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Climatology
The document discusses different climates and biomes around the world. It begins by explaining the difference between climate, which is average weather over 20+ years, and weather, which is conditions over a shorter time period like days or weeks. It then discusses six main biomes: equatorial, savanna, desert, Mediterranean, tundra, and monsoon climates. Each biome is characterized by its location, description, seasons, rainfall, temperature, and example regions. Other biomes like grasslands, deciduous forests, and boreal forests are also briefly outlined. Factors influencing climate like latitude, distance from oceans, altitude, and ocean currents are explained.
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Climatology
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- 2. Why is the atmosphere necessary? •To breathe – 13kg/day (2.4kg of food and 1kg of water) • Regulates temperature – clothing, activities, houses • Blanket over the earth – heats earth and shields us from harmful ultraviolet rays • Moisture – hydrological cycle • Also causes natural disasters like cyclones, floods, droughts..
- 3. The difference between… • Climate:it is the average of the weather observations over a long period of time, usually not less than 20 years • Weather: condition of the atmosphere as it is observed over a limited period of time namely a few hours, day, week season • Climatology: the study of climatic conditions • Climatologist: a person that studies climate • Meteorologist: a person that studies weather
- 4. Main Elements of Weatherand Climate • Temperature – how hot or cold the air is • Precipitation – Moisture form the sky : snow, hail, rain • Humidity – the amount of water vapor in the air • Wind – caused by different pressures Wind speed- how fast it is blowing Wind direction – where it is blowing from
- 5. The elements ofweather and their measurement
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- 7. Factors that influence temperatureand rainfall 1. Distance from the equator 2. Distance from the sea 3. Height above sea level 4. Ocean currents 5. Relief or mountains NB> Carbon dioxide, water vapor, dust particles and pollutions are heat absorbers.
- 8. 1. LATTITUDE:Distance fromthe Equator 8 Low latitudes = high temperatures. - Equator 0° highest temp - Direct angle of insolation - Smaller surface area to heat - Thinner atmosphere to pass through absorbing less heat High altitudes = low temperatures. - Poles 90°N & 90°S lowest temp - Indirect angle of insolation - Larger surface area to heat - Thicker atmosphere to pass through absorbing more heat Insolation –incoming solar radiationTemperature decreases towards the poles
- 9. 2. DISTANCE FROMSEA 9 Heat is absorbed and released slower by water than land Liquid sea is less dense than solid land and can be heated to greater depth The sea retains heat for longer and cools down more slowly than land
- 10. 2. DISTANCE FROMSEA 10 Interior areas eg. Johannesburg Continental- extreme climates Hot summer, cold winters Hot days, cold nights Coastal areas eg. Durban Maritime – moderate Warm summers, cool winters Warm days, warm nights
- 11. 3. ALLTITUDE 11 Temperature decreaseswith an increase in height/ altitude The higher you go the colder it gets Change of 2°C for every 300m Air is less dense at a higher altitude It contains less water vapour, dust particles, carbon dioxide and pollution and is therefor cooler
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- 13. 4. OCEAN CURRENTS13 Theland and air takes on the charateristics of the ocean currents that flow along it Origin of Warm ocean currents at equator, flows along the eastern coastlines towards poles. Warm ocean currents effects the latitude from 40° to 60° on the west side of the continent Warm ocean cirrents in the tropics have little effect as these areas are already warm Origin of Cold ocean currents at poles, flows along the western coastlines towards equator. Cold ocean currents have less effect as it falls in areas of off shore winds. It causes desserts as cold oceans provide very little moisture The cold Benguela current causes the Kalahari and Namib deserts
- 14. 5. ASPECT 14 Reason: Sun’sposition is overhead the equatorial area Aspect affects areas beyoud the tropics Northern hemisphere South facing slopes are warmer Southern hemisphere North facing slopes are warmer • Warmer slopes are dry and used for residential areas • Cooler slopes has an increased in moisture and are used for forestry
- 15. Aspect and Orographic/ relief rain 15
- 16. What is abiome? A BIOME is the largest geographic biotic unit, a major community of plants and animals with similar life forms and environmental conditions.
