Köppen system has been the best-known & most used tool for presenting the world pattern of climates
• The Köppen classification uses easily obtained data: mean monthly & annual values of temperature & precipitation • It is simple to apply & divide the world into climate regions in a realistic way
Köppen
• Köppen believed that the distribution of natural vegetation was the best expression of an overall climate • Consequently, the boundaries he chose were largely based on the limits of certain plant association
5 types of climate: Review
• The Köppen system classifies clima4c regions in a realis4c way • Has 5 principle groups: 1. Humid _tropical _______ climates A 2. Dry climates B 3. Humid mid-‐la4tude climates • •
_____ mild winters C Severe winters D
4. Polar climates E 5. ____________ climates H Highland
• •
Climate Controls
Order exists in the distribution of climate elements & the pattern of climates is not by chance The world's climate pattern reflects a regular & dependable operation of the major climate controls
Major Climate Controls
• The major controls of climate are: 1. Latitude: variations in the receipt of solar energy & temperature differences are largely a function of latitude 2. Land/water influence: marine climates are generally mild, while continental climates are typically much more extreme 3. Geographic position & prevailing winds: the moderating effect of water is more pronounced along the windward side of a continent
Major Climate Controls
4.  Mountains & highlands: mountain barriers prevent maritime air masses from reaching far inland, trigger orographic rainfall, & where they are extensive, create their own climatic regions 5.  Ocean currents: poleward-moving currents cause air temperatures to be warmer than would be expected 6.  Pressure and wind systems: the world distribution of precipitation is closely related to the distribution of Earth's major pressure & wind systems
Type A Climate – Humid Tropical • Find along the _________ EQUATOR • Constant high temperatures & year-round rainfall produce tropical rain forests • Temperatures usually average 77F • No winter • The amt. of precipita4on exceeds 200cm a yr.
HUMID T ROPICAL CLIMATES
• Two types of humid tropical climates: wet tropical climates & wet & dry tropical climates • Wet tropical climates have high temp. & much annual precipita4on • Located near Equator – gets direct sunlight & warm humid air rises & condenses to form a lot of rain • Wet & Dry tropical climates (aka Savannah) have temps. & total precipita4on similar to wet tropics, but experience dis4nct periods of low precipita4on
WET T ROPICAL CLIMATES
• Wet tropical climates are located: Amazon River Basin (South America), Congo River Basin (Africa), eastern coast of Central America, eastern coast of Brazil, the Philippines, coast of Madagascar, eastern India, southern Bangladesh, Malaysia, & Indonesia
WET AND DRY T ROPICAL CLIMATES
• Wet & Dry tropical climates (also known as savanna) are located: Northern & eastern India, central Myanmar, the Indo-‐Chinese Peninsula, northern Australia, region around the Congo River basin, south-‐central Africa, western Central America, parts of Venezuela, & parts of Brazil, southern /p of Florida, & the Caribbean Islands
Type B Climate – Dry
• Dry regions of the world cover about ___% 30 of Earth’s land area • Meager rainfall & unreliable precipitation
• Climatologists define a “dry climate” as one in which the yearly precipitation is _____ LESS than the potential water loss by evaporation
Type C Climate – Humid Middle-Latitude • Divided into mild winters & severe winters
• Mild winters (C) occur where the average temp. of the coldest month is less than 18°C (64°F) but above -3°C (27°F) • Severe winters (D) occur where the average temp. of the coldest month is -3°C (27°F) or below & the average temp. of the warmest month exceeds 10°C (50°F) • The greatest annual temp. ranges on Earth occur here
Type E Climate – Polar
• Polar climates (ET, EF) are those in which the mean temperature of the warmest 10 month is below ___°C (50°F) • Annual temp. ranges are extreme, with the lowest annual means on the planet
T UNDRA • Two types of polar climates: _______ climate (ET) & ice cap climate (EF)
Type E Climate – Polar
• Found almost exclusively in North America, the tundra climate (ET) • A _______ treeless region of grasses, sedges, mosses, and lichens with permanently frozen subsoil, called ___________ permafrost
• The ice cap climate (EF) doesn't have a single monthly mean above 0°C • The growth of vegetation is prohibited, & the landscape is one of permanent _______ and _____ ice snow
Type H Climate – Highland
• Highland climates are characterized by a great diversity of climatic conditions over a small area •
In North America, highland climates characterize the Rockies, Sierra Nevada, Cascades, and the mountains and interior plateaus of Mexico
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Variety & changeability best describe highland climates; a nearly limitless variety of _____ local climates occur in mountainous regions
The Rockies in Denver, Colorado
Climate change
• As we know, our climate can & may be changing • Some of this is due to human process, other can be accounted for by natural processes • Some natural climate-changing processes include: _______ volcanic eruptions, ocean circulation, _____ solar activity, & Earth motions
Volcanic Eruptions
• Volcanic eruptions can emit large amounts ASH & DUST of ____ ____ into the atmosphere • They also send minute particles containing ______ into the air SULFUR • If the volume of these very fine particles aerosols called _________is great enough, it can cause short-term changes in Earth’s surface temp. •
By increasing the amount of solar radiation that is reflected back into space, the Earth’s lower atmosphere begins to _____ COOL
Ocean Circulation
