Transcript of Geography Unit 2. The sun, location, wind, water, and mountains affect weather and climate.
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- Geography Unit 2
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- The sun, location, wind, water, and mountains affect weather
and climate.
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- What is weather? What is climate? While weather is short term,
climate is a regions average weather over a long period of
time.
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- 4 Factors that Affect Climate Sun and Location on Earth Creates
seasons Earths tilt Movement of Earth Shape Wind Moves the suns
heat around Water Moves the suns heat around Mountains affects
temperature & precipitation
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- Energy from sun heats the earth. Different locations receive
different amounts of sunlight. Earths tilt Seasons Movement
Rotation around the sun Shape Earth is a sphere
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- Earths Tilt As the Earth revolves around the sun, the part of
the Earth that is tilted toward the sun changes during the year.
This process creates the seasons.
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- Earths Shape The sphere shape affects the amount of sunlight
different locations receive. The suns rays directly strike the
equator but only somewhat strike at the poles.
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- The farther from the equator, or higher the latitude, the
colder the climate. Higher Latitudes Area near the poles Cold year
round Middle Latitudes Areas halfway between the equator and poles
More seasonal changes Lower Latitudes Areas near the equator Hot
year round
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- Wind and Water Heat from the sun moves across Earths surface.
Air and water warmed by the sun are constantly on the move. Wind
and water carry heat from place to place.
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- Global Winds Wind, or the sideways movement of air blows in
great streams. Air has weight that changes with temperature.
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- At the equator, hot air rises and flows towards the poles. At
the poles, cold air sinks and flows towards the equator.
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- Earths rotation causes prevailing winds to curve east or west.
Winds that form from warm air or pass over lots of water, carry
moisture Winds that form from cold air or pass over lots of land
are often dry.
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- Gulf Stream US East Coast Warm current that flows east North
Atlantic Drift Across the Atlantic into Europe Westerlies
Northwestern Europe Warmed air blown across Europe
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- Large Bodies of Water Water heats and cools more slowly than
land does. Large bodies of water make the temperature of the land
nearby milder.
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- The state of Michigan is largely surrounded by the Great Lakes
The lakes make temperatures in the state milder than other places
as far north.
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- Wind, Water, and Storms: Most storms occur when two air masses
collide. Air masses frequently collide in regions like the United
States, where the westerlies meet the polar easterlies. Fronts can
produce rain or snow as well as thunderstorms and icy blizzards.
Hurricanes produce drenching rain and strong winds that can reach
speeds of 155 mph or more. They can form tall walls of water called
storm surges. When it smashes into land, it can wipe out an entire
coastal area.
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- DetailsWhen Most Likely to Occur Thunderstorms Rain, lightning,
thunder Spring and Summer Blizzards Strong winds, large amounts of
snow Winter Tornadoes Small, rapidly twisting funnel of air that
touches the ground; highly destructive Spring and summer Hurricanes
Largest and most destructive storm; forms over tropical waters in
Atlantic Ocean Summer to late fall Typhoons Hurricanes that form in
the Pacific OceanSummer to late fall
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- Mountains Mountains can influence an areas climate by affecting
both temperature and precipitation. Many high mountains are located
in warm areas yet have snow at the top all year. The reason is that
temperature decreases with elevation. Mountains also create wet and
dry areas. What is a rain shadow? A dry area on the mountainside
facing away from the direction of the wind.
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- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95TtX
YjOEv4&feature=related
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- Earths five major climate zones are identified by temperature,
precipitation, and plant life.
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- What factors do geographers use to determine our different
climate zones? Temperature Precipitation Native Plants
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- There are 5 general climate zones. They are tropical,
temperate, polar, dry, and highland. In addition, geographers
divide some climate zones into more specific climate regions.
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- How does climate affect vegetation? How does climate affect
agriculture?
