Climate

• What is permafrost?


  Permafrost is permanently frozen ground, consisting of soil, rock, or sediment, that remains at or below 0°C for at least two consecutive years.
• What is the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)?

  It is an area of low pressure near the equator where the trade winds of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres converge. This convergence causes air to rise and results in high humidity, cloud formation, and frequent precipitation. The ITCZ plays a pivotal role in the Earth's climate system and is a major driver of tropical weather pattern!
• Name the 2 major climate zones studied?

  1. The Tropical Monsoon Climate
  2. The Polar Climate
• Soil type is often related and determined by the climate and natural vegetation of an area
• • The Polar Climate is home to 13 million people and is spread between 8 different countries (low population)
• Majority of people in the polar climate are living in tundra climatic areas of continental North America and Eurasia
• Due to the harsh climate and thin soils, the polar tundra climate supports very low population numbers, despite its large area:

  1. Around 4 million people live within the Arctic Circle
  2. The ten largest settlements are in northern Russia with Murmansk (300,000 people) being the biggest
  3. Small Indigenous groups also occupy the region, such as the Innuit north of Canada and Greenland, and the Sami of Northern Europe
  4. These groups migrate with the seasons to be close to food sources
• Why are the populations in the Polar climate so small?

  Due to the harsh climate and thin soils, the polar tundra climate supports very low population numbers, despite its large area
• What is farming like in the Polar Climate?

  1. Arable farming is only possible through creating artificial environments
  2. Agriculture is mainly subsistence with low productivity
• What is the average persons diet in the polar climate?

  Because crops struggle to grow in the thin, frozen soils, peoples’ diets are mainly meat-based. They use traditional methods of fishing, trapping and hunting secure supplies, alongside reindeer herding.
• What is the Tropical Monsoon Climate?

  A climate zone which is marked by its distinct pattern of wet and dry seasons caused by the monsoon winds, with consistently high temperatures and significant seasonal variations in precipitation.
• What makes the tropical monsoon climate dry and wet and very humid/hot?

  (ITCZ) Monsoon Winds: The climate is influenced by the seasonal reversal of wind patterns. In the wet season, moist air is drawn in from the ocean, bringing heavy rains. During the dry season, winds often come from the continental interior, bringing dry conditions.
• More than 4 billion people live in the Asian countries that are visited by summer monsoon winds
• The Tropical Monsoon Climate characteristics:

  • Temperature can average 30 °C in the monsoon season and humidity is also very high
  • There is little variation in temperatures between the warmest and coolest months.
  • The average rainfall is around 2000mm for the season (the south-east UK receives just over 600mm per year)
• What is agriculture like in Tropical Monsoon climates?

  • Agriculture in monsoon regions relies heavily on warm wet conditions and this can produce high yields and support large populations
  • Many areas in these countries do not have large irrigation systems but the summer monsoon rainfall fills aquifers and other groundwater stores for the rest of the year
  • Rice and tea are some crops that rely on the summer monsoon
  • Dairy farms, which help make India the largest milk producer in the world, also depend on the monsoon rains to feed the cows
• One example of farming in Tropical Monsoon Climates are the Indian rice farms:

  The tropical monsoon climate is integral to rice farming in India due to the essential water supply provided by seasonal rains and the favourable temperature conditions.
• What are some challenges rice farmers in India face (Tropical Monsoon Climate example)?

  1. water management issues
  2. soil degradation
  3. pest and disease outbreaks (when area floods disease increases)
  4. impacts of climate change (cause weaker and stronger Monsoon seasons - droughts + floods cause crop failure)
  5. socio-economic constraints (labour intensive - traditional agricultural methods)
• Rice farming in India — fertile and wetland is best for the crops however due to the field's great ability to retain water they can also cause flooding. At the same time when the monsoon seasons are weak, they cause crop failure which affects the Indian economy massively. The agriculture in India is also labour intensive as they use traditional methods and not many machines. The amount of space for agriculture is also decreasing as the population in India continues to grow
• How is India trying to Improve their agricultural issues?

  Addressing these problems requires integrated approaches, including improved irrigation infrastructure, sustainable farming practices, and supportive policies to enhance the resilience and productivity of rice farming in India
• Seasons in the Tropical Monsoon Climate, this map shows where the perception occurs during the year when the monsoon winds are moved around the equator:

  A) Zone of Tropical Rainfall

  
• The Polar Climate - one long and intensely cold winter with very low temperatures, snow and strong winds
• What are the characteristics of the Polar Climate?

  • 20% of the earth is within the Polar Climate
  • Average temperatures in the polar climate are less than 10C
  • Temperatures fall as low as -40C
  • Permafrost - covers the land