Climate
• Average weather conditions over time
Climate
Determines the global distributions of ecosystems
Global Air Circulation Patterns
affect climate
Fig. 43.3, p.756
winds from various directions
b Deflections in the initial patternnear Earth’s surface.
a Initial pattern of air circulation as airmasses warm and rise, then cool and fall.
as do
• rotation around the sun• land masses and oceans• latitude• elevation
cold
cold
cool temperate
warm temperate
tropical(equator)tropical
warm temperate
cool temperate
change in latitude
latitude
Topography (elevation)
moist habitats
oceanography
• sea level• tides• storm surge• waves
Death Valley National Park
The USA’s point of lowest elevation
Tidal Misconceptions
MOON
San Diego
• Mediterranean climate– – –
Omaha, Nebraska, USA: typically 44F – 60F on April 15!
gardening in Mediterranean climates worldwide
marine layer (summer)
Santa Anas (winter)
El Niño phenomena cause DOWNWELLING
Fig. 42-12, p.742
land
atmosphere
evaporationfrom ocean
425,000
precipitationinto ocean
385,000
ocean
wind-driven water vapor40,000
evaporation fromland plants
(transpiration)71,000
precipitationonto land111,000
surface andgroundwater flow
40,000
Topography
moist habitats
Characteristics of the Earth's Terrestrial Biomes
Biomes
– Regions with a particular dominant vegetation– Distribution influenced by climate