The document discusses the climates of mountains, plateaus, and coastal regions. It describes several key factors that influence each climate type, including temperature, winds, solar radiation, rainfall, and elevation. Specific examples are provided of the climates in mountain ranges like the Alps and Himalayas, plateaus like the Tibetan Plateau and Deccan Plateau, and coastal regions. The climates are unique due to each region's geographic features and their interaction with atmospheric circulation patterns. Significant climate change threats are also noted, such as rapid glacier melting in the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau.
The document discusses different climate classification systems, including the Köppen system which divides climates into five main groups (A, B, C, D, E) based on temperature and precipitation patterns. It provides details on the distinctive features and locations of climate types within each group, with a focus on tropical humid (A), dry (B), and mild midlatitude (C) climates. The Köppen system is presented as an empirical, simple to use tool for understanding global climate distribution.
This document discusses three main climatic zones: tropical, equatorial, and temperate. It provides characteristics of each zone. The tropical zone extends from 0-23.5 degrees latitude and has very warm temperatures due to high solar radiation. The subtropics from 23.5-40 degrees receive less moisture and have deserts. The temperate zone from 40-60 degrees has cooler average temperatures and distinct seasons compared to the other zones.
Climate is defined as the long-term weather patterns of a particular region, averaged over a period of 30 years. It is influenced by several factors including solar radiation, latitude, elevation, wind, ocean currents, and the amount of precipitation an area receives. Together these factors help determine the temperature and moisture levels of different parts of the world, which then influence the types of climates and ecosystems that exist in each region. As climate change causes rising global temperatures, many species are experiencing shifts in their natural ranges and changes to the timing of seasonal life cycles in order to adapt to the altering environmental conditions.
The document discusses climate and weather topics including:
1. The seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth and amount of sunlight different areas receive throughout the year.
2. Weather involves current atmospheric conditions while climate describes long-term weather patterns.
3. Major weather events like hurricanes and tornadoes form due to interactions between warm and cold air masses and can cause extensive damage.
The document discusses different climatic regions of the Earth. It begins by defining weather and climate. It then explains how various factors like solar radiation, latitude, elevation, wind, precipitation, and water currents affect the climate in different regions. The major climatic regions discussed are the frigid, temperate, and torrid zones. The polar regions receive the least sunlight due to their high latitudes and have a frigid climate with extreme cold temperatures and heavy glaciation. The tropics between 23.5 degrees north and south latitude have a torrid climate with the sun directly overhead twice a year.
The document summarizes different climates and their characteristics. It discusses the Earth's movements that cause day/night and seasons. It then defines climate and weather. The main climates discussed are hot (equatorial, tropical, desert), mild (oceanic, Mediterranean, continental, Chinese), and cold (polar, alpine). Each climate's location, temperatures, precipitation, vegetation and rivers are described. Hot climates have high temperatures year-round while cold climates are very cold. Mild climates experience four seasons and have varying precipitation patterns.
The document discusses climate regions and climate classification systems. It explains that climate is long-term weather patterns defined by temperature and precipitation, and influences vegetation, wildlife, soils and more. It describes Koppen's climate classification system which divides climates into 5 main groups (A, B, C, D, E) based on temperature and precipitation thresholds. The document also discusses global pressure and wind belts that influence rainfall patterns and shifts in climates between latitudes.
The document discusses different climate classification systems, including the Köppen system which divides climates into five main groups (A, B, C, D, E) based on temperature and precipitation patterns. It provides details on the distinctive features and locations of climate types within each group, with a focus on tropical humid (A), dry (B), and mild midlatitude (C) climates. The Köppen system is presented as an empirical, simple to use tool for understanding global climate distribution.
This document discusses three main climatic zones: tropical, equatorial, and temperate. It provides characteristics of each zone. The tropical zone extends from 0-23.5 degrees latitude and has very warm temperatures due to high solar radiation. The subtropics from 23.5-40 degrees receive less moisture and have deserts. The temperate zone from 40-60 degrees has cooler average temperatures and distinct seasons compared to the other zones.
Climate is defined as the long-term weather patterns of a particular region, averaged over a period of 30 years. It is influenced by several factors including solar radiation, latitude, elevation, wind, ocean currents, and the amount of precipitation an area receives. Together these factors help determine the temperature and moisture levels of different parts of the world, which then influence the types of climates and ecosystems that exist in each region. As climate change causes rising global temperatures, many species are experiencing shifts in their natural ranges and changes to the timing of seasonal life cycles in order to adapt to the altering environmental conditions.
The document discusses climate and weather topics including:
1. The seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth and amount of sunlight different areas receive throughout the year.
2. Weather involves current atmospheric conditions while climate describes long-term weather patterns.
3. Major weather events like hurricanes and tornadoes form due to interactions between warm and cold air masses and can cause extensive damage.
The document discusses different climatic regions of the Earth. It begins by defining weather and climate. It then explains how various factors like solar radiation, latitude, elevation, wind, precipitation, and water currents affect the climate in different regions. The major climatic regions discussed are the frigid, temperate, and torrid zones. The polar regions receive the least sunlight due to their high latitudes and have a frigid climate with extreme cold temperatures and heavy glaciation. The tropics between 23.5 degrees north and south latitude have a torrid climate with the sun directly overhead twice a year.
The document summarizes different climates and their characteristics. It discusses the Earth's movements that cause day/night and seasons. It then defines climate and weather. The main climates discussed are hot (equatorial, tropical, desert), mild (oceanic, Mediterranean, continental, Chinese), and cold (polar, alpine). Each climate's location, temperatures, precipitation, vegetation and rivers are described. Hot climates have high temperatures year-round while cold climates are very cold. Mild climates experience four seasons and have varying precipitation patterns.