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- Tropical Climate Humid Tropical & Tropical Savanna Humid
Tropical On and near the equator Warm and high amounts of rain year
round Monsoons create extreme wet seasons Tropical rain forest
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- Tropical Climate Tropical Savanna Higher latitudes in the
tropics Warm all year; distinct raining and dry seasons; at least
20 inches of rain during summer Tall grasses, scattered trees
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- Dry Climate Desert & Steppe Desert Mainly center on 30*
latitude; also in middle of continents, on west coasts, or in rain
shadows Sunny and dry; less than 10 inches of rain a year; hot in
the tropics; cooler with the wide daytime temperature ranges in
middle latitudes A few hardy plants, cacti
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- Dry Climate Desert & Steppe Steppe Mainly bordering deserts
and interiors of large continents About 10-20 inches of
participation a year; hot summers and cooler winters with wide
temperature ranges during the day Shorter grasses, some trees and
shrubs by water
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- Temperate Climate Mediterranean, Humid Subtropical, Marine West
Coast, & Humid Continental Mediterranean West coasts in middle
latitudes Dry, sunny, warm summer; mild, wetter winters; rain
averages 15-20 Scrub woodland and grassland
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- Temperate Climate Mediterranean, Humid Subtropical, Marine West
Coast, & Humid Continental Humid Subtropical East coasts in
middle latitudes Humid with hot summers and mild winters; rain
year- round, in paths of hurricanes and typhoons Mixed forest
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- Temperate Climate Mediterranean, Humid Subtropical, Marine West
Coast, & Humid Continental Marine West Coast West coasts in the
upper-middle latitudes A cloudy, mild summers and cool, rainy
winters; strong ocean influence Evergreen forests
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- Temperate Climate Mediterranean, Humid Subtropical, Marine West
Coast, & Humid Continental Humid Continental East coasts and
interiors of upper-middle latitudes Four distinct seasons; long,
cold winters and short, warm summers; average precipitation
ILLINOIS Mixed forests
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- Polar Climate Subarctic, Tundra, & Ice Cap Subarctic Higher
latitudes of the interior and east coasts of continents Extremes of
temperature; long, cold winters and short, warm summers; little
precipitation Northern evergreen forests
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- Polar Climate Subarctic, Tundra, & Ice Cap Tundra Coasts in
high latitudes Cold all year; very long, cold winters and very
short, cool summers; little precipitation; permafrost Moss,
lichens, low shrubs
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- Polar Climate Subarctic, Tundra, & Ice Cap Ice Cap Higher
latitudes of the interior and east coasts of continents Extremes of
temperature; long, cold winters and short, warm summers; little
precipitation Northern evergreen forests
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- Highland Climate High mountain regions Wide range of
temperatures and precipitation amounts, depending on elevation and
location Ranges from forest to tundra
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- Plants, animals, and the environment, including soil, interact
and affect one another.
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- ecosystem A group of plants and animals that depend on each
other for survival and the environment in which they live habitat
The place where a plant or animal lives desertification The spread
of desertlike conditions
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- The Environment and Life Limits on Life: The environment limits
life. Factors such as temperature, rainfall, and soil conditions
limit where plants and animals can live. All plants and animals are
adapted to specific environments.
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- Connections in Nature: The interconnections between living
things and the environment form ecosystems. They can be any size
and can occur wherever air, water, and soil support life. Each part
of an ecosystem fills a certain role
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- Sunlight is the source of energy for most living things Plants
use the energy in sunlight to make food. They serve as the basis
for other life in the ecosystem Animals such as rabbits eat plants
and gain some of their energy. Predators, such as hawks and wolves,
eat rabbits and other prey for energy Larger predators, such as
mountain lions, compete for the prey that is available.
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- Changes to Environments: The interconnect parts of an ecosystem
exist in a fragile balance. A small change to one part can affect
the whole system. Many actions can affect ecosystems. Actions such
as clearing land and polluting can destroy habitats. Our most
diverse habitats on Earth are tropical rain forests. Extreme
changes in ecosystems can cause species to become extinct.
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- Soil and the Environment Plants are the basis for all food that
animals eat. Soils help determine what plants will grow and how
well. Soils play an important role in the environment because they
support plant life. Fertile soils are rich in minerals and
humus.
