Chapter 3

1. Chapter 3 Climate and Vegetation

2. Solstice – The day when the suns rays shine directly overhead at noon. Summer Solstice – longest day of the year Winter Solstice – shortest day of the year Equinox – The days and nights all over the world are equal in length Seasons

3. Types of Precipitation

4. Weather Extremes • The clashes between air masses cause storms such as hurricanes and Tornadoes . • Hurricanes also known as Typhoons, cyclones, wily-willies • Tornado – also known as a Twister is a powerful funnel shaped column of spiraling air • Wind swirl counter-clockwise

5. Hurricanes

6. Tornadoes

7. BLIZZARDS • A heavy snowstorm with winds of more than 35 miles per hour and reduced visibility.

8. DROUGHT • A long period of time without rain or with very minimal rainfall.

9. FLOODS • When water spreads over land not normally covered with water

10. SECTION 1 The Sun’s energy reaches Earth Half of the energy is reflected back into space or absorbed by the atmosphere. The other half is absorbed by Earth’s surface and converted into heat energy. The atmosphere traps this heat in a process called the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect helps keep the planet warm. Factors Affecting Climate The Sun’s Effect on Earth

11. Factors Affecting Climate • Wind Currents • Ocean Currents • Elevations • Topography

12. Wind Systems • Prevailing Winds – Winds that usually blow from the same direction • Trade Winds –blow from the subtropical high pressure zone toward the equatorial low pressure zone. There are NE and SE Trade Winds. • Doldrums – calm areas with no prevailing winds along the equator. • Westerlies – West-to-East winds at Middle Latitudes. • Polar Winds –mainly come from the east and occur at the poles.

13. EL NINO • Weather pattern created by the warming of the waters off the west coast of South American which pushes warm water and heavy rains toward the Americas and produces drought conditions in Australia and Asia (generally happens ever seven years)

14. EL NINA • El NINA creates a reverse affect. The Americas experience extreme droughts while Australia and India Experience Increase rainfall.

15. Global Energy Systems • Temperature – the measurement of heat energy. • Greenhouse Effect – earth’s atmosphere allows sunlight to pass through it, but when the sunlight is changed into heat energy it is trapped by the atmosphere, and this keeps the planet warm.

17. Global Energy Systems • Temperature – the measurement of heat energy. • Greenhouse Effect – earth’s atmosphere allows sunlight to pass through it, but when the sunlight is changed into heat energy it is trapped by the atmosphere, and this keeps the planet warm.

18. The 12 types of climate regions • Tropical humid • Tropical wet and dry • Arid • Semiarid • Mediterranean • Humid Subtropical • Marine West Coast • Humid Continental • Sub artic • Tundra • Ice Cap • Highland

19. Tundra

20. Highlands

21. World Vegetation • GRASSLANDS • FORESTLANDS • DESERT AND TUNDRA • TROPICAL GRASSLANDS • MEDITERRANEAN SHURB • MIXED FOREST • CONIFERIOUS FOREST • HIGHLAND

22. SAVANNA • Flat regions dotted with a few trees

23. Rainforest • Heavy concentration of trees mostly in tropical areas