The document discusses climate regions and climate classification systems. It explains that climate is long-term weather patterns defined by temperature and precipitation, and influences vegetation, wildlife, soils and more. It describes Koppen's climate classification system which divides climates into 5 main groups (A, B, C, D, E) based on temperature and precipitation thresholds. The document also discusses global pressure and wind belts that influence rainfall patterns and shifts in climates between latitudes.
The document discusses different types of tropical climates. It describes tropical climates as having relatively constant temperatures throughout the year, dominated by precipitation patterns rather than seasonal temperature variations. It identifies three main tropical climate zones: warm humid equatorial, hot dry desert/semi-desert, and composite/monsoon. For each climate zone, it provides details on temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, and vegetation patterns. Locations of each climate type are also mapped.
INDIA CLIMATE VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE MADE BY (S.CHIDAMBARANATHAN)3chidam
This document discusses various topics related to weather, climate, and vegetation in India. It covers different seasons and climates in India, the factors that influence weather, the major types of natural vegetation including tropical rainforests and their characteristics. It also discusses mountain vegetation, mangrove forests, and wildlife found in Indian forests. The document contains revision questions and answers related to these topics.
This document discusses climate and vegetation. It begins by explaining how the Earth's rotation and revolution around the sun cause seasons. It then defines weather as short-term atmospheric conditions while climate describes average weather patterns over long periods. Factors like sunlight, wind, elevation and location influence climate patterns. The Earth is divided into tropical, middle and high latitude climate zones based on distance from the equator. Finally, it describes how different vegetation regions like forests, savannas, grasslands and deserts correspond to climate patterns and which vegetation region the reader likely lives in.
Local and global factors affecting vegetation growthjodiecmills
The document identifies and describes several global and local factors that impact vegetation growth in different biomes. Globally, temperature and precipitation patterns influence plant life, with dense forests found near the equator and in mid-latitudes receiving more heat and rainfall. Locally, proximity to seas moderates temperatures and increases rainfall while higher altitudes experience colder temperatures and less plant growth. Other local factors like geology, drainage, water, and soil nutrients also affect vegetation.
The document discusses different types of weather systems and atmospheric phenomena. It defines various terms like air mass, fronts, midlatitude cyclones, and anticyclones. It describes the characteristics and movement of these weather systems. Midlatitude cyclones are large low pressure systems that move with the westerlies and are responsible for day-to-day weather changes in many populated regions. Anticyclones are high pressure systems that also move with the westerlies but are prone to stagnation over regions.
Polar climate is found in the North and South Poles and is characterized by very cold temperatures year-round. Winters see temperatures as low as -50°C while summers are slightly warmer at -10°C. Precipitation is low with few rains, and the landscape consists mainly of tundra with mosses and lichens.
The document discusses key concepts relating to climate and climate change. It defines climate as the overall weather pattern of a region over a long period of time, typically 30 years. It is influenced by several factors, including latitude, altitude, distance from large bodies of water, ocean currents, and topography. Climate change refers to long-term shifts in global weather patterns and is exacerbated by human activities that release greenhouse gases and increase carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Climate change can have drastic effects including rising sea levels, more severe weather events, and threatened extinction of plant and animal species.
This document discusses climate zones and vegetation in North America. It describes several climate zones including tundra, subarctic, humid continental, marine west coast, humid subtropical, and Mediterranean. It notes temperature and precipitation patterns as well as typical vegetation for each zone. The document also discusses how human-environment interaction has changed over time as people migrated across North America and built cities, trails, waterways, railroads, and highway systems.
The document summarizes key components of the atmosphere:
- Nitrogen (78%) dilutes oxygen and is essential for living things.
- Oxygen (21%) is used for respiration and combustion.
- Trace gases like carbon dioxide (0.03%) are used by plants but increasing amounts from fossil fuels may cause warming.
- The atmosphere has layers and weather involves daily temperature/precipitation patterns, while climate describes long-term weather averages.
Climate is determined by temperature and precipitation, which are affected by various natural factors. Latitude affects temperature, with warmer temperatures closer to the equator and colder temperatures farther from the equator. Elevation also impacts temperature, with higher elevations experiencing cooler temperatures due to less dense air. Ocean currents influence nearby land temperatures, with warm or cold currents causing temperature variations. Precipitation is impacted by prevailing winds and mountain ranges, with windward sides of mountains receiving more rain and leeward sides receiving less. The world's climates can be divided into polar, temperate, and tropical zones based on average temperatures.
Climatic Controls- Latitude, Altitude, Pressure and wind system, Continentality, Ocean Currents, Relief
Importance of Himalayas
Indian Monsoon
La Nina
El NIno
Water Divide
The document discusses several key factors that influence climate, including latitude, elevation, winds, ocean currents, and large-scale weather phenomena like El Niño. Latitude plays a major role, with cooler climates found at higher latitudes and warmer climates near the equator. Elevation also influences climate, with temperatures generally decreasing about 3.5 degrees F for every 1,000 feet gained in elevation. Winds and ocean currents distribute heat around the planet and influence weather patterns and temperatures in coastal regions.
Fronts develop when air masses of different temperatures collide. The three primary frontal zones are the Intertropical Convergence Zone, the Arctic Frontal Zone, and the Polar Frontal Zone. Cold fronts are marked by a wind shift, temperature drop, and pressure rise, and are often preceded by cumulonimbus clouds and squall lines. Warm fronts are preceded by cirrus clouds and cause poor visibility, fog, and steady precipitation. Occluded fronts occur when a fast-moving cold front overtakes a slow-moving warm front and lifts it aloft, forming an unstable cyclonic rotation.
The document discusses various topics related to weather including:
1. It defines weather as the short-term state of the atmosphere varying from minutes to weeks and is influenced by factors like temperature, precipitation and wind.
