chapter 11- tropical climates tropical climates are somewhat variable in terms of moisture in terms...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 11- Tropical climatesChapter 11- Tropical climates
Tropical climates are somewhat variable
•In terms of moisture
•In terms of temp on a day-night cycle
Tropical climates are somewhat variable
•In terms of moisture
•In terms of temp on a day-night cycleAnd somewhat consistent
•In terms of annual temp
•In terms of incoming solar radiation
And somewhat consistent
•In terms of annual temp
•In terms of incoming solar radiation
Diurnal compared to annual temperature ranges defines the tropics
Diurnal compared to annual temperature ranges defines the tropics
Tropics (shaded land) have a greater diurnal temperature range than annual temperature range
Tropics (shaded land) have a greater diurnal temperature range than annual temperature range
Moisture is what indicates classification and prevalent life forms in the tropics
Af climate - dominated by mT airmasses wet all year round; rain forest biome
Aw, Am, BSh climates - dominated by alternating mT and cT airmasses; wet season vs dry seasons; savanna biome
BWh climate - dominated by cT all year; dry all year; desert biome
Moisture is what indicates classification and prevalent life forms in the tropics
Af climate - dominated by mT airmasses wet all year round; rain forest biome
Aw, Am, BSh climates - dominated by alternating mT and cT airmasses; wet season vs dry seasons; savanna biome
BWh climate - dominated by cT all year; dry all year; desert biome
Hadley cell circulation is critical toward understanding tropical climates
•controls location of ITCZ (rising, unstable air- Low pressure)
•shifts north or south with seasons
•shifts to accommodate land vs water
Controls wet vs dry seasons in tropical climates with that trait.
Controls location of permanently dry regions by location of sinking air (High pressure)
Hadley cell circulation is critical toward understanding tropical climates
•controls location of ITCZ (rising, unstable air- Low pressure)
•shifts north or south with seasons
•shifts to accommodate land vs water
Controls wet vs dry seasons in tropical climates with that trait.
Controls location of permanently dry regions by location of sinking air (High pressure)
Moisture plays a critical role in temperature
•too much --> cools temps considerably by blocking incoming radiation and lowering surface temp
•too little, and temps plummet at night as no water in the atmosphere to catch outgoing longwave radiation coming the land surface
Moisture plays a critical role in temperature
•too much --> cools temps considerably by blocking incoming radiation and lowering surface temp
•too little, and temps plummet at night as no water in the atmosphere to catch outgoing longwave radiation coming the land surface
ITCZ means converging air, moist air, rising air, unstable air, low pressure and precipitation
Temps are moderated in the rain forests
not the blazingly hot jungles often portrayed in Hollywood
still warm, and definitely muggy
“feels” much warmer due to high relative humidity.
humans cooling system thwarted
ITCZ means converging air, moist air, rising air, unstable air, low pressure and precipitation
Temps are moderated in the rain forests
not the blazingly hot jungles often portrayed in Hollywood
still warm, and definitely muggy
“feels” much warmer due to high relative humidity.
humans cooling system thwarted
Amount of rainfall varies, but the frequency is more important that the amount
•Daily rainfall events are somewhat different than in the mid-latitudes
•Thunderstorms dominate all year round in tropics
•more intense, but shorter lived and more frequent than mid latitude cyclonic storms with fronts
Amount of rainfall varies, but the frequency is more important that the amount
•Daily rainfall events are somewhat different than in the mid-latitudes
•Thunderstorms dominate all year round in tropics
•more intense, but shorter lived and more frequent than mid latitude cyclonic storms with fronts
The tropical rainforest
Species diversity- one of the most diverse environments on the planet
•One hectare can contain 200+ species of trees•Stratified system enables numerous micro-climates within the forest
Global benefits biomass production is immense
Oxygen production is matched only by marine organisms, but per capita is unmatched
The tropical rainforest
Species diversity- one of the most diverse environments on the planet
•One hectare can contain 200+ species of trees•Stratified system enables numerous micro-climates within the forest
Global benefits biomass production is immense
Oxygen production is matched only by marine organisms, but per capita is unmatched
Tropical deserts
found in persistent high pressure zones associated with Hadley circulation cells
Tropical deserts have relatively higher temps than do mid-latitude deserts
Sometimes “helped” by oceanic or mountain systems
Can cover extremely large areas
Tropical deserts
found in persistent high pressure zones associated with Hadley circulation cells
Tropical deserts have relatively higher temps than do mid-latitude deserts
Sometimes “helped” by oceanic or mountain systems
Can cover extremely large areas
Sahara 3500 k mi2
Australian 1300 k mi2
Kalahari-Namib 220 k mi2
Cold ocean currents affect desertification
Cool air holds less moisture
Cool air sinks (stable conditions = high pressure)
Stable air + low moisture = low rainfall
•Coastal South America (Chilean desert)
•Coastal south Africa (Namib desert)
•Western Mexico (Baja Peninsula)
Cold ocean currents affect desertification
Cool air holds less moisture
Cool air sinks (stable conditions = high pressure)
Stable air + low moisture = low rainfall
•Coastal South America (Chilean desert)
•Coastal south Africa (Namib desert)
•Western Mexico (Baja Peninsula)
Tropical deserts are extremely sensitive to climate changeOne of the first climate zones to feel the effects of changes in global climates
wetter = plant growth explodeslakes and rivers formanimal and people inhabit
drier = desert expands surface moisture diminishes animals and people adapt,
leave or die
Tropical deserts are extremely sensitive to climate changeOne of the first climate zones to feel the effects of changes in global climates
wetter = plant growth explodeslakes and rivers formanimal and people inhabit
drier = desert expands surface moisture diminishes animals and people adapt,
leave or die
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Desert stormsnot much in the way of rainfallvery windy because of few
obstructions and severe thermal lifting
creates sandstorms and dust devils
Desert stormsnot much in the way of rainfallvery windy because of few
obstructions and severe thermal lifting
creates sandstorms and dust devils