Lesson 2.1 - Climate and Land Ecosystems

The climate of an area determines the type of plants and animals that live in that certain area. 

Climate is the average weather conditions that occur at various times of the year.  If we were to say that the average temperature for a certain region is 0oC, that alone would not tell us much.  Does the temperature vary between -5oC and + 5oC throughout the year, or does it vary between -30oC and +30oC throughout the year?  Rainfall is also very important in determining what species thrive in a certain region.  Also important is knowing if long dry periods occur or if the rainfall is uniform throughout the year.

Climate is affected by topography, altitude, and latitude.  Topography is the physical characteristics of the area.  Are there lots of trees, or does the area have much water? 

Altitude is the height above sea level.  As you go higher, the air gets cooler and different types of life are to be found at various heights.  If you go high enough, it may be too cold for any life to exist. 

Latitude is how far north of south of the equator you are.  Close to the poles, long periods of darkness and cold have an effect on the types of plants and animals there. 

Read Climate and Land Ecosystems on page 276 of your textbook. Then, answer the following questions.

 

Question 1. Answer Reading Check on page 276 of your textbook.

Question 2. Answer Check Your Understanding questions 1, 2, and 3 from page 277 of your textbook.

 

Check your answers with those that follow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers to Questions:

Question 1. Answer Reading Check on page 276 of your textbook.

Topography, altitude and latitude determine the climate of an area.  Climate, in turn, determines the types of life forms that can exist in a certain area.

Question 2. Answer Check Your Understanding questions 1, 2 and 3 from page 277 of your textbook.

1.    Climate is the average weather conditions in an area.  The most important of these are temperature and rainfall.
2.    At the equator, the sun shines more directly. At the poles, the sun shines so low that, when it is shining, little heat is given. 
3.    As you go higher, the atmosphere gets thinner, so it retains less heat and the temperature decreases.

 


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