B Climates
Hot Desert Climate
-Annual average temps are above 64.4 F -Precip- evaporation is more than twice precip -Location- often located directly under the subtropical high 30 degrees latitude
Temperature in B Climates
-Most arid climates are in subtropical region; high sun for many months -Most arid climates lack clouds and precip (insolation is easily transmitted through atmosphere and signifiant long wave radiation loss at night) -Cold arid climates are dry but cool
Mid-latitude Grassland Biome
-Thick and rich soils make grasslands very useful for agriculture -Most human modified biome -Broadleaf deciduous trees, when present are found along streams -Frequent fires and drought prevent trees from growing -Must adapt to harsh winters and long, hot summers -May hibernate, migrate seasonally or grow thick coats -Bison struggle to migrate long distances because of fences
Grassland Biome
-Transition between deserts and humid regions (tropics or forests) -In tropics- Savanna -Outside tropics- prairies Can be tall or short grass-steppe -Largest continuous prairie= Great Plains
Desertification
An issue in our deserts -The process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture BIG cause of desert expansion Combating Desertification- Adding a line of trees as a living barrier to desert expansion (promotes understory growth) Water limited environment is a social concern
BS BW
BS= Steppes; semiarid regions BW= Deserts; arid regions
____ and ____ climate types have grassland biomes (especially prairies).
BSh and BSk
____ and ____ have desert biomes.
BWk and BWh
B_h B_k
B_h= hot arid environments B_k= cold arid environments
BWk
Cold Desert Climate
BSk
Cold Steppe Climate
Causes of Dry Climates
Descending air in Subtropics Cold Ocean Currents Rain Shadow of Mountains Distance from Ocean (evaporation and transpiration exceeds precip)
Primary Letter B
Dry. Arid or Semi Arid (no rain)
Locations of B
Great Plains US Pampas of Argentina Central Europe Central Asia Australia
BWh
Hot Desert Climate
BSh
Hot Steppe Climate
Secondary Letters S W
S- Steppe (large area of flat grassland) W- Desert
Desert Biome
Sparse vegetation (typically covers less than 15% of ground) Many lack permanent surface water
Strategies for efficient water usage
Taproots- plants with deep roots up to 20 cm can out compete other species Minimizing water loss- some plants discourage transpiration by different leaf texture, folding during dry times, dropping leaves Strategic positioning- concentrated near oases Cacti employ strategies- leaves are shaped to collect water. Ribs expand to store water contract during times to reduce surface exposed. Spines discourage browsing animals
Cold Desert Climate
Temp- average annual temp- 57 F Hot summers, cold winters Precip- evaporation is more than twice precip Location- continental interiors, rain shadows, near cold current
Hot Steppe Climate
Temp- warm all year Precip- more than 50% of annual evaporation Location- subtropical high influence
Cold Steppe Climate
Temp- warm to hot summer, cold to cold winters Precip- more than 50% of annual evaporation Location- Continental interiors, rain shadows, near cold currents
Precipitation in B Climates
Water demand exceeds water supply Arid- when precip supply is less than half natural demand Semiarid- when precip supply is a little more than half natural demand
Distribution of Dry Climates (B type)
Western US & Mexico South America Deserts Sahara and Sahel Southern Africa Australia Cold steppes and deserts of central Asia
Animal Survival Strategies
light colors= high albedo small body size= easily radiate heat camouflage summer or daytime dormancy
Allelopathy
survival strategy of plant poison the soil around you
Assisted Dispersal
survival strategy of plants have spines that detach on passerbys who distribute it for you.. sometimes painfully
Rapid germination
survival strategy of plants waiting until the night time to reproduce Perhaps following significant rainfall effect
