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Climate Geography Notes JC-Learn

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JC-Learn Geography Notes

Climate


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Climate

Climate is the average weather over long periods of time (30-35 years). Climate may be divided into three broad zones: hot, temperate and cold. Climate zone Where found Climate type Hot climates From equator to

Tropics at 0° to 30° Equatorial Savanna Hot desert

Temperate climates Between hot and cold regions (Tropics to Artic at 30°- 60°)

Warm temperate oceanic Cool temperate oceanic

Cold climates Near Poles (Artic to Poles at 60°- 90°)

Tundra Boreal

Factors that influence world climates

1. Latitude: This is the angular distance north or south of the equator. The sun’s energy is greatest at the equator, where the heat is concentrated. The average temperature decreases going away from the equator, as the sun’s rays have further to travel to reach the earth’s surface.

2. Water: Seawater heats and cools more slowly than land. The

sea stays cooler than the land in summer and warmer than the land in winter. Areas close to the sea are warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

3. Air movement: The movement of air produces winds, which

create the movement of warm and cold air masses. These air masses move over the earth’s surface influencing temperature and precipitation. A prevailing wind is the most common wind of a region. Common winds from tropical regions will carry warm air while those from Polar Regions are cold. Prevailing winds influence the climate based on the location from which they blow.


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Factors that influence local climates

1. Aspect: This is the direction a place faces in relation to the sun. In the northern hemisphere, south-facing slopes receive the most sunshine and tend to be warmer than north-facing slopes.

2. Altitude: This is the height above sea level. The higher you climb, the colder it gets. Higher elevations have less atmosphere, so they hold less heat.

3. Ocean currents: Warm currents flow from the equator and raise the seawater temperature. Cod currents flow towards the equator and lower the sea temperature.

World Climates They can be grouped into three broad regions:

1. Hot 2. Temperate 3. Cold

*Students should be aware of all the climate types and are required to make a detailed study of one from each type. Each climate can be examined under the following headings:

Location Temperature Rainfall Soil Flora Fauna Human activity

Hot Climates The hot climates of the world are found between 0° and 30° latitude and spread from the equator to the tropics. They are equatorial, hot desert and savanna. We will only focus on equatorial. *This shows where equatorial climate is in the world.


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Equatorial Location -

It is mainly found between 8° north and 8° south of the equator. Examples of regions with an equatorial climate are the Amazon Basin in Brazil and Malaysia.

Temperature -

The temperature here is hot throughout the year, with an average of 28°C. There is a low range of temperatures, from 25°C to 28°C. The greatest range occurs between night and day. It is a one-season climate.

Rainfall -

It has a convectional type of rainfall, which is heavy due to high level of humidity. Humidity is high due to high temperatures and evaporation rates. The region’s annual precipitation often reaches more than 2,000mm.Thunderstorms can occur every day.

Soil -

Soil type is tropical red soil, which is not very fertile as a result of intense weathering. The heavy rainfall leaches out the nutrients from the soil, especially when the natural vegetation of the area has been removed.


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Flora - The natural vegetation of this area is the rainforest or jungle.

Rainforests are dense with hardwood trees such as ebony, teak and mahogany.

A canopy (roof) is formed by the tops of the trees. The trees can block out the light to the forest floor. The taller tree (emergent layer) sticks up above canopy. The area between canopy and forest floor is the understorey.

Fauna -

The equatorial rainforests have a lot of different fauna., including snakes, monkeys and parrots. These animals all adapt to their environment. Monkeys can move through the trees easily and snakes can move around the thick undergrowth.

Human Activity -

The traditional way of life for people in these rainforests depended much on the flora and fauna of the area. The tribes adapted to the habitat and respected the environment.

Large areas of the rainforest have been cleared (deforestation) to make room for cattle ranching, mining etc. Trees are burned to clear areas or cut down to become timber. The removal of vegetation means soil gets damaged, soil runs off into rivers


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and causes problems for boats, and the climate of the area becomes drier.

*This shows where hot desert climate is in the world.

*This shows where savanna climate is in the world.


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Temperate Climates There are two temperate climates in the world: cool temperate oceanic and warm temperate oceanic (Mediterranean). We will only focus on cool temperate oceanic. *This shows where cool temperate oceanic climate is in the world.

Cool Temperate Oceanic Location -

Mainly between 40° and 60° north and south of equator. This climate is found in much of New Zealand, southern Chile and northwest Europe (Ireland).

Temperature -

Winters are generally cold with frequent nighttime winter frosts. Temperature averages from 14°C to 16°C in summer and 4°C to 7°C in winter.

Rainfall -

Rain experienced throughout the year. It is the result of rain-carrying winds from the seas. In Ireland the rainfall is heaviest in the west at 2,000 mm, compared to 650 mm in east.

Soils -

The original vegetation covering this region was deciduous forest. The soils are fertile as a result of the high humus content. The soils are called brown earth soils.


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Flora -

Mix of deciduous and coniferous forests here. The species of deciduous include ash, elm and oak. Much of the natural vegetation has been cleared for agriculture.

Fauna -

The deer, fox and badger are a few of the animals native to this region.

Few species are native to Ireland because of the rising sea levels after the ice age, making Ireland into an island.

Human Activity - Human settlement and agriculture tend to be more developed

in warmer parts of these. The temperate climate suits growth of grass, so there is a focus

on primary activities (taking resources from earth). Climate also suits pastoral farming.

*This shows where the warm temperate oceanic (Mediterranean) climate is in the world.


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Irish Weather - Maritime Climate Ireland has a cool temperate oceanic climate. It also has a maritime climate as it is surrounded by water. Its climate is mainly influenced by the following factors:

Located between 51° and 56° north of equator South westerly winds bring warmth and rain from Atlantic

Ocean Areas close to sea are little cooler in summer, an little warmer

in winter than continental areas Gulf Stream (North Atlantic Drift) has a warming influence Regular movement of depression brings rain and constantly

changing weather

Cold Climates Boreal There are two cold climates in the world: boreal and tundra. We will only focus on the boreal climate. *This shows where the boreal climate is in the world.


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Location - Mainly located between 55° and 65° north of equator. North

America, Siberia, North Canada and Alaska have a boreal climate.

Temperature -

Boreal regions have long nights in winter and long days in summer. Average temperature in winter is -15°C (below freezing for six months of the year).

Summers are warm with an average temperature of 15°C. Rainfall -

Total yearly precipitation is from 300-500 mm. Although the cold winters have some heavy snowfall, most of the precipitation comes as rain during the warm, humid summer months.

Flora -

These regions have evergreen forest known as ‘taiga’. Taiga trees tend to be conifers. Examples are fir, spruce and pine.

Trees have adapted to life in the harsh and frozen taiga (leaves are needle-shaped to reduce moisture loss, trees have conical shape to allow snow fall off, a thick bark protects trunk against cold, and the shallow roots avoid permafrost (frozen ground) which exists within a meter of surface).

Soil -

Soils here are called podzols. Iron and aluminium are leached from the A Horizon and deposited to B Horizon. The soil here is thin and lacking in nutrients.

Fauna -

These regions have moose, black bear and bison. Snowshoe hares and lynx have large feet to walk across snow.

Human activity -

Forest becoming more threatened by extraction industries such as forestry and mining. Wood here used for commercial logging (paper and cardboard).

Animals here are hunted for fur. Construction of most hydroelectric facilities in Canada has

taken place in the boreal region.


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*This shows where the tundra climate is in the world.

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