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- These soils support abundant plant life. Soils can lose
fertility in several ways. Erosion through wind or water can sweep
soil away. Planting the same crops over and over can also rob soil
of its fertility. When soil becomes worn out, it cannot support as
many plants. This can lead to desertification in fragile dry
environments.
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- Earths natural resources have many valuable uses and their
availability affects people in many ways.
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- Vocabulary from Section 4 Renewable resources Resources Earth
replaces naturally Non-renewable resources Resources that cannot be
replaced Fossil fuels Non-renewable resources that formed from the
remains of ancient plants and animals Hydroelectric power The
production of electricity from waterpower Natural resource Any
material in nature that people use and value
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- Earths Valuable Resources Using Natural Resources: Trees, oil,
and metals are all examples of natural resources. Earths most
important natural resources include air, water, soils, forests, and
minerals. We use some resources as they are, like wind. Usually we
change natural resources to make something new.
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- Types of Natural Resources: We group our natural resources into
two groups: those we can replace naturally, called renewable
resources and those we will run out of one day, or non-renewable
resources. Once we use those up, it is gone.
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- Managing Natural Resources: Although forests are renewable, we
can cut down trees faster than they can grow, which causes
deforestation. Reforestation is the planting of trees to replace
lost forestland.
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- Energy Resources Energy resources power vehicles, produce heat,
and generate electricity. They are some of our most important and
valuable natural resources.
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- Nonrenewable Energy: Most of the energy we use comes from
fossil fuels. The most important fossil fuels are coal, petroleum,
and natural gas.
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- Coal has been a source of heat, however it pollutes the air and
can harm the land. Today we use coal mainly to create electricity
at power plants, not to heat single buildings. People are trying to
find cleaner ways to burn coal
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- Petroleum, or oil, is a dark liquid used to make oil and other
products. When first removed from the ground, petroleum is called
crude oil.
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- Fuels made from oil include gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet
fuel. Oil is also used to make plastics and cosmetics. Oil-based
fuels can pollute the air and land. Oil spills can harm wildlife.
But, because we are so dependent on oil for energy, it is an
extremely valuable resource.
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- Natural gas is the cleanest-burning fossil fuel. We use it for
heating and cooking. Some vehicles run on natural gas as well.
These vehicles cause less pollution than those that run on
gasoline.
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- Renewable Energy Resources: Unlike fossil fuels, renewable
energy resources will not run out. The main alternative is
hydroelectric power that can be obtained from moving water by
damming rivers. These dams harness the power of moving water in
order to generate electricity.
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- While hydroelectric can produce power without polluting and
lessons our use of fossil fuels, the dams create lakes that replace
existing resources and disrupt wildlife habitats.
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- Wind is another renewable energy. Windmills have been used in
the past, but today we use powerful wind turbines. At wind farms,
hundreds of turbines create electricity in windy places.
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- Solar power is a third source. We use the power of the sun to
heat water or homes. We can also use solar panels to turn solar
energy into electricity. We can also use geothermal energy, or heat
from within Earth. Geothermal power plants use steam and hot water
located with Earth to create electricity.
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- Nuclear Energy: We obtain this energy by splitting atoms. This
process uses the metal uranium. While nuclear power does not
pollute the air, it does produce dangerous wastes. These wastes
must be stored for thousands of years before they are safe.
Accidents at nuclear power plants are extremely dangerous for the
people and environment nearby.
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- Mineral Resources Mineral resources are valuable. These
resources include metals, salt, rocks, and gemstones. Minerals are
nonrenewable. Recycling items such as aluminum cans will make the
supply of these resources last longer.
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- Resources and People Resources and Daily Life: In the United
States, we have many different kinds of natural resources. We can
choose different ways to dress, eat, live, travel, and entertain
ourselves. People in places with fewer natural resources will
likely have fewer choices and different needs than Americans.
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- Resources and Wealth: The many natural resources in the United
States have helped it become one of the worlds wealthiest
countries. In contrast, countries with few natural resources often
have weak economies.