Transcript Global climates and natural vegetation

Climate Systems
WHAT IS CLIMATE?
•Weather is the day-to-day changes in
atmospheric conditions
•Climate is long-term weather conditions
•Temperature and precipitation are the most
important expressions of climate
HOW DOES CLIMATE INFLUENCE OTHER
ASPECTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT?
•Vegetation is the most visible expression of
climate
•Animal life adapts to both climate and
vegetation
•Soils develop in response to climate and
vegetation
•Landforms
•Water resources
ECOSYSTEMS
•The interaction of climate, vegetation,
animal life, soils, and landforms creates an
environmental complex or ecosystem.
•Unique ecosystems evolve as a result of
differing climate conditions.
•Climatology studies the climate regions
that have evolved in response to different
moisture and temperature conditions.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE UPON
PEOPLE'S LIVES?
•Regions of climatic handicap have few people
•Deserts, rainforests, polar regions
•Climate influences agriculture - the choice of
crops grown and animals raised
•Tourism and recreation
•Water resources
•Climate and disease
GREEK CLIMATE REGIONS
•Frigid
•Temperate
•Torrid
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/weather/2009/03/16/domestic.weather.cnn?iref=videosearch
Climate Systems
• Climatologists have therefore created several
ways to organize the wealth of information about
Earth's climate to bring order and understanding to
it.
Climate classification systems
There are three fundamental types of
classifications used in climatology.
First there are empirical systems of classification
that are based on observable features.
1. The Koeppen system discussed below is an
empirical system.
•Based on observations of temperature and
precipitation.
•These are two of the easiest climate
characteristics that can be measured, and
probably the ones with the longest historical
record.
•It's fairly easy to collect air temperature readings
with a thermometer and precipitation with some
sort of collecting device that can measure the
amount of precipitation.
•Climates are grouped based on annual averages
and seasonal extremes.
2. Genetic classification systems: based on
the cause of the climate.
•A genetic system relies on information about the
climatic elements of solar radiation, air
masses, pressure systems, etc.
•we still have a long way to go before we have a
complete understanding of the workings of our
climate.
These are inherently the most difficult
classifications to create and use because of the
multitude of variables needed.
3. Thornthwaite classification system is one
based on potential evapotranspiration
climates based on water requirements.
Research conducted by C.W. Thornthwaite and
his associates attempted to formulate a water
budget technique that assessed water demand
under different environmental conditions.
His classification system grew out of the issue of
trying to predict the supply and demand for
water in different climate regions.
Koeppen system
The Koeppen system is one of the most
widely used systems
easy to use and data requirements are
minimal.
Each climate is defined according to set values of
mean monthly precipitation and mean monthy
temperature.
The Köppen system recognizes five major
climatic types; each type is designated by a
capital letter.
KOPPEN CLASSIFICATION
•(A) Tropical rainy climates
Every month over 64.4 °F
•(B) Dry climates
Evaporation exceeds precipitation
•(C) Mild, humid climates
Coldest month below 64.4 °F but above 26.6 °F
•(D) Snowy-forest climates
Coldest month below 26.6 °F but warmest month over
50 °F
•(E) Polar climates
Warmest month below 50 °F
• Climate regions to coincide with well-defined vegetation
regions, and described by the natural vegetation most often
found there
• The Simplified Köppen system, as modified by later
climatologists, recognizes six major climatic types, each
designated by a capital letter:
 A = Tropical Rainy Climates
 B = Arid (Dry) Climates
 C = Humid Mesothermal (Mild Winter) Climates
 D = Humid Microthermal (Severe Winter) Climates
 E = Polar Climates
 H = Highland Climates
Modified Koppen Classification of World Climates
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F1hBgOz8nA&feature
=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-StI3qRFQE&feature=related
Factors Influencing the World Climatic Regions
Climate of a particular place is the function of a number of factors:
1) Latitude and its influence on solar radiation received
2) Air mass influences
3) Location of global high and low pressure zones/belts
4) Pattern of prevailing winds (wind belts)
5) Location of mountain barriers
6) Heat exchange from ocean currents
7) Distribution of land and water
8) Altitude or elevation
At a macro-level, the first three factors are most important in
influencing a region's climate.

Vegetation is the most visible expression of climate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbQ0Oh
D3Ljk&feature=related
Classification of Global Natural Vegetation
 Climate is average of weather conditions for
30+ years
 Climatologists employ many
different tools to organize the
wealth of information about
earth's climates to bring order
and understanding
 graphs, classification
systems, and maps are
among the most common
 Temperature & Precipitation
are the most important
expressions of climate,
and these have been used in Climographs (See above)
and in climate classification schemes
 HOW DOES CLIMATE INFLUENCE OTHER ASPECTS
OF THE ENVIRONMENT?
• Animal life adapts to both climate and vegetation
• Soils develop in response to climate and vegetation
• Landforms are constantly modified by climate-related processes
• Water availability is related to humid vs. arid climates
 HOW DOES CLIMATE RELATE TO ECOSYSTEMS?
• The interaction of climate, vegetation, animal life, soils, and
landforms creates an environmental complex or ecosystem
• Unique ecosystems evolve as a result of differing climate conditions
 WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE UPON PEOPLE'S LIVES?
• Regions of extreme climatic conditions have fewer people
-- Deserts, rainforests, polar regions
• Climate influences agriculture
-- Choice of crops grown and animals raised
• Tourism and recreation patterns are shaped by climatic conditions
• Water resources availability and utilization also affected by climate
• Climate and disease – relationships have persisted despite
technological advancement
 Climatologists and geographers study and compare
climate regions that have evolved in response to
different moisture and temperature conditions, in
order to enhance our understanding of these and
other relationships.