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Weather, Climate, and Vegetation
Weather, Climate, and Vegetation
SeasonsAs the earth revolves around the
sun, its 23 ½° angle causes much of the world to have different seasons.
This tilt causes different parts of earth to receive more direct rays at different times of the year.
The Solstices Twice a year, we have what is
known as a SOLSTICE.These days mark the furthest north
or south from the equator that the sun’s rays shine directly overhead.
The solstices mark the first days of summer and winter.
The line of latitude at 23½° N where this happens is called the TROPIC OF CANCER.
The line of latitude at 23½° S where this happens is called the TROPIC OF CAPRICORN.
The sun’s rays are directly over the Tropic of Cancer. This would mark the beginning of
summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
June
The sun’s rays are directly over the Tropic of Capricorn. This would mark the beginning of
summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
December
The EquinoxesTwice a year we go through an
EQUINOX.On these two days, the sun shines
directly over the equator, and the days and nights are equal in the northern and southern hemispheres.
The equinoxes mark the beginnings of spring and fall.
The sun’s rays are directly over the equator twice a year.
March
September
• It is interesting to note that the seasons in the southern hemisphere are exactly opposite of
what we experience here in the northern hemisphere.
The Difference Between Weather and Climate
WEATHER: The condition of the atmosphere at a particular location and time.
CLIMATE: Weather conditions at a particular location over a long period of time.
Weather ExtremesAs air masses warm and cool and
move across earth’s surface, sometimes they clash and cause storms. At times, these storms can be severe and cause major property
damage and loss of life. Hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, and droughts are all examples of weather extremes.
Storms that form over warm, tropical ocean waters are called HURRICANES, or typhoons in Asia. They are also sometimes called cyclones.
Air flowing over warm water picks up moisture and heat energy.
The center or EYE of the storm is calm, while elsewhere, winds may blow up to 200 m.p.h.
The clouds and wind may stretch out over an area covering hundreds of miles.
When they hit land, tremendous damage may occur.
Howling winds may uproot trees and tear roofs off of buildings.
Storm surges may wash away shorelines and cause flooding.
Heavy rains may also cause flooding. People living in low-lying coastal areas
are at great risk.
Gulfport, Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina 2005
New Orleans—August 2005
Hurricanes may take days to develop, while TORNADOES, or funnel-shaped columns of spiraling air form quickly.
Tornadoes are born in thunderstorms when counter-clockwise winds swirl around a low-pressure center.
These winds may reach 300 m.p.h. and cause horrendous damage.
On average, they are only about 300 feet wide and travel a mile or so for a few minutes. Some may be larger.
Look at the swath of
damage that was cut
through this area.
A Whole Town Devastated Greensburg,
Kansas was leveled by a tornado on
May 4, 2007.
The town of about 1,500 suffered 11
deaths.
Approximately 3 out of 4 Tornadoes Occur in the U. S.
The largest outbreak of
tornadoes in U. S. history occurred on April 3-4, 1974 in
the Ohio and Tennessee River Valleys. During a 16-hour period, a
total of 148 tornadoes killed
330 people.
THE SALT LAKE CITY TORNADO – AUGUST 11, 1999
A BLIZZARD is a heavy snowstorm with winds of more than 35 miles per
hour and reduced visibility. The greatest snowfall for a 24-hour period
was 76 inches in Silver Lake, Colorado in 1921. A snowstorm that
lasted from February 13-19, 1959 once dumped 189 inches, almost 16 feet of snow, on Mt. Shasta, California.
Blizzards are dangerous for various reasons. They endanger people and
livestock who become trapped in them. They also snarl traffic, and
make travel conditions dangerous. In the Sierra Nevada and Rocky
Mountains, as well as the Great Lakes areas, hundreds of inches fall in a
season.
A DROUGHT is a long period of time without rain or with very
minimal rainfall. This lack of rainfall results in crop failures and reduced levels in water storage facilities such as reservoirs. In extreme cases, this
may cause people to move to new areas in search of food, or to starve.
Five major factors that influence the climate of a region:
Wind Patterns
Ocean Currents
Latitude
Elevation
Topography
Global Wind
Patterns-
They blow storms in certain
directions.
Global Ocean Currents
Zones of LatitudeLow/Tropical
High/Polar
Middle/Temperate
Tropical ZonesThe tropical zones are found on both
sides of the equator, and go from the TROPIC OF CANCER to the TROPIC OF CAPRICORN.
Lands in the tropical zone are hot all year long.
Wind patterns may affect the amount of rainfall in areas.
Polar Zones In the northern hemisphere, it extends
from the ARCTIC CIRCLE to the NORTH POLE.
In the southern hemisphere, it extends from the ANTARCTIC CIRCLE to the SOUTH POLE.
It is cold all of the year, and summer temperatures may only reach 50°F.
Temperate ZonesThe temperate zones lie between
the tropical and polar zones.Climates range from relatively hot
to relatively cold.Variations occur because solar
heating is greater in the summer than in the winter.
Elevation – Height Above Sea Level
As ELEVATION increases, the air temperature drops about 3.5°F every 1000 feet. Places over 12,000 feet in elevation share similar characteristics with polar zones. Some mountains near the equator have snow year-round.
TopographyLandforms also affect climate.
When moisture-filled winds move up the sides of mountains, they cool and
release moisture. So on the WINDWARD side of a mountain, it is greener. On the other side, it does
not receive as much moisture, and is known as the LEEWARD side.
Windward/Leeward
The Two Biggest Factors in Determining Climate Are: Temperature and Rainfall
Monthly Average Temperatures Across the Planet
Monthly Average Rainfall Across the Planet
Major Climate Zones of the Earth
The darker the color red, the wetter these tropical areas are. Tropical areas can definitely be dry as well.
Tropical Dry in East-
Central Africa
Tropical Wet in South
America
The darker the color brown, the drier these desert areas are. They include the steppes, and rocky/sandy deserts.
The Steppes of Central
Asia
The rocky and sandy Sahara
of Africa
The color green represents the mild, mid-latitude zones, often with 4 distinct seasons. The darker green represents climates
that are even milder, sometimes called Mediterranean.
Springtime in D.C.
Turkish Coast
The color purple represents the severe mid-latitude zones. The darker purple represents 4-season climates that are
harsher. The lighter shade represents the cold sub-arctic.
Distinctive 4 Seasons in
New Hampshire
SubarcticAlaska
The color blue represents the polar or highland zones. The lighter blue represents the ice caps. Even mountainous
areas close to the equator share “polar” characteristics.
HighlandArea of India
Polar Region of Antarctica