2. It explains key weather phenomena like the water cycle, air masses, jet streams, weather fronts, and how different types of precipitation like rain, snow and hail are formed.
3. It discusses tropical weather patterns including the intertropical convergence zone and how typhoons are formed, and also explains storm surge and the factors that influence its height.
The document divides the planet into five main climate zones - two cool climate zones within the polar circles which have cold temperatures all year round due to the sun's oblique angle, two temperate zones between the tropics and polar circles which have mild temperatures that vary seasonally, and one hot climate zone between the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn which has always high temperatures with little seasonal difference due to the sun's perpendicular rays. Within each zone there are further divisions of specific climate types.
- Cyprus has 4 main natural areas that influence its climate: the Troodos Mountains, Pentadaktylos Mountains, Mesoria plain, and coastal plains.
- The climate is typically Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. However, dust clouds from the Sahara and Middle East have recently affected Cyprus's climate and extreme weather.
- Climate change is already impacting Cyprus through decreasing rainfall by 9% on average and increasing temperatures by 0.5°C compared to historical averages. Models predict further reductions in rainfall of 10-15% and temperature increases of 1.0-1.5°C by 2030.
Waitakere Ranges – Elements And Interactions, Spatial Variationsnigelcato
The document summarizes the key elements and interactions within the Waitakere Ranges, including the geological, climatic, pedological, vegetation, and wildlife systems. The climate is slightly cooler and wetter than Auckland due to the Ranges' elevation and exposure to westerly winds. Soils vary depending on location but are generally red-yellow podzol formed from volcanic rock. Vegetation is classified as sub-tropical rainforest and varies with elevation, aspect, and microclimate. The forest has distinct layers and was historically dominated by kauri and other native trees. Wildlife helps distribute seeds to aid forest growth and regeneration.
Weather refers to current atmospheric conditions like temperature, wind, and precipitation, while climate describes average weather conditions over a long period of time. India's climate is influenced by its location near the equator, the Himalayan mountains, ocean currents, and the seasonal southwest monsoon winds which bring heavy rainfall during summer. The four main seasons in India are the dry, cool winter; hot, dry summer; wet, rainy monsoon season; and the transition retreating monsoon period in fall.
This document provides an overview of weather and climate elements and factors, including temperature, humidity, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, and wind. It then describes the major climate types around the world, grouping them into hot climates near the equator, temperate climates between the tropics and polar circles, and cold polar climates. Specific climate types discussed include equatorial, tropical, desert, Mediterranean, continental, oceanic, subtropical, polar, and alpine. Maps and diagrams are referenced to help identify the locations and characteristics of different climates.
Unit 5 b ch 13 s1 climate & climate changewja10255
Weather is the short-term atmospheric conditions while climate is the long-term prevailing weather patterns of an area. The four main factors that determine climate are latitude, atmospheric circulation patterns, oceanic circulation patterns, and local geography. Latitude determines the amount of sunlight an area receives, which impacts temperatures and seasonal variations. Atmospheric circulation patterns such as global wind belts and ocean currents redistribute heat around the Earth, influencing coastal and regional climates. Seasonal changes are caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis, which alters the angle at which sunlight strikes different parts of the planet throughout the year.
The document discusses different types of tropical climates. It describes tropical climates as having relatively constant temperatures throughout the year, dominated by precipitation patterns rather than seasonal temperature variations. It identifies three main tropical climate zones: warm humid equatorial, hot dry desert/semi-desert, and composite/monsoon. For each climate zone, it provides details on temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, and vegetation patterns. Locations of each climate type are also mapped.
INDIA CLIMATE VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE MADE BY (S.CHIDAMBARANATHAN)3chidam
This document discusses various topics related to weather, climate, and vegetation in India. It covers different seasons and climates in India, the factors that influence weather, the major types of natural vegetation including tropical rainforests and their characteristics. It also discusses mountain vegetation, mangrove forests, and wildlife found in Indian forests. The document contains revision questions and answers related to these topics.
This document discusses climate and vegetation. It begins by explaining how the Earth's rotation and revolution around the sun cause seasons. It then defines weather as short-term atmospheric conditions while climate describes average weather patterns over long periods. Factors like sunlight, wind, elevation and location influence climate patterns. The Earth is divided into tropical, middle and high latitude climate zones based on distance from the equator. Finally, it describes how different vegetation regions like forests, savannas, grasslands and deserts correspond to climate patterns and which vegetation region the reader likely lives in.
Local and global factors affecting vegetation growthjodiecmills
The document identifies and describes several global and local factors that impact vegetation growth in different biomes. Globally, temperature and precipitation patterns influence plant life, with dense forests found near the equator and in mid-latitudes receiving more heat and rainfall. Locally, proximity to seas moderates temperatures and increases rainfall while higher altitudes experience colder temperatures and less plant growth. Other local factors like geology, drainage, water, and soil nutrients also affect vegetation.
The document discusses different types of weather systems and atmospheric phenomena. It defines various terms like air mass, fronts, midlatitude cyclones, and anticyclones. It describes the characteristics and movement of these weather systems. Midlatitude cyclones are large low pressure systems that move with the westerlies and are responsible for day-to-day weather changes in many populated regions. Anticyclones are high pressure systems that also move with the westerlies but are prone to stagnation over regions.
Polar climate is found in the North and South Poles and is characterized by very cold temperatures year-round. Winters see temperatures as low as -50°C while summers are slightly warmer at -10°C. Precipitation is low with few rains, and the landscape consists mainly of tundra with mosses and lichens.
The document discusses key concepts relating to climate and climate change. It defines climate as the overall weather pattern of a region over a long period of time, typically 30 years. It is influenced by several factors, including latitude, altitude, distance from large bodies of water, ocean currents, and topography. Climate change refers to long-term shifts in global weather patterns and is exacerbated by human activities that release greenhouse gases and increase carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Climate change can have drastic effects including rising sea levels, more severe weather events, and threatened extinction of plant and animal species.
