A brief introduction to climatology for the young learners

1. Tasneem Seedat

2. Why is the
atmosphere
necessary?
• To breathe – 13kg/day (2.4kg
of food and 1kg of water)
• Regulates temperature –
clothing, activities, houses
• Blanket over the earth – heats
earth and shields us from
harmful ultraviolet rays
• Moisture – hydrological cycle
• Also causes natural disasters
like cyclones, floods,
droughts..

3. The difference
between…
• Climate: it is the average of the
weather observations over a
long period of time, usually not
less than 20 years
• Weather: condition of the
atmosphere as it is observed
over a limited period of time
namely a few hours, day, week
season
• Climatology: the study of
climatic conditions
• Climatologist: a person that
studies climate
• Meteorologist: a person that
studies weather

4. Main Elements of
Weather and
Climate
• Temperature – how hot or
cold the air is
• Precipitation – Moisture
form the sky : snow, hail, rain
• Humidity – the amount of
water vapor in the air
• Wind – caused by different
pressures
Wind speed- how fast it is blowing
Wind direction – where it is blowing
from

5. The elements of weather and
their measurement

6. FACTORS AFFECTING TEMPERATURE
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7. Factors that influence
temperature and rainfall
1. Distance from the equator
2. Distance from the sea
3. Height above sea level
4. Ocean currents
5. Relief or mountains
NB> Carbon dioxide, water vapor,
dust particles and pollutions are heat
absorbers.

8. 1. LATTITUDE:Distance from the Equator
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Low latitudes = high
temperatures.
- Equator 0° highest temp
- Direct angle of insolation
- Smaller surface area to heat
- Thinner atmosphere to pass
through absorbing less heat
High altitudes = low
temperatures.
- Poles 90°N & 90°S lowest
temp
- Indirect angle of insolation
- Larger surface area to heat
- Thicker atmosphere to pass
through absorbing more heat
Insolation –incoming solar
radiationTemperature decreases towards the poles

9. 2. DISTANCE FROM SEA
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Heat is absorbed and released slower by water than land
Liquid sea is less dense than solid land and can be heated
to greater depth
The sea retains heat for longer and cools down more
slowly than land

10. 2. DISTANCE FROM SEA
10
Interior areas eg. Johannesburg
Continental- extreme climates
Hot summer, cold winters
Hot days, cold nights
Coastal areas eg. Durban
Maritime – moderate
Warm summers, cool winters
Warm days, warm nights

11. 3. ALLTITUDE
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Temperature decreases with
an increase in height/ altitude
The higher you go the colder
it gets
Change of 2°C for every
300m
Air is less dense at a higher
altitude
It contains less water vapour,
dust particles, carbon dioxide
and pollution and is therefor
cooler

12. 4. OCEAN CURRENTS
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13. 4. OCEAN CURRENTS13
The land and air takes on the charateristics of the ocean currents that
flow along it
Origin of Warm ocean currents at equator, flows along the eastern
coastlines towards poles.
Warm ocean currents effects the latitude from 40° to 60° on the west
side of the continent
Warm ocean cirrents in the tropics have little effect as these areas
are already warm
Origin of Cold ocean currents at poles, flows along the western
coastlines towards equator.
Cold ocean currents have less effect as it falls in areas of off shore
winds. It causes desserts as cold oceans provide very little moisture
The cold Benguela current causes the Kalahari and Namib deserts

14. 5. ASPECT
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Reason: Sun’s position is
overhead the equatorial area
Aspect affects areas beyoud the
tropics
Northern hemisphere
South facing slopes are warmer
Southern hemisphere
North facing slopes are warmer
• Warmer slopes are dry and
used for residential areas
• Cooler slopes has an
increased in moisture and are
used for forestry

15. Aspect and Orographic / relief rain
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16. What is a biome?
A BIOME is the largest
geographic biotic unit, a
major community of
plants and animals with
similar life forms and
environmental
conditions.