• Remember, EL _______ NINO is a change in ocean circulation that causes parts of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean to become warmer than usual
Solar Activity
• When the sun is most active, it contains SUNSPOT S that dark blemishes called _________ corresponds with warm periods in Europe & North America
Earth Motions
• Earth’s Motions are long-term changes • Tectonic plate movements can cause changes in the locations of landmasses and these geographic changes can cause changes in climate • Changes in the shape of Earth’s orbit & the tilt of Earth on its axis can also affect global climates
LARGE SCALE DEVELOPMENT • Besides natural processes & what we already know about human causes of global warming & climate change, largescale development, like the formation of cities, can have a huge impact on the climate for that region • Large cities cause the heat island effect & also emit a lot of greenhouse gases to produce electricity
Climate Change - GHGs
• Remember: Climate change is caused by the emission of greenhouse gases • 6 six major GHGs: • carbon dioxide • methane • nitrous oxide • hydrofluorocarbons • perfluorocarbon • sulphur hexafluoride
Climate Change - GHGs
• These greenhouse gases are released by human ac4vi4es, mainly for power genera/on • Also for wastewater treatment, landfills, & fuel for transporta4on • Power genera/on for electricity, heat, & industrial ac/vi/es makes up the bulk of emissions • Land use changes (deforesta4on/burning), agriculture and transporta4on are also factors
Climate Change Human Causes
Energy Supply/Power (26%): The burning of coal, natural gas, & oil for electricity & heat is the largest single source of global greenhouse gas emissions
Climate Change - Cities
• Ci/es burn a lot of energy & release a lot of heat • New studies find that enough waste heat rises from ci4es to influence regional climate, especially in the winter “Basically, the heat we put out, our car engines, factories, home hea4ng -‐ they all ul/mately end up in the air. See, for example, Tokyo, they give a number of heat generated. That heat is two to three 4mes larger than sunlight which heats Tokyo.” -‐ Dr. Veerabhadran Ramanathan, Professor of Atmospheric and Climate Sciences at the Scripps Ins4tu4on of Oceanography in San Diego.
Climate Change - Cities • During the winter, a jet stream carries the heat produced by ci4es like Tokyo, NY, Chicago, Shanghai, etc. around the globe
HEAT ISLANDS
• Urban heat islands like Tokyo, NY, Chicago, Shanghai, etc. don’t just warm up the ci4es – they also affect areas around the planet
• The term "heat island" describes built up areas that are hoker than nearby rural areas
• The annual mean air temperature of a city with 1 million people or more can be 1.8–5.4°F (1–3°C) warmer than its surroundings • In the evening, the difference can be as high as 22°F (12°C)
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HEAT ISLANDS Heat islands can affect communi4es by:
• • • • • •
Increasing summer4me peak energy demand Air condi4oning costs Air pollu4on Greenhouse gas emissions Heat-‐related illness & mortality Water quality
HEAT ISLANDS – health effects • Increased heat in ci4es can cause health problems including general discomfort, respiratory difficul4es, heat cramps, heat exhaus4on, heat stroke & even death
HEAT ISLANDS – Absorb sunlight
• Dark, rock-‐like materials like concrete & asphalt that roads & buildings are made with absorb high levels of energy from the sun • Sunlight is absorbed by these materials which radiate heat into the surrounding air and buildings, warming the temp., contribu4ng to the urban heat island effect
HEAT ISLANDS – trees
• Green spaces/trees help offset the forma4on of urban heat islands by cooling the regional micro-‐climate through shading & evapotranspira4on • Plan4ng trees is a way to combat urban heat islands
• 4 main ways to reduce the heat island effect are: increasing tree/vegeta4on cover; crea4ng “green roofs;” installing cool (reflec4ve roofs); using cool pavements hkp://www.urbanreleaf.org/get-‐educated/benefits-‐of-‐trees
How to reduce heat islands
Biome
• A biome is a major regional group of dis4nc4ve plant & animal communi4es best adapted to the region's physical natural environment, la4tude, al4tude & terrain • A biome can open be classified by the climate & vegeta4on type
Biome
• Each biome has a unique set of plants & animals that thrive in its climate
•
Biome A biome is large in area & encompasses
many interac4ng ecosystems • It is considered the next level of ecological organiza4on above a community, ecosystem, & landscape
An ecosystem is a community of living organisms & nonliving components of their environment interac4ng as a system
Biome
• There is no single classifica/on of biomes that is agreed upon by all scien4sts WHY?. • Because different scien/sts wish to emphasize different characteris/cs by their defini4on • Historically, however, biomes have been iden4fied & mapped based on general differences in vegeta/on type associated with regional varia4ons in climate & terrain
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Our Biomes We will divide biomes into terrestrial &
aqua4c
• We will then further break down the Earth into the following biomes: • Polar Ice Keep in mind • Tundra which one you • Coniferous forest will want to • Tropical Rainforest research for the biome • Grasslands project! • Savannah • Desert
Biomes: 2 main types
• Terrestrial: Continental – on land • Aqua/c: WATER
• Terrestrial biomes characterize ecosystems on land, & are usually iden4fied by the growth of the dominant vegeta4on, climate, & loca4on on Earth • Aqua/c biomes are usually characterize by water depth, water mo4on, & substrate
Abiotic and Biotic Factors
• Abio/c factors are those _Non-living ________ physical & chemical factors which affect the ability of organisms to survive & reproduce • Bio/c factors are all the _Living ______ things or their materials that directly or indirectly affect an organism in its environment.
