weather

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

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

variability

hydrology

HANDOUT

HANDOUT

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

HANDOUT

Topography

moist habitats

Characteristics of the Earth's Terrestrial Biomes

Biomes

– Regions with a particular dominant vegetation– Distribution influenced by climate