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The average weather pattern taken over a longer time is called the climate of the place.
Different parts of the earth have different types of climate. The sun is responsible for this difference in climatic conditions.
Climate is described in terms of overall temperature distributions and air pressure. Based on the precipitation and the
temperature five major types of climates are recognised. They are,
Moist tropical climate
Dry climate
Humid middle latitude climate
Continental climate
Cold climate
Moist Tropical Climates are known for their high temperatures and large amount of rain around the year.
Dry Climates are characterised by little rain and a high daily temperature range.
In Humid Middle Latitude Climates, land or water differences play a key part. These climates have warm, dry summers, and
cool, wet winters.
Continental Climate is characterised by winter temperatures low enough to support a fixed period of snow cover every year,
a relatively moderate precipitation occurring mostly in summer, and an even distribution of precipitation.
Polar areas have cold climates as they are covered by ice almost all the year round. Most areas are covered by glaciers or
by a semi-permanent layer of ice.
Climate has an intense effect on all living organisms. Animals adapt themselves to survive various conditions in which they
live. Animals that live in extreme climates acquire some special features to protect themselves from it. Animals evolve to
acquire these features and habits to adapt to their environment.
Example: The camel has a hump to store food in the form of fat, and hooves to tread on the desert sand with ease.
Adaptation in Penguin
The bodies of penguins are white, and merge into the background. They have a thick layer of skin and move around in
groups to keep warm.
Their streamlined bodies and webbed feet make penguins swift swimmers.
Siberian cranes migrate to far-off places like Bharatpur in Rajasthan, Sultanpur in Haryana and also to some wetlands of
north-eastern India. They fly here all the way from Siberia. Birds travel thousands of kilometers to migrate. During the day,
the sun guides them, and the stars do so in the night.
Tropical rain forests
Tropical rain forests spread around the equator. Temperatures like 15C in winter and 40 C in summer are characteristic
features of this region. Day and night are of equal duration through year. The Western Ghats and Assam in India, South
East Asia, Central Africa and the Amazon in Central America experience this type of climate.
These regions receive abundant rainfall. A significant feature about this region is the tropical forest.
A wide variety of plants and animals are found in these regions due to the continuous warmth and rain.
The major types of animals living in this type of rainforests are monkeys, apes, gorillas, lions, tigers, elephants, leopards,
lizards, snakes, birds and insects.
(b) The place receives very little rainfall and the temperature is high
throughout the year,
(c) The region two regions of the earth with extreme climatic conditions
are pole and desert.
7.The tropical rain forest has large population of animals. Explain why it is so.
Answer:
Because of continuous warmth and rain, this region supports wide variety of
plants and animals.
8.Explain, with examples, why we find animals of certain kind living in particular
climatic conditions.
Answer:
The organisms interact with the environment to survive. So, it is necessary for
the organism to have characteristics that suits the environment.
Polar bears have white fur so that they are not easily visible in the snowy
background. It protects them from their predators. It also helps them in catching
prey. The thick layer of fur and fat deposit inside the skin insulate them to
survive in cold climate.
Physical activities on warm days necessitate cooling. So, the polar bear goes
for swimming.
It is a good swimmer. Its paws are wide and large, which help not only to swim
well but also walk with ease in the snow.
10.A carnivore with strips on its body moves very fast while catching its prey. It
is likely to be found in
Answer: (iv) tropical rainforests.