Abiotic Factors
• Abio/c factors: nonliving • Examples? • • • • • • • • • •
Light intensity Temperature range Type of soil or rock pH level (acidity or alkalinity) Water availability Dissolved gases Level of pollutant Salinity Wind Air
Biotic Factors
• Bio/c factors: Living • Examples? • • • •
Animals & Plants Parasitism Disease Organisms: • Predation • Symbiosis • Mutualism • Parasitism
Polar Ice biome
• The polar ice biome is a region covered by ICE most of the year ____ • This includes large por4ons of the arc4c & Antarc4c • The Polar Ice biome is a marine biome that is rich in nutrients from the land around them • Very few aqua/c plants can live here • Plankton, sea lions, penguins, many species of fish & birds, & other mammals all enjoy this biome
Tundra biome
• The tundra biome is found far north & at the tops of mountains; is cold; not even T_____ REES can grow there • A special characteris4c of the tundra is _____________, PERMAFROST which is the soil beneath the top, thawed layer • Plants with shallow roots • Animals: hares, fox, wolf, caribou... • Average temp in summer: 54F • Average temp in winter: -‐14F
Coniferous forest biome
• A coniferous forest is a forest of Conifers, which are tree that produces seeds in cones
T REE • Most common example? PINE • Most animals here are herbivores & survive the winter by migra4ng/hiberna4ng
Tropical rain forest biome
• The Tropical Rainforest has virtually no season change • There are THOUSANDS of species of trees in the rainforests as well as animals
• Temperatures are warm throughout the year & _Precipitation ___________ occurs almost daily • Human popula/on growth & industrial expansion serve as threats; biologists predict that many species will become ex4nct before they’re even discovered
Grasslands biome
• The grasslands consist of several species of grass with some flowering plants mixed in • No trees grow because of the many FIRES ____ that occur • Animals such as the bison, wolf, & prairie dog are common in the U.S. grasslands
Savanna biome
• Savanna occurs in areas of low rainfall/ seasonal rainfall with prolonged dry periods • The African savanna is best known; also occurs in South America & Australia • Lots of grasses & occasional trees • Both trees & grasses have fire-‐adapted features such as extensive underground roots that let them survive droughts & periodic fires
Desert biome
• Deserts are dry areas found in both temperate (cold) and subtropical (warm) regions • Daily temp. extremes from hot to cold within a 24 hour period • Receives less than _10_ inches of rain a year • Likle plant coverage; sparse • Plants have adapted – likle/ no leaves • Animals are small – come out @ night to hunt • Humans cause erosion to happen more quickly here
Freshwater biome
• Freshwater includes rivers & streams (flowing) & lakes & ponds (standing-‐water), marshes & swamps (wetlands) • Occupies about _2__% of Earth’s surface • Large variety of plants & animals; can be found almost every where all over the globe
Marine biome
• The largest biome in the world is... all water • The marine biome includes all bodies of water that are salty, such as oceans • Is divided into many subgroups: inter4dal zone, seagrass beds, coral reefs, kelps, ocean (deep sea), etc....
• • • • • • • •
Treats to the ocean
Nonpoint source pollu4on (agriculture runoff) Invasive species Overfishing Bycatch (uninten4onally catch/kill dolphins..) Point source pollu4on (like cruise ships) Coastal development Climate change (Esp. coral reefs) Habitat destruc4on (pulling nets)
Terms to Know: • Biome: A major regional group of dis4nc4ve
plant & animal communi4es best adapted to the region's physical natural environment, la4tude, al4tude & terrain
• Biodiversity: Variety of living things in an ecosystem (high biodiversity = large assortment of different species living near each other) • Abio/c: Nonliving factors of an area • Bio/c: Living organisms of an area or environment
• • • •
Biome Project:
Consult the rubric & Checklist Due Tuesday May work in groups of 2-3 Choose a biome that is interesting to you! Even ones that were not covered in this PowerPoint such as Prairie & Boreal Forest