Why is one area of the earth’s land surface a desert, another a grassland, and another a forest?

1. Why is one area of the earth’s land surface a desert, another a grassland, and another a forest?

2. I. Climate Climate- long term weather patterns Weather- momentary conditions of the atmosphere; created by the unequal heating & cooling of the earth’s surface. Temperature&Precipitation-major factors that determine an areas climate. Humidity- the amount of water vapor air holds, which is dependent upon temperature.

3. Vernal equinox March 21 Sun vertical at equator Northern Hemisphere Names Winter solstice Dec. 22 Sun vertical at 23.5oS Winter solstice Dec. 22 Sun vertical at 23.5oS Summer solstice June 21 Sun vertical at 23.5oN Autumnal equinox Sep. 23 Sun vertical at equator

4. Earth further from sun Earth closer to sun

5. The radiant energy emitted by the sun. It is highest at the equator and lowest at the poles. Solar irradiance- We are interested in conditions near the Earth’s surface What are some factors that effect exposure to irradiance?

6. Non-rotating Earth Convection cell model

7. Add rotation and add landmasses unequal heating and cooling of the Earth

8. 90o High pressure, dry climate 60o Low pressure, wet climate High pressure, dry climate 30o ITCZ intertropical convergence zone= doldrums Low pressure, wet climate 0o 30o 60o 90o

9. Idealized winds generated by pressure gradient and Coriolis Force.  • Actual wind patterns owing to land mass distribution..

10. ITCZ

11. January Seasonal changes in the position of the ITCZ

12. July

13. Summer monsoon- Wet Winter monsoon- Dry

15. Forest Desert Tundra Biome A major type of ecological community, determined largely by climate. Grassland Tundra Chaparral Taiga Grassland Desert Mountain Zones Tropical rainforest Temperate Evergreen Forest Temperate Deciduous Forest Polar Ice

16. Hydrologic Cycle

17. Rain shadow effect

18. Coriolis Effect Objects moving in the northern hemisphere are deflected to the right (cw) Objects moving in the southern hemisphere are deflected to the left (ccw)

19. North Pole Buffalo moves 783 mph Quito moves 1036 mph Buffalo 15o N equator Quito Buffalo equator 79oW Quito South Pole

21. Surface currents are wind driven currents

22. What do Nike, rubber ducks, and hockey gloves have to do with oceanography?

23. Surface temperature

24. Boundary Currents in the Northern Hemisphere Type of Current General Features Speed Special Features Western boundary Currents warm swift sharp boundary Gulf Stream, Kuroshio narrow w/coastal circulation, deep little coastal upwelling Eastern Boundary Currents cold slow diffuse boundaries California, Canary broad separating from coastal shallow currents, coastal upwelling common

27. Dynamics of a Tropical Cyclone Air moves toward zone of low pressure and veers off course to right L Counter current circulation in Northern Hemisphere

28. Eddy • A circular movement of water formed along the edge of a permanent current • In an average year, 10-15 rings are formed • 150-300 km in diameter • Speed 1 m/sec • Warm core ring • Rotates clockwise • Found on the landward side of the current • Cold core ring (cyclonic eddy) • Rotates counterclockwise • Forms on the ocean side of the current

29. Sargasso Sea

30. WARM CORE RING • Gulf Stream meander develops • Amplitude of the meander increases • Meander forms a loop and begins ro pinch off • Ring separates from Gulf Stream

32. Ekman Transport Water flow in the Northern hemisphere- 90o to the right of the wind direction Depth is important

34. upwelling downwelling

35. Langmuir Circulation

36. Global Warming

37. The E-M Spectrum

38. Fate of Solar Radiation Reaching the Earth reflection clouds snow and ice the earth’s surface atmospheric dust

39. Fate of Solar Radiation Reaching the Earth absorption atmosphere oceans land plant photosynthesis

40. Fate of Solar Radiation Reaching the Earth radiation

41. The Greenhouse Effect

42. Human-Produced Greenhouse Gases Carbon Dioxide Methane Nitrous Oxide

43. Carbon Dioxide Temperature Year

44. Predicted Consequences of Global Warming • sea level rise • increased plant primary productivity • increased storm severity • changes to patterns of rainfall • changes to ocean circulation patterns

45. Global Warming

46. Global Warming

47. Global Warming 100 m sea level rise

48. Global Warming 100 m sea level rise

49. Coral Bleaching

50. El Nino • Oceanic and atmospheric phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean • Unusually warm conditions appear along the western coast of Ecuador and Peru • Causes climatic disturbances of varying severity • - heavy rains cause mudslides • - warm water effects anchovy fisheries • Occurs during December • Seiche- water in a confined space sloshing back and forth