Climate and Its Impact on Habitats and Human Life

Living with the Climate

• The chapter explores the impact of climate on habitats and human life, including the increasing frequency of natural disasters.
• The aim is to understand climate and its effects on environments, habitats, and living and working places.

Understanding Climate

• Climate refers to the long-term atmospheric conditions in a particular region.
• Different lifestyles are adapted to local climates.

Extreme Weather

• Extreme weather refers to unusual and severe weather events, such as heatwaves, droughts, storms, floods, wildfires, and land-wasting events.
• Climate change is a causal reason for the increasing frequency of extreme weather.
• Examples of extreme weather include:
  • Storms: violent storms that bring heavy rain, strong winds, and damage.
  • Typhoons, hurricanes, and cyclones: types of tropical revolving storms.
  • Floods: result of heavy rainfall and can be caused by tropical storms.

Types of Storms

• Tropical revolving storms: type of storm that forms over warm ocean waters.
• Typhoons, hurricanes, and cyclones: occur in specific regions and seasons.
• Features of each type of storm:
  • Heavy rain
  • Strong winds
  • Damage to infrastructure and environment
• Examples of damage caused by storms:
  • Flooding
  • Destruction of property and infrastructure

Climate Change and Extreme Weather

• Global climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events.
• Governments are dealing with events that should be rare, but are now occurring more frequently.
• This places many communities in precarious circumstances.