This document discusses climate zones and vegetation in North America. It describes several climate zones including tundra, subarctic, humid continental, marine west coast, humid subtropical, and Mediterranean. It notes temperature and precipitation patterns as well as typical vegetation for each zone. The document also discusses how human-environment interaction has changed over time as people migrated across North America and built cities, trails, waterways, railroads, and highway systems.
The document summarizes key components of the atmosphere:
- Nitrogen (78%) dilutes oxygen and is essential for living things.
- Oxygen (21%) is used for respiration and combustion.
- Trace gases like carbon dioxide (0.03%) are used by plants but increasing amounts from fossil fuels may cause warming.
- The atmosphere has layers and weather involves daily temperature/precipitation patterns, while climate describes long-term weather averages.
Climate is determined by temperature and precipitation, which are affected by various natural factors. Latitude affects temperature, with warmer temperatures closer to the equator and colder temperatures farther from the equator. Elevation also impacts temperature, with higher elevations experiencing cooler temperatures due to less dense air. Ocean currents influence nearby land temperatures, with warm or cold currents causing temperature variations. Precipitation is impacted by prevailing winds and mountain ranges, with windward sides of mountains receiving more rain and leeward sides receiving less. The world's climates can be divided into polar, temperate, and tropical zones based on average temperatures.
Climatic Controls- Latitude, Altitude, Pressure and wind system, Continentality, Ocean Currents, Relief
Importance of Himalayas
Indian Monsoon
La Nina
El NIno
Water Divide
The document discusses several key factors that influence climate, including latitude, elevation, winds, ocean currents, and large-scale weather phenomena like El Niño. Latitude plays a major role, with cooler climates found at higher latitudes and warmer climates near the equator. Elevation also influences climate, with temperatures generally decreasing about 3.5 degrees F for every 1,000 feet gained in elevation. Winds and ocean currents distribute heat around the planet and influence weather patterns and temperatures in coastal regions.
Fronts develop when air masses of different temperatures collide. The three primary frontal zones are the Intertropical Convergence Zone, the Arctic Frontal Zone, and the Polar Frontal Zone. Cold fronts are marked by a wind shift, temperature drop, and pressure rise, and are often preceded by cumulonimbus clouds and squall lines. Warm fronts are preceded by cirrus clouds and cause poor visibility, fog, and steady precipitation. Occluded fronts occur when a fast-moving cold front overtakes a slow-moving warm front and lifts it aloft, forming an unstable cyclonic rotation.
The document discusses various topics related to weather including:
1. It defines weather as the short-term state of the atmosphere varying from minutes to weeks and is influenced by factors like temperature, precipitation and wind.
2. It explains key weather phenomena like the water cycle, air masses, jet streams, weather fronts, and how different types of precipitation like rain, snow and hail are formed.
3. It discusses tropical weather patterns including the intertropical convergence zone and how typhoons are formed, and also explains storm surge and the factors that influence its height.
The document divides the planet into five main climate zones - two cool climate zones within the polar circles which have cold temperatures all year round due to the sun's oblique angle, two temperate zones between the tropics and polar circles which have mild temperatures that vary seasonally, and one hot climate zone between the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn which has always high temperatures with little seasonal difference due to the sun's perpendicular rays. Within each zone there are further divisions of specific climate types.
- Cyprus has 4 main natural areas that influence its climate: the Troodos Mountains, Pentadaktylos Mountains, Mesoria plain, and coastal plains.
- The climate is typically Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. However, dust clouds from the Sahara and Middle East have recently affected Cyprus's climate and extreme weather.
- Climate change is already impacting Cyprus through decreasing rainfall by 9% on average and increasing temperatures by 0.5°C compared to historical averages. Models predict further reductions in rainfall of 10-15% and temperature increases of 1.0-1.5°C by 2030.
Waitakere Ranges – Elements And Interactions, Spatial Variationsnigelcato
The document summarizes the key elements and interactions within the Waitakere Ranges, including the geological, climatic, pedological, vegetation, and wildlife systems. The climate is slightly cooler and wetter than Auckland due to the Ranges' elevation and exposure to westerly winds. Soils vary depending on location but are generally red-yellow podzol formed from volcanic rock. Vegetation is classified as sub-tropical rainforest and varies with elevation, aspect, and microclimate. The forest has distinct layers and was historically dominated by kauri and other native trees. Wildlife helps distribute seeds to aid forest growth and regeneration.
Weather refers to current atmospheric conditions like temperature, wind, and precipitation, while climate describes average weather conditions over a long period of time. India's climate is influenced by its location near the equator, the Himalayan mountains, ocean currents, and the seasonal southwest monsoon winds which bring heavy rainfall during summer. The four main seasons in India are the dry, cool winter; hot, dry summer; wet, rainy monsoon season; and the transition retreating monsoon period in fall.
This document provides an overview of weather and climate elements and factors, including temperature, humidity, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, and wind. It then describes the major climate types around the world, grouping them into hot climates near the equator, temperate climates between the tropics and polar circles, and cold polar climates. Specific climate types discussed include equatorial, tropical, desert, Mediterranean, continental, oceanic, subtropical, polar, and alpine. Maps and diagrams are referenced to help identify the locations and characteristics of different climates.
Unit 5 b ch 13 s1 climate & climate changewja10255
Weather is the short-term atmospheric conditions while climate is the long-term prevailing weather patterns of an area. The four main factors that determine climate are latitude, atmospheric circulation patterns, oceanic circulation patterns, and local geography. Latitude determines the amount of sunlight an area receives, which impacts temperatures and seasonal variations. Atmospheric circulation patterns such as global wind belts and ocean currents redistribute heat around the Earth, influencing coastal and regional climates. Seasonal changes are caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis, which alters the angle at which sunlight strikes different parts of the planet throughout the year.
