1. Ch. 4.1
The Role of Climate

2. Climate is very important in determining the types of plants and animals can live in certain places.

3. What is Climate
Weather – the day-to day condition of the Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place.
Climate – the average, year-after-year condition of temperature and precipitation in a particular region.
Climate is affected by latitude and longitude, winds in the area, ocean currents, and amount of precipitation. Shape and elevation also play a role.
Think about somewhere high in the mountains vs. deep in the valley. Are they going to have different climates?

4. The Greenhouse Effect
The atmosphere helps maintain the Earth’s temperatures. Carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and other gases in the atmosphere trap heat energy and maintain the Earth’s temperature. This is called greenhouse gases. The heat held in by these gases is called the greenhouse effect.
These gases trap the sun’s energy on the Earth. The more gases present the more heat held in.

5. The Effect of Latitude on Climate
The tilt of the Earth leads to the sun’s rays hitting the Earth at different angles. Latitude is a measurement moving north and south of the equator. The differences in latitude creates 3 climate zones: polar, temperate, and tropical.

6. Polar Zones
Cold areas where the sun’s rays strike Earth at a low angle. This is around the North and South Poles.

7. Temperate Zones
Sit between the polar zones and the topic zone. These climates range from hot to cold, depending on the season.

8. Tropical Zone
Near the equator – these areas receive direct or nearly direct sunlight all year. They are always warm.

9. Heat Transport in the Biosphere
Unequal heating of the Earth’s surface makes wind and ocean currents. Winds form by warm air rises and cool air sinking. This creates air currents from regions of sinking air (cool air) to an area of rising air (warm air).
Cold water near the poles sinks then flows toward warmer regions where the water will rise as it heats. Winds move surface water. Both of these make ocean currents.
Mountains and land masses will also affect wind currents.