2. Uneven Heating of Earth’s Surface Earth rotates on an axis (23.5’) So sunlight hits Earth at different angles Creates Climate Zones Tropics Region between Tropic of Cancer (23.5’N) and Tropic of Capricorn (23.5’S) Most direct sunlight Polar Zones Region north of the Arctic Circle (66.5’N) and South of the Antarctic Circle (66.5’S) Least amount of direct sunlight Temperate Zones Latitudes between the Tropics and the Polar Zones Seasonal changes; no extreme heat or cold These climate zones are important and create BIOMES
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4. Wind, Precipitation and Currents Our planet's rotation produces a force on all bodies moving relative to the Earth Due to Earth's approximately spherical shape, this force is greatest at the poles and least at the Equator. "Coriolis effect” the force that causes the direction of winds and ocean currents to be deflected Northern Hemisphere wind and currents deflected toward the right Southern Hemisphere wind and currents deflected to the left.
5. Climate vs. Weather Weather Day-to-day conditions of Earth's atmosphere precipitation, humidity, temperature, etc. Changes every day Climate The average, year-after-year, conditions (temperature and precipitation) that prevail in a specific region Microclimate Climate in a specific area that varies from the surrounding climate region Ex. The burrow of a Kangaroo rat in the New Mexico desert (dark and cool)
6. Biomes Terrestrial ecosystems that cover a large region of Earth Characterized by communities of plants and other organisms adapted to the climate and other abiotic factors
7. Major Terrestrial Biomes Tropical Rainforest Tropical Dry Forest Tropical Savannah Desert Temperate Grasslands (Prairie) Chaparral /shrubland Temperate Deciduous forest North Western Coniferous Boreal Forest/Taiga Tundra
9. A little bit about water Water is the biological medium on Earth Universal Solvent Solvent: the substance that the solute (salt) is dissovled in (water) Solute: substance (salt) that is dissolved in a liquid Solution: when solutes are uniformly distributed throughout a water solvent All living organisms require water more than any other substance Most cells are surrounded by water, and cells themselves are about 70-95% water The abundance of water is the main reason the Earth is habitable
11. Water as the Universal Solvent Water is an effective solvent because it readily forms hydrogen bonds When an ionic compound is dissolved in water, each ion is surrounded by a sphere of water molecules, a hydration shell Water can also dissolve compounds made of nonionic polar molecules Even large polar molecules such as proteins can dissolve in water if they have ionic and polar regions
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13. LE 3-7a Lysozyme molecule in a nonaqueous environment.
26. Moderation of Temperature Water absorbs heat from warmer air and releases stored heat to cooler air Water can absorb or release a large amount of heat with only a slight change in its own temperature
27. Weather and Water Coastal Areas During the hot day, the ocean/lake will absorb energy from the air so that it feels cooler At night, when the air is cooler, the water releases all the stored energy, making it warmer at night “moderate” temperature Inland areas (no water nearby) During the hot day, there is NO water to absorb heat so it is realllllyy hot (think desert) At night, no energy is release, so it gets very cold
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30. Evaporative Cooling Evaporation is transformation of a substance from liquid to gas Heat of vaporization is the heat a liquid must absorb for 1 gram to be converted to gas As a liquid evaporates, its remaining surface cools, a process called evaporative cooling Evaporative cooling of water helps stabilize temperatures in organisms and bodies of water “Sweating” liquid to gas requires heat…this heat comes from inside our body What does the saying “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity” mean? Humidity: water vapor in the air If there is more water in the air, it is harder for water molecules to evaporate off your skin…so how do you feel? Hot and sticky!
