Climate:

Weather: Condition of the atmosphere over a small period of time

Climate: Condition of the atmosphere over a longer period of time (decades)

Stevenson Screen
-Contains the thermometers, barometers
-Painted white to reflect sunlight, built from wood (poor heat conductor)
-Raised 1.2 meters above ground, minimize effect of heat radiating from ground
-Louvre on four sides to allow air to flow in and out

Temperature
-High Temperature: >20 degrees, Low Temperature: <20 degrees
-Temperature range: Highest average monthly temperature minus lowest average monthly
temperature
Altitude: Higher Altitude=Lower Temp, thinner atmosphere, lower heat absorption
Longitude: Sun Rays impact the Earth at an angle, less concentration
-Instruments: Thermometers, Sixs thermometer

Precipitation
-Total Annual Rainfall, Seasonal Rainfall/ Regular Rainfall all year round
-Low Precipitation: <250mm, Moderate: 300mm-1000mm, High: >1000mm
-Instrument: Rain Gauge (Usually buried in wide open area, mouth of rain gauge is 30cm above
ground to prevent water splashing from the ground into the gauge)
-Convectional Rain and Relief Rain

Humidity
-Measured in relative humidity (RH)
-Relative Humidity: Amount of moisture in air compared to amount of moisture the air can
hold at a particular temperature.
-Instrument: Hygrometer (web bulb thermometer and dry bulb thermometer)

Wind
-Wind Speed (Anemometer), Wind Direction (Wind Vane, Wind Rose)
-Measured in km/h / NSEW







Natural Vegetation

Tropical Rainforests
-Found between tropics (Duh) 10 deg N and S of the Equator
-Major Forests: Amazon, Congo, Southeast-Asia
-Dense vegetation, Mix of species of trees (As many as 400 species in a hectare)
-Emergent, Canopy, Understory, Shrub, Undergrowth
-Sparse undergrowth and shrubbery due to little sunlight reaching the forest floor
-Trees do not shed their leaves throughout the year as the climate is able to sustain the rapid
growth throughout the year

Leaves
-Broad and dark green to capture the most amount of sunlight
-Waxy and have drip tips to prevent water collecting on the leaves
-Thick leathery leaves to withstand the high temperatures
Bark: Smooth and thin (No need to withstand cold winters)
Roots
-Shallow: High rainfall meaning water can be easily found in the topsoil. Most of the nutrients
is also found in the topsoil due to decomposition in the undergrowth
-Buttress roots 1m-5m above ground; supports taller trees
Branches: Grow in the top parts of the trees; umbrella-shaped; capture maximum sunlight
Flowers and Fruits: Animal Pollinated, thus sweet, colourful and fleshy

Coniferous Forests
-Lower density; Climate cannot support large population of trees
-Grows in pure stands; Limited mix of 2-3 species
-Evergreen; do not shed leaves during winter
Bark: Thick and Rough to withstand cold winter
Leaves: Thin needle-like leaves to reduce water loss through transpiration
Shallow roots; absorb water from melting snow
Branches: Flexible and downward sloping to prevent snow collecting











Deforestation

Causes
-Population Increase; Increase in demand for housing, transport etc.
-Land cleared for construction of housing and roads
e.g. Between 1978 and 1988 5.2 % of the Amazon was cleared for the construction of roads
and highways
-Resettlement of people in Brazil; Families relocated are given a piece of land
Agriculture and Commercial logging
-Agriculture to feed the growing population; Timber exported to other countries to be made
into furniture/construction; additional revenue for the country


Forest Benefits (Enviroment)
-maintain the water cycle through transpiration/ interception on leaves
Prevents soil erosion
-better quality of water; prevent waterways from being filled with soil particles
-reduce the likelihood of floods; prevent sedimentation in rivers
-Mangrove Forests can filter waste in water bodies
-Act as a buffer layer to coasts; break the force of tidal waves e.g. 2004 Indian
Improve the Quality of soil
-Leaf litter decomposes and fertilizes the soil
Quality of air
-Takes in carbon dioxide; give out oxygen
-Carbon sinks; stores carbon in their trunks
-Host to a large range of biodiversity; organisms with medicinal value;
-Home to native indigenous people e.g. the Kayapo in the Amazon
-Recreational Value and as a tourist attraction

Reasons for deforestation
-Need for countries to clear national debt e.g. Brazil borrowed extensively from other
countries and has a national debt of more than US$100 billion
-Source of wood for construction and furniture; can be sold to boost the countrys revenue
-Large-Scale Commercial Farming/Agriculture e.g. Cattle Ranching industry; large pieces of the
forest is cleared to make space for farms, plantations and cattle ranches.


Population
Land and Water
Pollution
Alternative Energy