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The document provides an overview of different climate types, including hot, temperate, and cold climates, and their characteristics. It discusses factors affecting climate such as latitude, distance from the sea, prevailing winds, altitude, and aspect. Additionally, it covers specific climates in detail, including desertification, and the adaptations of plants and animals in various climates.

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2 views

22949

The document provides an overview of different climate types, including hot, temperate, and cold climates, and their characteristics. It discusses factors affecting climate such as latitude, distance from the sea, prevailing winds, altitude, and aspect. Additionally, it covers specific climates in detail, including desertification, and the adaptations of plants and animals in various climates.

Uploaded by

proe4514
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Climates Revision Notes

(Hint: You should be aware of all the different climates, but you only need to study
one in detail from each of the hot, temperate and cold climates.)
(Hint: This chapter is often linked to tourism in Tertiary Economic Activities.)
Climate is the average weather of a large area over a long period of time.

Factors affecting climates


(Marking Scheme: Explain two factors @ 4 marks each, 2 marks statement and 2
marks development.)
1. Latitude
Latitude is shown as lines on a map that join places of equal distance from the
equator.
The further away from the equator the cooler it is, nearer to the equator is hotter.
2. Distance from the sea
Maritime climates are beside the sea. The sea takes longer to heat up in the summer
(cooler) but stays warm for longer in the winter (warmer). Small temperature range.
Continental climates are inland. The land heats up very quickly in the summer
(warmer) but lose heat very quickly in the winter (cooler). Large temperature range.
3. Prevailing winds
A prevailing wind is the most common wind in an area, e.g.Ireland = Southwesterly.
Winds can influence the area over which they blow.
Northerly winds = cold, dry.
Southerly winds = warm, some rain.
Westerly winds = cool in summer, mild in winter, brings rain.
Easterly winds = warm in summer, cool in winter, dry.
4. Altitude
Altitude is height above sea level. As altitude increases temperatures get colder.
Upland areas are also open to wind chill factor (reduces temperatures) as they are
more exposed.
5. Aspect
Aspect is the direction that a place faces
North facing slopes are colder as they are exposed to northerly winds.
South facing slopes are warmer as they get more direct sunlight.

Natural Regions
A natural region is a part of the world that has its own unique characteristics:
climate, vegetation, wildlife and human activities.

World Climates
World climates can be divided into three main types: Cold, Temperate and Hot.
Cold: Tundra (e.g. Lapland) Boreal (e.g. Sweden)
Temperate: Cool Temperate (e.g. Ireland) Warm Temperate (e.g. Spain)
Hot: Equatorial (e.g. Brazil) Savanna (e.g. Angola) Desert (e.g. Sahara Desert)

Hot Climates
Equatorial Climate: One season, rainfall 2,000 mm, humid, rainforest and monkeys.
Savanna Climate: Two seasons, wet summers dry winters, grassland with a few
trees and lions.

Desert Climate (Detailed account):


(Marking Scheme: 10 marks, 2 points @ 3 marks each 2 marks statement and 1
mark development, one point @ 4 marks 2 marks statement and 2 marks
development.)

Location: Found between 15º and 30º north and south of the equator, western side
of landmasses.
Temperature: 30 ºC- 50 ºC (day), 5 ºC (night), cloudless skies very hot during the
day but heat escapes during the night.
Precipitation: Rare less than 100 mm, drought also due to dry trade winds. Winds
blow in over cold ocean currents, cold air holds little moisture = dry winds.
Plant Adaptations: Cactus (1) Plants widely spaced less competition
(2) Radial roots spread out to collect rainfall.
(3) Needles give protection from animals.
(4) Spongy interior to hold water.
(5) Thick, waxy skin to prevent moisture loss.
Animal Life: Camel (1) Wide hooves to prevent them from sinking into the sand.
(2) Long eyelashes to stop the sand blowing into their eyes.
(3) Hump to store fat for times of drought.
(4) Thick skin on knee – pads to protect against hot sand.

Case Study: Desertification


(Marking Scheme: 10 marks)
What? Spreading of the deserts onto fertile land. (2 marks define terms)
Where affected? The Sahel, Southern edge of the Sahara Desert.
Causes? Climate change: due to global warming temperatures have increased and
rainfall has decreased. Leading to severe drought.
Rapid population growth: this lead to an increase demand for wood and
food and in turn caused deforestation, overgrazing and over - cropping of
vulnerable land.
Soil erosion: The soil was left exposed and was eroded by wind and
water.
(4 marks outline main causes) (2 statement, 2 explaining it)
Effects? Negative? Vast areas of land unable to support agriculture.
People died as a result of famine.
People were forced to migrate in search of aid.
Rural people moved to cities leading to the growth of
slums.
(2 marks effects @ 1 statement, 1 explaining it)
Solutions? Digging deeper wells to provided water for irrigation.
New breeds of animals to allow farmers increased production with
smaller herds.
Plant trees and grasses to help bind the soil.
(2 marks define a solution)
Temperate Climates
Cool Temperate Oceanic: Summers warm winters mild (5 - 17ºC), rainfall 800 –
2,000mm, deciduous forest.

Warm Temperate Oceanic/Mediterranean Climate (Detailed account):


(Marking Scheme: 10 marks, 2 points @ 3 marks each 2 marks statement and 1
mark development, one point @ 4 marks 2 marks statement and 2 marks
development.)

Location: Western edges of landmasses, 30º and 40º north and south of the
equator.
Summers: Hot 30 ºC, dry due to trade winds that blow over land.
Winters: Mild 4 – 6 ºC, rainfall 400 – 700 mm due to prevailing winds, south –
westerly, brings in some depressions.
Plant Adaptations: Cork tree (1) Widely spaced to prevent competition.
(2) Water loss prevented by thick bark and waxy
leaves.
Human Activities: Woodland has been cleared for agriculture.
Irrigation schemes set up to prevent drought.
Overgrazing has led to soil erosion.
Tourism is a large industry bringing wealth and pollution.

Cold Climates
Tundra: Summers short cold, winters long below freezing, snow, little vegetation,
wildlife mostly migrates.

Boreal Climate (Detailed account):


(Marking Scheme: 10 marks, 2 points @ 3 marks each 2 marks statement and 1
mark development, one point @ 4 marks 2 marks statement and 2 marks
development.)

Location: Found between 55º north and the artic circle.


Temperature: Summers are short and cool (10 ºC) with long hours of daylight,
winters are very cold (-25 ºC) with long hours of darkness.
Precipitation: In the form of snow.
Plant Adaptations: Coniferous forest called taiga e.g. Pine Trees
(1) Needles instead of leaves to prevent moisture loss.
(2) Cone shape to allow snow to fall off the branches.
(3) Thick bark to keep the tree warm.
(4) Radial shallow roots to gather moisture above the permafrost.
Wildlife: Artic Fox (1) Hibernate in the winter.
(2) Fur changes colour for camouflage.
(3) Thick fur to keep warm.
Human activities: People that live in these regions have a nomadic lifestyle e.g.
Lapps, Sami. They live in Lapland, Northern Scandinavia and herd reindeer.

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