This document looks at the factors that affect weather and climate. The weather systems that also affect the Caribbean is also examined. These include ITCZ, Hurricanes, Cold Fronts, Easterly waves, Anticyclones
The document describes the layers of the Earth's atmosphere and how factors like latitude, altitude, distance from bodies of water, and the greenhouse effect impact climate. It then outlines the major climate zones on Earth - polar, temperate, and tropical - and provides examples of different climate types within each zone, including rainforest, monsoon, oceanic, continental, arid, and highland climates.
The document discusses microclimates, specifically focusing on upland regions, coastal regions, and forests. It provides details on how factors like elevation, proximity to bodies of water, and vegetation influence temperature, precipitation, wind, and other climate variables at small, localized scales compared to broader regional climates. Examples are given comparing the climates of locations in Devon, England to illustrate temperature, rainfall, and sunshine differences between an upland site and two coastal sites only 20 miles apart.
The atmosphere can be summarized as follows:
1) The atmosphere is the layer of gases surrounding the Earth that makes life possible. It is mainly composed of nitrogen and oxygen and extends thousands of kilometers above the Earth's surface.
2) The atmosphere is divided into layers with different temperatures, thicknesses, and compositions including the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.
3) Key components of the atmosphere include temperature, air pressure, precipitation, and wind, which are all influenced by global and local geographic factors and help determine the weather and climate of different regions.
The document discusses several key factors that influence climate patterns around the world. Latitude plays a major role, with locations closer to the equator generally having warmer climates than areas farther from the equator. Elevation also affects climate, as higher elevations tend to be cooler than surrounding lower areas. Other influential factors include ocean currents, wind patterns, and recurring weather phenomena like El Niño.
The atmosphere is the layer of gases surrounding the Earth that makes life possible. It extends thousands of kilometres and is composed primarily of nitrogen and oxygen, along with other gases. The atmosphere is divided into layers with varying temperatures, thicknesses, and compositions, including the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere closest to Earth's surface. Weather describes short-term atmospheric conditions in a particular place, while climate refers to average weather conditions over a longer period of time.
An area's climate is defined as the typical weather patterns over a long period of time, and is influenced by factors like latitude, distance from the sea, and elevation. Climate differs from weather, which describes short term conditions, and takes much longer to change than weather. There are several major climatic regions including tropical, tundra, polar, desert, equatorial, continental, and Mediterranean climates which are characterized by different temperature and precipitation levels.
An area's climate is defined as the typical weather patterns over a long period of time, and is influenced by factors like latitude, distance from the sea, and elevation. Climate differs from weather, which describes short term conditions, and takes much longer to change than weather. There are several major climatic regions including tropical, tundra, polar, desert, equatorial, continental, and Mediterranean climates which are characterized by different temperature and precipitation levels.
The document discusses the difficulty of convincing Americans about the impending environmental crisis due to the US being the world's largest consumer and polluter. It will take US leadership to build international consensus on addressing this issue. The document also provides background on the El Nino phenomenon and its worldwide climatic effects.
The atmosphere is divided into layers including the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere. It extends thousands of kilometres and is composed primarily of nitrogen and oxygen but also contains argon, carbon dioxide and other gases. The temperature, thickness and composition varies between each atmospheric layer.
The document provides an overview of world geography, beginning with facts about the Earth's position in space and the causes of seasons. It then discusses various forces that shape the Earth's surface, including plate tectonics, weathering, erosion, and the formation of landforms such as mountains and valleys. Various climate zones are also outlined based on latitude and other geographic factors. The document concludes by examining topics like population distribution and density, cultural regions, and different political and economic systems around the world.
The document provides an overview of world geography, beginning with facts about the Earth's position in space and the causes of seasons. It then discusses various forces that shape the Earth's surface, including plate tectonics, weathering, erosion, and the resulting landforms such as mountains, valleys, and plains. Various climate zones are also described based on latitude and other geographic factors. The document concludes by covering topics like population distribution and growth, global cultures, and different political and economic systems around the world.
This document provides a summary of key topics related to air, weather, and climate:
1. It outlines the composition and layers of the atmosphere, including the troposphere, stratosphere, and thermosphere.
2. It describes greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect, how solar radiation is absorbed and reflected, and factors influencing global temperatures.
3. It discusses weather patterns like convection currents, wind systems, ocean currents, frontal systems, and cyclonic storms.
4. It also covers natural climate variability, historical climate changes, human-caused climate change, and potential solutions to reducing greenhouse gases.
DID YOU KNOWAccording to the American Wind Energy Association,.docxMARRY7
| DID YOU KNOW
According to the American Wind Energy Association, by the end of 2009 U. S. wind energy capacity totaled 35,000 megawatts. One megawatt is enough electricity to supply 250-300 average American households.
trade winds. The remainder travels poleward and is also deflected, generating the prevailing westerlies of the midlati-tudes. As the westerlies move poleward, they encounter the cool polar easterlies in the region of the subpolar low. The interaction of these warm and cool winds produces the stormy belt known as the polar front. The source region for the variable polar easterlies is the polar high. Here, cold polar air is subsiding and spreading equatorward.
In summary, this simplified global circulation is dominated by four pressure zones. The subtropical and polar highs are areas of dry subsiding air that flows outward at the surface, producing the prevailing winds. The low-pressure zones of the equatorial and subpolar regions are associated with inward and upward airflow accompanied by clouds and precipitation.