17. How are biomes formed?
Biomes are distributed across the Earth based primarily on climate.
Therefore, in areas that are far apart, you will sometimes find similar
plants and animals because the climate is similar.
One factor affecting climate is latitude. Typically, the farther you move
north or south of the equator, the colder the temperature gets. Another
factor affecting climate is elevation. The higher you go in elevation, the
colder the temperature gets.
Biomes usually found at cold latitudes far from the equator are sometimes
also found on high mountains at low latitudes. Typically, a climb of 100 feet
in elevation is equivalent to traveling 600 miles northward.

18. How many biomes are
there?
1. Equatorial climate
2. Savanna climate
3. Desert climate
4. Mediterranean climate
5. Tundra climate
6. Monsoon climate

19. 1.Equatorialclimate
Biome Equatorial climate
Location Near the equator at 5°N to 5°S
E.g.. Amazon and Congo Basins
Description Thick dense canopy forest
Season No seasons
Annual rainfall more than 2000 mm throughout the year
Temperature average 26oC
Fact As many as 50% of all the world’s animal
species may be found here

20. 2.Savannaclimate
Biome Savanna
Location 5° N/S to 15° N/S
- E.g.. African and South American
Savanna
Description Grasslands with a few scattered trees
Season Experience a wet and dry season
Annual rainfall 600 to 900 mm, summer rain
Temperature 20°C to 32°C
Fact More species of grazing mammals than
any other biome

21. 3.DesertClimate
Biome
Location 20° N/S to 25° N/S
- E.g.. Namib, Sahara, Australia,
Californian and Atacama deserts
Description Lies along cold ocean currents. A barren
land with little precipitation causing harsh
living conditions
Season Experience a season
Annual rainfall Below 100 mm
Temperature Winter 20°C to Summer 30°C
Fact The north and South pole are deserts

22. 4.Mediterranean
Climates
Biome
Location 30° N/S to 45° N/S
on western sides of continents
- E.g.. Around the Mediterranean sea, Western
Cape
Description Composed of shrub lands and woodlands
Season Wet cold winters and dry warm summers
Annual rainfall 400 mm to 800 mm winter rainfall
Temperature Winter- 10°C to Summer -20°C
Fact Chaparral is the California name for this biome,
Marquis in Europe and Fynbos in the Cape

23. 5.TundraClimate.
Biome
Location 66° N/S to 90° N/S Artic circle/ Antarctic
circle
- E.g.. Canada, Alaska and Siberia
Description Means treeless or marshy plain
Season Long freezing dark winters
Long cold light summers
Annual rainfall 10 mm to 300 mm (summer rain)
Temperature Winter -30°C to -40°C to Summer -20°C
Fact Characterized by permafrost – permanently
frozen soil starting as high as a few
centimeters below the surface – which
severely limits plant growth

24. 6.MonsoonClimate
Biome
Location 20° N to 50° N – Asia
10° S to 20° S – Australia
Description Seasonal direction of wind reversals
Season Summer – onshore winds bringing heavy
rains
Winter – offshore winds with no rains
Annual rainfall Varying up to 12 000 mm
Temperature Winter 15°C to Summer 34°C
Fact Monsoons results in seasonal summer
floods

25. OtherBiomes:
a.Grassland
Biome
Location 30° N/S to 45° N/S
interior - E.g.. South Africa highlands
Description Large flat plateau with long grass and few
trees
Season Hot summers and cold winters
Annual rainfall 500 mm to 900 mm
Temperature Winter- 10°C to Summer 38°C
Fact Because of the dry climate, trees are found
only near water sources such as streams

26. b.Temperate
DeciduousForest
Biome
Location 30° N/S to 45° N/S
eastern coast
Description Most trees will lose their leaves in the
winter
Season Moderate climates
Annual rainfall 750 mm to 1500 mm
Temperature Winter 20°C to Summer 30°C
Fact Because of the wet climate there are large
forest

27. c.TemperateBoreal
Forest
Biome
Location 45° N to 60° N
Description characterized by coniferous forests
consisting mostly of pines, spruces and
larches
Season Cold climates with summer rains
Annual rainfall 400 mm to 1000 mm
Temperature Winter- 30°C to Summer 10°C
Fact Also known as the Taiga, very few reptiles

28. Earthsseasonal
orbit

29. Equinoxes

30. Wintersolstice

31. Summersolstice