- 17. How are biomesformed? Biomes are distributed across the Earth based primarily on climate. Therefore, in areas that are far apart, you will sometimes find similar plants and animals because the climate is similar. One factor affecting climate is latitude. Typically, the farther you move north or south of the equator, the colder the temperature gets. Another factor affecting climate is elevation. The higher you go in elevation, the colder the temperature gets. Biomes usually found at cold latitudes far from the equator are sometimes also found on high mountains at low latitudes. Typically, a climb of 100 feet in elevation is equivalent to traveling 600 miles northward.
- 18. How many biomesare there? 1. Equatorial climate 2. Savanna climate 3. Desert climate 4. Mediterranean climate 5. Tundra climate 6. Monsoon climate
- 19. 1.Equatorialclimate Biome Equatorial climate LocationNear the equator at 5°N to 5°S E.g.. Amazon and Congo Basins Description Thick dense canopy forest Season No seasons Annual rainfall more than 2000 mm throughout the year Temperature average 26oC Fact As many as 50% of all the world’s animal species may be found here
- 20. 2.Savannaclimate Biome Savanna Location 5°N/S to 15° N/S - E.g.. African and South American Savanna Description Grasslands with a few scattered trees Season Experience a wet and dry season Annual rainfall 600 to 900 mm, summer rain Temperature 20°C to 32°C Fact More species of grazing mammals than any other biome
- 21. 3.DesertClimate Biome Location 20° N/Sto 25° N/S - E.g.. Namib, Sahara, Australia, Californian and Atacama deserts Description Lies along cold ocean currents. A barren land with little precipitation causing harsh living conditions Season Experience a season Annual rainfall Below 100 mm Temperature Winter 20°C to Summer 30°C Fact The north and South pole are deserts
- 22. 4.Mediterranean Climates Biome Location 30° N/Sto 45° N/S on western sides of continents - E.g.. Around the Mediterranean sea, Western Cape Description Composed of shrub lands and woodlands Season Wet cold winters and dry warm summers Annual rainfall 400 mm to 800 mm winter rainfall Temperature Winter- 10°C to Summer -20°C Fact Chaparral is the California name for this biome, Marquis in Europe and Fynbos in the Cape
- 23. 5.TundraClimate. Biome Location 66° N/Sto 90° N/S Artic circle/ Antarctic circle - E.g.. Canada, Alaska and Siberia Description Means treeless or marshy plain Season Long freezing dark winters Long cold light summers Annual rainfall 10 mm to 300 mm (summer rain) Temperature Winter -30°C to -40°C to Summer -20°C Fact Characterized by permafrost – permanently frozen soil starting as high as a few centimeters below the surface – which severely limits plant growth
- 24. 6.MonsoonClimate Biome Location 20° Nto 50° N – Asia 10° S to 20° S – Australia Description Seasonal direction of wind reversals Season Summer – onshore winds bringing heavy rains Winter – offshore winds with no rains Annual rainfall Varying up to 12 000 mm Temperature Winter 15°C to Summer 34°C Fact Monsoons results in seasonal summer floods
- 25. OtherBiomes: a.Grassland Biome Location 30° N/Sto 45° N/S interior - E.g.. South Africa highlands Description Large flat plateau with long grass and few trees Season Hot summers and cold winters Annual rainfall 500 mm to 900 mm Temperature Winter- 10°C to Summer 38°C Fact Because of the dry climate, trees are found only near water sources such as streams
- 26. b.Temperate DeciduousForest Biome Location 30° N/Sto 45° N/S eastern coast Description Most trees will lose their leaves in the winter Season Moderate climates Annual rainfall 750 mm to 1500 mm Temperature Winter 20°C to Summer 30°C Fact Because of the wet climate there are large forest
- 27. c.TemperateBoreal Forest Biome Location 45° Nto 60° N Description characterized by coniferous forests consisting mostly of pines, spruces and larches Season Cold climates with summer rains Annual rainfall 400 mm to 1000 mm Temperature Winter- 30°C to Summer 10°C Fact Also known as the Taiga, very few reptiles
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