Influence of Continents
Up to this point, we have described the surface pressure and associated winds as continuous belts around Earth. However, the only truly continuous pressure belt is the subpolar low in the Southern Hemisphere, where the ocean is uninterrupted by landmasses. At other latitudes, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere, where landmasses break up the ocean surface, large seasonal temperature differences disrupt the pattern, figure i 3. i 6 shows the resulting pressure and wind patterns for January and July. The circulation over the oceans is dominated by semipermanent cells of high pressure in the subtropics and cells of low pressure over the subpolar regions. The subtropical highs are responsible for the trade winds and westerlies, as mentioned earlier.
The large landmasses, on the other hand, particularly Asia, become cold in the winter and develop a seasonal high-pressure system from which surface flow is directed off the land (Figure 13.16). In the summer, the opposite occurs; the landmasses are heated and develop a low-pressure cell, which permits air to flow onto the land. These seasonal changes in wind direction are known as the monsoons. During warm months, areas such as India experience a flow of warm, water-laden air from the Indian Ocean, which produces the rainy summer monsoon. The winter monsoon is dominated by dry continental air. A similar situation exists, but to a lesser extent, over North America.
In summary, the general circulation is produced by semipermanent cells of high and low pressure over the oceans and is complicated by seasonal pressure changes over land.
THE WESTERLIES
The circulation in the midlatitudes, the zone of the westerlies, is complex and does not fit the convection system proposed for the tropics. Between 30 and 60 degrees latitude, the general west-to-east flow is interrupted by the migration of cyclones and anticyclones. In the Northern Hemisphere, thes ...
Deserts occur in broad belts around 30 degrees north and south of the equator, where global circulation patterns result in descending dry air. They receive less than 250mm of rain per year. Deserts form due to high surface temperatures, which cause greater evaporation, and topography such as rain shadows behind mountain ranges. Common desert landforms include mesas, buttes, wadis, alluvial fans, playa lakes, inselbergs, and bolsons. Erosion by wind abrasion and deflation shapes the landscape over time, creating features like ventifacts and yardangs.
Tropical regions are defined as the area between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, where the sun is directly overhead at some point each year. Seasonal temperature swings in the tropics are typically small compared to mid-latitudes, and seasons are determined more by changes in rainfall and clouds. Tropical climates have high temperatures year-round, abundant rainfall with a wet and dry season, and small annual temperature ranges. Climate change has resulted in increased temperatures and precipitation variability in the tropics, with models predicting increases of 1-4°C and potential increases in drought length.
G9 Science Q3- Week 4_5- Factors that affect Climate.pptMAESTRELLAMesa2
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1. GI – 514
GEOINFORMATICS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
CLIMATIC PATTERN IN MOUNTAINS,
PLATEAU, COASTAL REGIONS –
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
Submitted by :
Aakancha Anand
MGI/10006/19
2. Introduction
– Here we have discussed the different climatic patterns of mountains , plateaus and coastal region. We will come to
know the factors that influence the climatic conditions over these areas all over the world.
– We have also highlighted the climatic conditions in major mountain belts and plateaus of the world. Also realized
how climatic changes in Tibetan plateau and Himalayas are a big threat to the whole ecosystem.
– Lastly we have covered all the major points related to the climate of mountains , plateaus and coastal region and
how we can conserve the environment by sustainable development.
3. Mountain Climate
Factors affecting mountainous climate
Temperature and winds
– Mountains have predictable wind patterns, which interfere with the thermal stratification in a typical way.
Similar to the sea and land breeze in coastal areas, winds tends to blow from the highland into the valley at
night (contributing to the above-mentioned inversions), and from valley to mountain during the day.
– When winds are driven over the mountains or becomes heated by the sun ; the air rises, expands, forms
clouds and rain. As this air descends on the other (lee) side, it becomes compressed again, dries and warms
up. This wind can be a quite strong, gusty, and dry wind. This dry and warm wind is called the Föhn in
Europe, the 'Chinook' in the USA, Halny Waitr in Poland, the Zonda in Argentina and in New Zealand the
Nor’west arch. They are infamous for their ability to make snow melt rapidly due to their warmth and
dryness.
– However as we have seen earlier not all downslope winds are warm. Even when air warms as it descends, it
can still be cooler than the air it is displacing. They can be biting cold and in France are called the
Mistral. It is the effect of topography, which is largely responsible for wind turbulence in mountains.
5. Solar Radiation
– Due to high elevation, low aerosol load and low moisture, solar energy undergoes
significantly less absorption by the atmosphere than in the lowlands. In addition, shade,
slope, and cloudiness play a dominant part in the spatial distribution of solar energy at
a given elevation, to the extent that solar energy input can easily vary by a factor of 100
from a permanently shaded valley bottom to a well exposed slope.
Figure 1: Amount of energy received by a sloping surface compared
with a horizontal surface (Northern Hemisphere, 45º latitude). The
abscissa indicates the slope in degrees, varying from 0º (horizontal)
to 90º (vertical), while the different curves show the effect of aspect,
i.e. the direction which is perpendicular to the surface points, e.g.
East and West indicates the energy received by surfaces that face the
East and those that face the West.
6. Rainfall and water balance
– Atmospheric water tends to precipitate when an air mass is lifted and cooled when it reaches a mountain range.
Windward slopes typically received significantly more rains than the leeward slopes. This is particularly
spectacular in monsoon climates when some stations at the foothills of the Himalayas are among the wettest
locations on Earth (Cherrapunji, India, 10600mm per year). The same phenomenon occurs as well in other
continents, albeit in a less spectacular fashion: la Vuelta, Colombia, records 9050 mm per year and Douala,
Cameroon, 3800 mm.
Mount Kilimanjaro, situated at 3 degrees Southern latitude, is exposed successively to
the SE monsoon and to the NE monsoon, resulting in the East facing-slopes being
significantly wetter than the Western ones, some of which are actually semi-arid.
