Future of Physical Geography - Essay Example

Donna Purcell Order 536271 13 May Being Knowledgeable About Weather and Climate Changes, How Do You see Life in 2050; Should We Make an Effort to Change? “Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get.” What will 2050 hold for our local climate? How will regional climate be affected? How will the global climates be affected? The terrain, latitude and altitude affect the climate of a particular geographical location. The nearby bodies of water and the flow of their currents also affect it. Climate includes calculations of temperature; humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, and particle count within the atmosphere. There are, also, other meteorological factors that make up the climate for a certain region and causes variations over a period of time. There are several different theories used to determine and study climate changes over short and long periods of time. The Thornthwaite system uses the study of temperature and precipitation as well as studying animal species, their diversity and how it impacts climate changes. The Bergeron and Spatial Synoptic system focuses mainly on the origin or air masses that make up the climate of a certain region. Paleoclimatology is the study of ancient climates. Since education and study of climates was not prevalent until the 19th century, this type of climate study uses non-biotic evidence such as sediments found in lakebeds, ice cores, tree rings and coral. Historical time spans show that there are a number of variables that determine climate which include, latitude, altitude, percent proportion of land to water, and the location to oceans and mountains. Another factor that plays a role and is more regional, are warming of the oceans and how the heat is distributed between land and water Also, density of vegetation and how it affects solar heat absorption, retention of water, and rainfall regionally. Alterations in atmospheric greenhouse gases determine the amount of solar energy retained by our planet. This, in turn, leads to global warming or cooling. There are many variables that determine our weather, and they all interact with each other in various regions to produce differing climates. In the next few paragraphs I will break down the different climates and show their characteristics. Differing climate range from the moist dampness of the rain forests to the dry air of the deserts, and others in between. The rain forests are typically characterized by high rainfall. This area averages between 69 inches and 79 inches of rain per year. The temperatures in this climate average also around 64 degrees during all the months of the year. A Monsoon is a seasonal prevailing wind, which can last for months at the time. It usually is the onset of a regions’ rainy season. The areas known for this climate are North America, South America, the lower Saharan Africa, Australia and Eastern Asia. A Tropical Savanna is a grassland biome located in a semi-humid area of subtropical and tropical latitudes. The average temperatures in these areas are 64 degrees year round. The rainfall in this type of area averages 30 to 50 inches in a year. This type of climate is also found in India, Malaysia, Australia and some northern parts of South America. The Humid Subtropical climate zone is associated with large storms of winter snowfall and rainfall. However, most rainfall during the summer months consists of thunderstorms and a few tropical cyclones. These climatic areas are located roughly between latitudes 20 degrees and 40 degrees away from the equator and on the east side continents. A Humid Continental climate is characterized by variable weather patterns and large variance in seasonal temperatures. These areas usually see temperatures averaging 50 degrees in the warm months and 26.6 degrees in the cooler months. An Oceanic Climate is most often found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes of the entire world’s continents. This type of climate can be found also in Australia and characterized by heavy rainfall year round. Hot, dry summers and cool wet winters characterize the Mediterranean Climate. This climate is found in the lands closest to the Mediterranean Basin, some parts of western North America, North and South Australia, southwestern South Africa and some parts of Chili. A Steppe climate is a grassland area with an average temperature of 104 degrees in the summer to –40 degrees in the winter months. A Subarctic Climate has very little rainfall and temperatures are above 50 degrees for one to three months out of the year. This climate also has permafrost in larger parts of the area because of cold winters. The winters in this climate usually last up to six months and temperatures average 32 degrees. The Tundra is located in the far Northern Hemisphere. It includes large areas of northern Russia and Canada. It’s located north of the Taiga Belt. The Polar Ice Cap is located in the high latitude areas of the planet. It is sometimes called the polar ice sheet. Ice caps form due to receiving less energy in the form of solar radiation from the sun. As opposed to the areas around the equator, resulting in lower surface temperatures. There are other factors that effect the climate such as elevation or altitude. Conditions usually become colder as altitudes increase. Prevailing global wind patterns also effect the climate. There are 3 major wind patterns found in the Northern Hemisphere and 3 in the Southern. Also, the latitude and angle of the suns’ rays effect climate changes. As the earth spins on its axis it causes changes in the angle of the suns’ rays and how it contacts the earth. Other climate changes are effected by the position of a town or city and the distance from mountains and coastal areas. These can effect the wind patterns. People who live in Tornado Alley in the central United States watch for thunderstorms that carry cold and dry air from the north and warm and dry air from the southwest, and warm and moist air from the Gulf of Mexico – when these air masses collide it forms tornadoes. The Surface of the Earth effects the changing climates. Some areas absorb or reflect sunlight, which determines how much atmospheric heating, occurs. Climates change over time. In some areas we see where glaciers have grown and retreated. The most recent cool period “Little Ice Age” ended in Europe in 1850. Topography of any area can also effect the climate. Mountain ranges are a natural barrier to air movement in California. Winds blow off the Pacific and carry moisture deficit air toward the coastal areas. The Sierra Nevada’s’ bring more dry conditions from sinking warm air and cloud evaporation. Using California as an example; there have been many changes in their weather conditions and climate in recent years. Looking to 2050, and if conditions continue, San Diego’s climate with be hotter and drier. Predictions have been made that average temperatures will rise between 1.5 and 4.5 degrees with higher temperatures in summer. Also, the sea level will be 12 – 18 inches higher, beaches will shrink, coastal properties will flood, existing tidal pools with disappear. Water supplies will also decrease due to GGE (greenhouse gas emissions), and increased population growth. San Diego County will require 37 percent more water. Water supplies to that area will shrink by 20 percent, as Colorado River and rivers of Northern California’s water supplies dimenish. Extended drought will also diminish local water supplies. Another threat facing California is wildfires. With the increased high heat and lack of water, wildfires will become more prevalent. As a result native plants and animal species will be lost forever. Public health will be at risk due to the higher heat, wildfires, and lack of water especially for the young and elderly. These changes will affect everyone who lives in the Western area of the country. But this does not mean that other areas of the country, local, regional and worldly will not be effected. Other areas will see other changes based on factors specific to those areas. It is up to everyone, but even more so the young generation, to instill changes within our society to save our planet for other generations. We can make small changes in our everyday life that will make a big difference. Cut the water off when not in use. Abide by state and local restrictions when water tables are low. Start thinking seriously about investing in an all-electric car. We need to strive for laws that require stricter punishment for oil spills, and intentionally set wild fires. Each of us can recycle to avoid filling of our landfills. These are just a few of the things each individual can do to help save and preserve the lives that we lead now. We take for granted fresh water, green vegetation, fish and other wildlife that are necessary for our survival on this planet. Survival is the key statement. Wanting future generations to splash in the ocean, eat the fish, drink a fresh glass of water, and enjoy the abundance that this planet is not hopeless. If we continue to make major changes, we can all do our tiny part to save this beautiful planet. Entire Websites: Climate & Weather. “Factors that Influence Climate.” Web. 13 May 2011. http://climateandweather.net/. Will we be eating fish in 2005? “Climatide.” Web. 13 May 2011. http://wgbh.org/. Climate Progress. “Oy Canada”: Imagine our northern neighbor in 2005.” 29 September 2010. http://climateprogress.org/. San Diego’s climate will be hotter and drier. “In 2050, If Current Trends Continue.” Web. 13 May 2011. http://sand diego’s changing climate: a regional wake-up call/. Spatial ecology. Web. 13 May 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/. Climate. Web 13 May 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/. Read More