Thursday – September 15, 2011 Mr. Lombardi
Do Now: Describe the climate in New York City for the summer, fall, winter, and spring. What would be your ideal climate for each season?
Aim: How can we evaluate the relationship between environment and society?
Climate• The usual weather patterns that occur
in an area over a long period of time.• Four major climate zones: tropical, dry,
mid-latitude, and high latitude.
The Four Climate Zones
1. Tropical• Located near the equator.• Little temperature change from year to year.• Tropical Rainforests: warm and wet most of
the year.– Ex: Amazon Rainforest
• Tropical Savanna: warm and dry part of the year, warm and wet the other part.– Ex: African Savanna
2. Dry• Little or no rainfall (less than 10 inches per
year)• Very hot during the day• Very cold at night• Extremely cold winters– Ex: Sahara Desert
3. Mid-Latitude• Variety of climates due to mixing warm and
cold air masses.• Variety of weather patterns.• Most people live in a mid-latitude climate
zone.– Ex: North America and Europe
4. High Latitude
• Polar regions• Very cold• Often have high mountains that remain cold
at the peak year round.
Map Activity1. Draw and label a compass.2. Trace the equator and prime meridian.3. Name/label the four hemispheres.4. Label all continents that have tropical climates
as number “1”.5. Label all continents that have dry climates as
number “2”.6. Label all continents that have mid-latitude
climates as number “3”.7. Label all continents that have high latitude
climates as number “4”.
Impact and effect of humans on the environmentRead the handout and explain each in your own words. Also state
whether it is a positive or negative effect on the environment and why.DO NOT WRITE ON THE HANDOUT!
1. Irrigation2. Terrace farming3. Roads4. Effects on the environment5. Deforestation6. Global warming7. Desertification8. Acid rain
Summary• According to the map, what
determines the climate?• How can we evaluate the
relationship between environment and society?
Application Activity• You are a member of a UN committee to study the
effects of human impact on the environment. You are required to visit the 8 following locations. For each location, list the clothing and the reason that you would pack for each location.
1. Nile Rover – irrigation system2. Andes Mountains – terrace farming3. Silk Road4. India – Pollution5. Amazon – Deforestation6. Polar ice caps – global warming
7. Sahel, Africa – Desertification8. Switzerland – Acid rain