Kilimanjaro illustrates another well known features of rainfall in mountains: once all the
precipitable water has been removed from the atmosphere, rainfall decreases again, so
that, similar to the "warm belt" just above temperature inversions, many mountains also
display a "wet belt", usually at elevations significantly higher than the "warm belt"
(figures 2a and 2b).
7. Elevation and Latitude
– When mountains are not very high, like most mountains on the African continent - except Kilimanjaro, the
temperature drop with elevation is not sufficient to remove all precipitable water from the atmosphere, with the
consequence that on average rainfall increases with elevation (annually, about 100 mm every 1000 m). In Asia and
South America, in spite of the wet belts, the general tendency is a decrease of rainfall with elevation, of the order of
300 mm every 1000 m in Asia and 100 mm per 1000 m in Latin America.
– Depending on elevation and latitude, a sizeable fraction of precipitation can be in the form of snow. In Europe, for
instance, elevations above 3600-3800 receive only snow. As with radiation, the effects described above result in the
precipitation climate of mountains to be characterised by a very marked spatial and temporal variability, including
dry valleys and dry plateaus at high elevations that would normally be expected to receive fair amounts of rainfall.
8. Alpine climate
The location, shape and variation in shape of the European Alps
gives rise to extreme changes in weather patterns across the Alps
and within regions of the Alps. Unlike the UK which is an island the
Alps are centrally located and are affected by four air flows
• The mild moist air from the Atlantic
• Cool or cold polar air from northern Europe
• Continental air masses, cold and dry in winter and hot in summer,
dominate the east of the Alps
• The southern Alps are affected by warm Mediterranean air that
flows northward.
Himalayan climate
The Himalaya is so big that the weather varies greatly
from one region to another. The Himalaya obstructs
the passage of cold continental air from the north into
India in winter and also forces the southwesterly
monsoon winds to give up most of their moisture
before crossing the range northward to Tibet.
There are two periods of rainfall/snow:
• the small amounts brought by winter storms and
• the heavier precipitation of the
southwesterly monsoon winds.
During winter, depressions advance from the west and
cause heavy snowfall, which is greatest over the high
mountains and is greater in the west than the east. In
January, for example, Mussoorie in the west receives
almost 7.5cm, whereas Darjeeling to the east receives
less than 2.5cm. By the end of May the situation is
reversed with southwesterly moist ‘monsoon’ air
moves toward the eastern Himalayas, where the
moisture rising over the steep terrain cools and
condenses to fall as rain or snow.
9. Plateau Climate
– Plateaus are built over millions of years as pieces of Earth's crust smash into each other, melt, and
gurgle back toward the surface. Some owe their creation to a single process; others have been subjected
to more than one during different epochs of Earth's history.
– The climate in which the Plateau peoples live is of the continental type. Temperatures range from −30
°F (−34 °C) in winter to 100 °F (38 °C) in summer. Precipitation is generally low and forms a snow
cover during the winter, particularly at higher altitudes. There are three different provinces of vegetation
in the region. The Middle Columbia area is a steppe of sagebrush and bunchgrass fringed by yellow
pine on higher levels.
– The Upper Columbia consists mainly of wooded areas, although grassland is found in river valleys. The
Fraser area is a semi-open coniferous forest interspersed with dry grassland and a partly maritime flora.
10. Formation of Plateaus
– Many plateaus form as magma deep inside the Earth pushes toward the
surface but fails to break through the crust. Instead, the magma lifts up
the large, flat, impenetrable rock above it. Geologists believe a cushion
of magma may have given the Colorado Plateau its final lift beginning
about ten million years ago.
– Plateaus also form in the ocean, such as the Mascarene Plateau in the
Indian Ocean, one of the few underwater features clearly visible from
space. It extends approximately 770 square miles (2,000 square
kilometers) between the Seychelles and Mauritius Islands.
– Other plateaus are created over time as wind and rain wear away the
side of an uplifted region, giving it geographic distinction from the
surrounding terrain. Wind and rain eventually wear plateaus down to
mesas and buttes and sculpt odd landforms like the arches and hoodoos
found in southern Utah's famed national parks.
View of the Grand Canyon , Arizona USA
11. Deccan Plateau climate
– Temperature : The average daily temperatures at Nashik is shown in the
figure left. Maximum temperatures average 28 degrees C in January and
build rapidly to 37 degrees C by May. They then drop rapidly with the
arrival of the monsoon but continue to average ca. 28 degrees C for the
remainder of the year. Daily minimum temperatures are unaffected by the
arrival of the monsoon and continue to rise until they peak in June.
Minimum daily temperatures never average below 10 degrees C, so there
is no dormant season and two harvests a year are possible, if not
necessarily desirable.
– Rainfall : Monthly rainfall data is shown on the figure left. The yearly
rainfall typically totals ca. 700mm, but most of this rain falls in the
summer months with the arrival of the monsoon. The western Ghats serve
to shelter the Deccan Plateau from excessive rain (of Goa Region).
Following pruning in November, drip irrigation is common until
harvesting which usually takes place in late January to March.
12. Tibetan Plateau Climate
– Tibetan plateau is a high-altitude arid steppe interspersed with mountain
ranges and large brackish lakes. Annual precipitation ranges from 100 to 300
millimetres (3.9 to 11.8 in) and falls mainly as hail. The southern and eastern
edges of the steppe have grasslands which can sustainably support
populations of nomadic herdsmen, although frost occurs for six months of the
year. Permafrost occurs over extensive parts of the plateau.
– Proceeding to the north and northwest, the plateau becomes progressively
higher, colder and drier, until reaching the remote Changtang region in the
northwestern part of the plateau. Here the average altitude exceeds 5,000
metres (16,000 ft) and winter temperatures can drop to −40 °C (−40 °F). As a
result of this extremely inhospitable environment, the Changthang region
(together with the adjoining Kekexili region) is the least populous region in
Asia, and the third least populous area in the world after Antarctica and
northern Greenland.
