1. U1LG3: Climates & Biomes Criteria for Success:
Performance of Understanding
Learning Goal 3: Explain how physical processes create climate regions and explain how climate influences the distribution of biomes. (3A, 4A, 4C)
Criteria for Success:
Explain the weather conditions and climate in relation to annual changes in Earth-Sun relationships.
Explain how elevation, latitude, wind systems, ocean currents, position on a continent and mountain barriers influence temperature, precipitation and distribution of climate.
Explain how climate influences the distribution of biomes.

2. Explain the weather conditions and climate in relation to annual changes in Earth-Sun relationships.
Earth’s Tilt and Revolution
The earth is tilted at an angle of 23 ½ degrees as it revolves around the sun on its axis. Because of this different areas of the earth receive different amounts of sun which creates the different seasons on earth.

3. Explain the weather conditions and climate in relation to annual changes in Earth-Sun relationships.
The Tropics
The Tropic of Cancer (23 ½ N) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23 ½ S) mark the areas on the earth known as the Tropics which are the areas farthest north and south where the sun’s rays shine directly overhead.

4. Explain the weather conditions and climate in relation to annual changes in Earth-Sun relationships.
Equator
The Equator receives the most direct sunlight and is thus warmer. When the sun is directly over the Equator this is known as the Equinox (either Spring or Fall). Days and nights all over the world are equal in length on the Equinox.

5. Explain the weather conditions and climate in relation to annual changes in Earth-Sun relationships.
Polar Areas
Areas around the poles (north and south) receive less direct sunlight due to the earth tilt and are thus much cooler than other places on earth.

6. Explain the weather conditions and climate in relation to annual changes in Earth-Sun relationships.
Seasons
Northern Hemisphere: The warmest months in the northern hemisphere are May, June, and July due to the exposure to the most direct rays of the sun. The summer solstice (June 21-22) marks the longest day of the year when the sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer. The coldest months are November, December, and January when the sun’s rays are shining over the southern hemisphere. The winter solstice, when the sun is directly above the Tropic of Capricorn, is beginning of winter.

7. Explain the weather conditions and climate in relation to annual changes in Earth-Sun relationships.
Seasons
Southern Hemisphere: Location in the southern hemisphere has the opposite seasons due to the earth’s tilt and revolution. The warmest months in the southern hemisphere are November, December, and January due to the exposure to the most direct rays of the sun over the Tropic of Capricorn. The coldest months are May, June, and July when the sun’s rays are shining on the northern hemisphere.

8. Distribution of Climate Regions
Explain how elevation, latitude, wind systems, ocean currents, position on a continent and mountain barriers influence temperature, precipitation and distribution of climate.
Elevation
Temperature
Precipitation
Distribution of Climate Regions
Areas of higher elevation are much cooler due to thinner air’s inability to hold heat, lack of land to reflect heat, and the conditions of the atmosphere.
Thinner air at higher elevations makes it difficult for air to retain heat/ precipitation causing significant snow at high elevations.
Areas of high elevation occur around the globe.
Climate Region Map

9. Distribution of Climate Regions
Explain how elevation, latitude, wind systems, ocean currents, position on a continent and mountain barriers influence temperature, precipitation and distribution of climate.
Latitude
Temperature
Precipitation
Distribution of Climate Regions
Latitude has the greatest impact on climate since it determines the amount of sunlight an area receives. Those closest to the equator receive more sunlight (heat) while those farthest away from the equator receive less.
Latitude has some influence on precipitation. For example, the hot rising air around the equator creates continually moist climates.
-Areas of low elevation (areas between the tropics- 23 ½ N and S) are warm due to the sun’s direct rays.
-The middle latitudes (23 ½ N/S - 66 ½ N/S) have temperate/ seasonal climates.
-The higher latitudes (66 ½ N/S- 90) have the coldest climates due to their distance from direct sunlight.
Climate Region Map

10. Distribution of Climate Regions
Explain how elevation, latitude, wind systems, ocean currents, position on a continent and mountain barriers influence temperature, precipitation and distribution of climate.
Wind Systems
Temperature
Precipitation
Distribution of Climate Regions
-Wind distributes temperatures across the earth’s surface. Wind that moves across warmer or cool water or land transfers those qualities.
Precipitation on the earth is moved and distributed by prevailing winds.
- High pressure situations are generally associated with fair, sunny weather. As high pressure is an area of sinking air, and air tends to dry out as it sinks, leaving sunny skies.
Low pressure areas are generally cloudy/rainy areas -- where strong areas of low pressure bring our stormiest weather. That's because it's an area of rising air, and as air rises, it condenses into clouds and rain
source:
Climate Region Map

11. Distribution of Climate Regions
Explain how elevation, latitude, wind systems, ocean currents, position on a continent and mountain barriers influence temperature, precipitation and distribution of climate.
Ocean Currents
Temperature
Precipitation
Distribution of Climate Regions
-Waters of the ocean help distribute the earth’s heat. These currents influence the temperature of the areas nearby.
-Warm water from the tropics is circulated to the poles and cold water from the poles is circulated to the equator.
-As in the case of wind currents, cool and warm ocean currents transfer precipitation around the world.
-Cooler oceans near the poles keep those areas cool and warmer waters near the tropics also hold heat.
Climate Region Map

12. Position on a Continent Distribution of Climate Regions
Explain how elevation, latitude, wind systems, ocean currents, position on a continent and mountain barriers influence temperature, precipitation and distribution of climate.
Position on a Continent
Temperature
Precipitation
Distribution of Climate Regions
-Due to water’s better ability to hold heat longer, areas around coastlines tend to have warmer climates than areas that are further away from water.
-Locations further inland tend to have a greater change in temperature between seasons.
-Areas along the coastlines are influence more by ocean currents that tend to bring greater amounts of precipitation to coastlines.
Areas of the world most influenced by continental climates exist between the middle latitudes and the poles.
Climate Region Map

13. Distribution of Climate Regions
Explain how elevation, latitude, wind systems, ocean currents, position on a continent and mountain barriers influence temperature, precipitation and distribution of climate.
Mountain Barriers
Temperature
Precipitation
Distribution of Climate Regions
*See influence of elevation on temperature.
As air masses move over mountains precipitation (orographic) tends to occur on the windward side of mountains as thinner air drops it heat/ moisture. This creates a wet side (windward) and a dry side (leeward).
As mountains can occur anywhere on earth, this influence on climate can as well.
Climate Region Map

14. Explain how climate influences the distribution of biomes.
The ecosystems (community of plants and animal) of a specific region are called biomes. Biomes are divided into four main categories: forests, grasslands, deserts, and tundra.

15. Explain how climate influences the distribution of biomes.
Influence of Climate
Temperature and precipitation determine the distribution of the world’s biomes.

16. Explain how climate influences the distribution of biomes.
Tropical Biomes: Areas in the lower latitudes are influenced by warmer temperatures and often abundant precipitation. Biomes in these regions include tropical rainforests and tropical grasslands.

17. Explain how climate influences the distribution of biomes.
Temperate Biomes: Areas in the middle latitudes have biomes adapted to seasonal shifts in temperature in precipitation in temperature. Biomes in these regions include deciduous forests and temperate grasslands. As the latitude increases deciduous forest transition to mixed and coniferous forests.

18. Explain how climate influences the distribution of biomes.
Polar Biomes: Areas in the higher latitudes tend to be dominated by coniferous forests in the warmer portions that transition to tundra in the cooler areas.

19. Explain how climate influences the distribution of biomes.
Deserts: These biomes occur in areas with limited precipitation requiring plants and animals adapted to such.