Climate Flashcards
What is a desert?
A very dry area of land where few plants and animals can live because of the lack of rainfall (less than 250mm/year) and absence of soil
Name the factors that included world climates and explain the 2
1.Latitude:
• latitude is the distance north or south of the equator
• areas near equator are hotter because of oblique rays and near South and North Pole are colder because of oblique rays
- Distance from Sea
• In summer coastal areas are cooler than inland areas. In Winter coastal areas are warmer.
• This is because the sea heats slower than land in the summer and sea loses heat much more slowly than land in winter - Prevailing wind.
What is climate?
Climate is the average condition of the weather over a long period of time usually 35 years
Name 2 factors that influence local climates and explain.
Aspect
• aspect refers to the direction a slope faces in relation to the sun
• in northern hemisphere , South facing slopes are warmer.
• influenced by Southerly winds.
Altitude
• altitude refers to height above sea level. (Above sea level is colder)
• as altitude increases air becomes thinner, less to absorb and maintain heat
Hot Desert Climate
•location:
• daytime temperature:
• nighttime temperature:
Location: found between 15-30 degrees CelsiusNorth and south of equator and on western side
Daytime temperature: 30 - 50 degrees Celsius. Oblique Rays on small area of land, no clouds.
Nighttime temperature: as low as 5 degrees Celsius. Winger of desert, heat loss because of lack of clouds.
Rainfall (Precipitation) in the Hot Desert.
- how much rainfall per year?
- what type of winds
- less than 100m/per year
- ## winds blow over land toward equator bringing dry and warm winds.
Vegetation in Hot Climates
• speak about plants and how they adapt to climate
- Sparse vegetation due to lack of rainfall.
- small ground - hugging plants and trees with few leaves
- example cactus: thick waxy skin and needs to reduce moisture lost
- Joshua tree: have juicy flesh that stores water
Animals in Hot Desert
• describe how two animals have adapted to the climate.
- JackRabbit: large ears keep cool, rest in shade of shrubs and trees and have thin hairs,
- Fennec Fox: bar like ears keep cool, rest in shade of shrubs and trees. Also have thin hairs
Desertification in hot climate
•spreading where?
• including Countries
- spread of the desert into areas which where once fertile.
- example: Sahara making the Sahel Desert Spreading South.
( Ghana, Nigeria, Mali)
2 causes of desertification
Climate Change: Sahel, rainfall is unreliable. Because of high temper stir as a result of global warming lead to evaporation and less condensation,
Rivers have dried up.
Human Factor: high birth rate leading to rapid population increase demand of food. Farmers grow food crops ,without fertilisers soil loosens losing nutrients. Trees and shrubs are cut down for cooking and heating. Soil erosion is speeded up
2 results of desertification
- Vast Areas of land are now unable to support agriculture. This means farmer cannot supply with food. As a result hundreds of people die from famine.
- millions are forced to migrate in search of food or aid. Many live on refugee camps. Many people also moved to urban areas, leading to growth of slums
2 solutions of desertification
Dig deeper wells to find water for irrigation
Introduce new breeds of animals to produce more milk but with smaller herds
Name a cold climate?
Boreal Climate
In the cold climate….
A) how is the weather in the winter
B) how is the weather in the summer
A) long and cold and as low as 35 degrees Celsius
- northern hemisphere tilted towards sun. Rays low in sky, oblique Rays.
B) short and cold. Average about 5 degrees seclusion.
- northern hemisphere tiled towards sun. Long hours of sunshine, absorb heat.
Precipitation in the cold climate.
- how much rainfall per year
- main form of precipitation
- what type of winds
- Less than 250mm
- snow
- polar winds too cold for moisture
