1. 7.1. Factors Affecting Climate Change

2. Weather Vs Climate What is the difference between weather and climate?
While weather describes local conditions at a particular time, climate describes average conditions for a large region over long periods of time.

3. Questions?
Weather vs Climate 1. It snowed 5 inches last night 2. It has not rained this month yet 3. Typically rainfall in June will be under 1 inch 4. This winter should be colder than normal
Weather, weather, climate, climate

4. Earth’s Movement in Space
Moved from the geocentric (Aristotle) notion of the world to the heliocentric (Galileo/Copernicus)

5. Earth’s Movement in Space
The earth rotates around its own 23.5o axis in 24 hours (days) and around the sun in one year.
The axis is elliptical

6. Variations in Earth’s Rotation, Orbit, and Tilt
Eccentricity: Earth’s rotation around the sun varies from nearly circular to elliptical
Due to gravitational pull from other planets
Tilt: Earth’s tilt ranges from 22.1o to 24.5o over thousands of years
Wobble: The Earth is not perfectly spherical causing it to wobble while rotating around its axis

8. Earth`s Temperature and Latitude
Due to the spherical shape of the earth and the tilt, the sunlight is more concentrated at the equator and more spread out moving toward the poles

9. Atmosphere and Climate
The Greenhouse Effect: The sun`s energy (solar radiation) enters the earths atmosphere where it is partially absorbed and partially reflected back as thermal energy
Greenhouse gases (N2, O2, H2O) trap the thermal energy keeping the earth warm

11. Wind Movements
Wind is the movement of air from a high pressure area to a low pressure area.
As air is warmed by the sun, it is heated causing it to rise.
As the air is rising it creates a low pressure system below it
The high pressure cold air will then move towards the low pressure area in the form of wind.

12. Earth Tectonic Plate Movements
The Earth is composed of massive pieces of solid rock floating on a viscous layer of the Earth known as the asthenosphere.
Since they are floating they are constantly in motion

13. Tectonic Plates and Natural Disasters
When two tectonic plates collide with one another, one of the plates will likely subduct (move underneath) the other plate.
The friction of both large rocks causes earthquakes, volcanoes and possibly tsunamis.

14. 7.2 Describing Climates

15. Describing Climates
Various regions of the world share many environmental similarities due to similar weather conditions.
It is therefore important to organize these regions into climate zones.

16. Climate Zones
Tropical Zone: Between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn
Warm all year
Temperate Zones: Located between each of the polar zones and the tropical zones
Temperature varies greatly throughout the year
Distinct warm and cold seasons
Polar Zones: Located approximately 66o north and south.
Cold temperatures with ice coverings throughout the year

17. Biomes - Climate Zones (p.284-285)
Based on similarities between vegetation (e.g. plants) and animals living in a specific region.
Also based on climatograph (i.e. temperature and precipitation) similarities between regions.

18. Ecozones
Use geology, landscape, soil, vegetation, wildlife, water, and human factors.
Helps assess the impact of climate change
Ecozones are separated from one another by a geological feature such as an ocean, desert, or mountain range.

19. Ecoregions Ecozones can then be subdivided into ecoregions.
These regions take into account the differences in climate, wildlife, and human activities within one ecozones.

20. 7.3 Indicators and Effects of Climate Change

21. Indicators and Effects of Climate Change
Global warming has been one of the most important indicators of climate change.
Evidence for global warming comes from melting glaciers.

22. Changes in Polar and Glacial Ice
Overall loss of ice mass in the West Antarctic ice sheet has been measured at approximately 65km3.
Raises water levels approximately 0.16mm per year.
Impacts of Melting Ice
The habitat of seals and polar bears is drastically changed
Polar bears feed on seals through holes in the ice
Ice also provides an area to rest
If they do not rest, they risk drowning

23. Climate and Health
With increasing temperatures, viruses will proliferate causing outbreaks
Hanta virus
Increased temperature also leads to increased pollen release and mould growth
Could lead to asthma attacks

24. Polar Bear (Video)

25. Rising Sea Level and Ocean Acidity
Oceans have absorbed approximately half of the carbon dioxide produced from fuel emissions over the past 200 years.
Some of this gas reacts to form carbonic acid, which in turn lowers the pH of the water
A change in pH threats corals and plankton (producers of the food chain)

26. Wind and Precipitation
As temperature increases more water will evaporate at faster rates leading to increased precipitation, greater low and high pressure systems, and more unpredictable weather patterns.
Increased storms, stronger hurricanes/tornadoes, and more flash flooding = increased death rates

27. DAY 2