NASA satellite image of the south-eastern area of Tibetan Plateau.
Brahmaputra River is in the lower right (earthobservatory.nasa.gov)
13. Glaciation and climate change in the
Tibetan Plateau
– Today, Tibet is an important heating surface of the atmosphere. With a much lower latitude,
the ice in Tibet reflected at least four times more radiation energy per unit area into space
than ice at higher latitudes. Thus, while the modern plateau heats the overlying atmosphere,
during the Last Ice Age it helped to cool it.
– This cooling had multiple effects on regional climate. Without the thermal low pressure
caused by the heating, there was no monsoon over the Indian subcontinent. This lack of
monsoon caused extensive rainfall over the Sahara, expansion of the Thar Desert, more
dust deposited into the Arabian Sea, and a lowering of the biotic life zones on the Indian
subcontinent. Animals responded to this shift in climate, with the Javan rusa migrating into
India.
– The Tibetan Plateau contains the world's third-largest store of ice. Temperatures are rising
four times faster than elsewhere in China, and the Tibetan glaciers are retreating at a higher
speed than in any other part of the world. ... In the long run, the glaciers are vital lifelines
for Asian rivers, including the Indus and the Ganges. Once they vanish, water supplies in
those regions will be in peril.
Natural-colour satellite image of the Tibetan
Plateau
(https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https
%3A%2F%2Fearthobservatory.nasa.gov)
14. Coastal Region climate
– The climate of a coastal region is characterized by several weather conditions, which
combine to form atmospheric conditions that are unique to areas in and around the coast.
– The best way to describe a coastal climate is to first list the various weather conditions
that define it, and then look at each one in more detail. The primary weather conditions
that are associated with a coastal region are:
– Sea Breeze During The Day
– Land Breeze In The Evenings
– Moderate Climate Throughout The Year
– Coastal Fog
– Higher Rainfall Than Inland Areas
– Coastal regions where a desert meets the ocean can also have a vastly different climate.
For example, The Skeleton Coast in the Namid Desert, and the Atacama Desert in Chile
are some of the driest regions in the world.
15. Characteristics of coastal climate
Sea Breeze During The Day
– During the day, both the land and ocean warm up, but the land warms up much faster than the
waters of the sea. As you will discover, it is important to note that even though the ocean takes
longer to warm up, it is also able to retain the heat much longer than the land.
– As the land warms up, it heats the air at the surface. The warm air rises and expands which
leaves less air at the surface, creating a low-pressure system over land. Since water over the
ocean takes longer to warm up, it allows the air above it to maintain a higher pressure.
– Since air always flows from a high-pressure to a low-pressure system, the air from the ocean
flows to the land. This forms the sea breeze we are so familiar with, which usually occurs during
the afternoons and early evenings.
– Depending on the contrast in temperature between land and sea, the wind blowing from the
ocean may vary from a light breeze to relatively strong gusty wind.
16. Land Breeze In The Evenings
– During the evening, the opposite occurs. The land cools off much faster than the ocean, which retains
the heat, absorbed during the day, much longer. (The reason why I highlighted this ability of the ocean
in the previous section.)
– As a result, the colder air over land forms a high-pressure system, while the warm air over the sea
water rises and creates a low-pressure system.
– The wind now blows from the high-pressure area over land, to the low-pressure area over the sea.
This is how a land breeze is formed, which usually occurs late in the evening and the early hours of
the morning.
Moderate Climate Throughout The Year
– The fact that the ocean takes much longer to warm up than land, and its ability to retain heat much
longer than as well, do not just play a role in the creation of land and sea breezes but are also
responsible for the moderate climate of coastal regions.
– During the summer season, the air temperature over land warms up fairly quickly, while the ocean
remains relatively cold since it takes longer to absorb the heat. During the winter months, the land
cools down faster than the ocean, which it is able to retain its heat longer.
– This results in cooler air moving in from the ocean during the summer, and warmer air over the sea,
that is blown inland during winter months. This creates a more moderate climate where the summers
are cooler, and the winters milder than inland regions.
17. Higher Rainfall Than Inland Areas
– Coastal regions normally have higher average rainfall than inland areas. It may seem obvious since
a large body of water and moisture is present at the coast. It is not always that simple, as moist
warm air must cool down sufficiently to condensate and form precipitation.
Two factors help this process along :
– Cold Land Temperatures
– Mountainous Terrain
– Very often, the coast is next to mountainous terrain. As the moist air from the ocean starts to rise
against the mountain, it starts cooling down. When it reaches dewpoint, condensation takes place
and rain falls on the coastal side of the mountain.
– This scenario often leads to areas with high rainfall on the windward side, and dry, warm weather
on the leeward side of a mountain near the coast. The Chinook Winds in North America are a
perfect example of this phenomenon.
18. Conclusion
– The mountains, plateaus and coastal region have some very unique climatic conditions that will be familiar
to anyone living in or have frequently those areas.
– Simply by looking at the characteristics of the different climatic conditions, we will be able to see what a
big influence the mountains , plateaus and coastal region have on almost every aspect of the climate.
– If you were unsure before, you will now have a good understanding of what can be the climate in
mountains, plateaus and coastal region, and why you will find certain atmospheric conditions that are so
unique to these areas.
– Moreover we are also witnessing serious climatic changes in all these three regions. For eg. Temperatures
are rising four times faster than elsewhere in China, and the Tibetan glaciers are retreating at a higher speed
than in any other part of the world. ... In the short term, this will cause lakes to expand and bring floods and
mudflows. ... In the long run, the glaciers are vital lifelines for rivers, including the Indus and the Ganges.
Once they vanish, water supplies in those regions will be in peril.