Italian Geography: Climate Zones PDF

# Il clima e gli ambienti naturali ## 1. Le stagioni e le zone astronomiche - The Earth's revolution around the sun and the inclination of its axis determine the following: - different lengths of day and night throughout the year - different angles of the sun's rays during the year - These...

# Il clima e gli ambienti naturali ## 1. Le stagioni e le zone astronomiche - The Earth's revolution around the sun and the inclination of its axis determine the following: - different lengths of day and night throughout the year - different angles of the sun's rays during the year - These two factors influence the amount of heat received by different parts of the Earth during the seasons. - **Latitude** is the main factor influencing the climate in different places. The tropics and the polar circles divide the Earth's surface into five large areas, known as **astronomical zones**, each characterized by a different climate trend. - These zones are as follows: | Name | Description | Climate | |---|---|---| | Polar Caps | Within the polar circles; the sun's rays are always very oblique; the sun doesn't rise in winter; | Cold | | Temperate | Located at intermediate latitudes in each hemisphere; sun rays arrive at an oblique angle; length of day and night varies greatly. | Temperate | | Intertropical zone | Located between the two tropics; sun rays are least oblique; the difference between day and night length is minimal at the equator. | Warm | ## 2. Le zone climatiche, gli ambienti naturali e le azioni che li minacciano - Climatic factors influence each other, creating a specific climate for each location. - The Earth's surface can be divided into **climatic zones**, with similar temperatures and precipitation. - Each climatic zone is associated with one or more **biomes**, which are natural environments characterized by specific communities of living organisms that find their habitat there. - **Biomes** based on climatic zones include: | Climatic zone | Biomes | |---|---| | Calldo-umide | Tropical rainforest, Savanna | | Arid | Deserts | | Temperate | Deciduous forests, grasslands | | Cold | Coniferous forests, Tundra | - **Human activities** that threaten the survival of biomes include: - **Deforestation** - Clearing forests for farmland or other purposes leads to habitat loss for organisms and a decrease in oxygen production. - **Land degradation** - Replacing vegetation with pastureland for livestock can lead to soil degradation, making it vulnerable to erosion and desertification. - **Urbanization** - Building concrete structures on land can disrupt drainage patterns, increasing the risk of landslides and floods. - **Pollution** - Pollution can alter natural environments, including the extinction of species. - **Overuse of natural resources** - Overexploitation of natural resources can harm the environment and the ability for resources to regenerate. - **Waste production** - Excessive waste production can overwhelm natural ecosystems. ## 3. Le zone caldo-umide - The **caldo-umide** area stretches from the tropics to the equator, and encompasses different natural environments linked to distinct climates. - **Equatorial climate** - characterized by rainforests and jungle; warm, with high rainfall. - **Savanna climate** - characterized by grasslands and scattered trees; warm, with alternating wet and dry seasons. ## 4. Le zone aride - **Arid zones** are mostly found near the tropics, and are characterized by low humidity. * **Hot deserts** - Located at lower latitudes, hot temperatures, minimal moisture, and extreme temperature variations. * **Cold deserts** - Located at higher latitudes, extreme temperature variation, mostly dry, mostly cold. * **Predeserts** - Transition zones between deserts and savannas, dry for most of the year, with some rainfall. ## 5. Le zone temperate - The **temperate zones** are located at mid-latitudes, beyond the 30° parallel north and 30° south, stretching almost up to the polar circles. - The proximity of the sea influences the climate, leading to different temperate environments: - **Mediterranean climate** - Located near the coast; characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, rainy winters. - **Oceanic climate** - Found at higher latitudes; characterized by mild, evenly distributed temperatures, frequent rainfall, moderate winters. - **Continental warm climate** - Found far from the coast; characterized by hot, dry summers, cold, snowy winters, and variable precipitation. ## 6. Le zone fredde - **Cold zones** lie near the poles and are characterized by distinct climates influencing the environments: - **Continental cold climate** - Located inland, closer to polar circles, with extremely cold winters, short, mild summers, and moderate precipitation; characterized by coniferous forests. - **Subpolar climate** - Found around the polar circles with very short, cool summers and long, cold winters; characterized by Tundra ecosystems. - **Polar climate** - Found near the poles, where ice persists and temperature remains below freezing for most of the year. ## 7. I cambiamenti climatici - The Earth's climate has always varied between warm and cold periods. While there were five major glacial periods in the last 2 million years, separated by warmer periods, it's essential to differentiate between **climatic fluctuations** and **climatic changes**. ### 7.1 Cambiamenti Climatici - **Climate fluctuations** are temporary variations in atmospheric temperature, often triggered by events like volcanic eruptions, or the natural seasonal variations. - **Climate change** is a long-term shift in the Earth's climate patterns, driven by human activity. - **Humans are significantly impacting the Earth's climate**, primarily through the release of greenhouse gases. This impact is already causing shifts in weather patterns, rising sea levels, and altering ecosystems globally. ## 8. Il riscaldamento globale - Since the 1860s, the global average temperature has been steadily rising. - This trend, known as **global warming*, has been linked to the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere as a result of human activities, notably the burning of fossil fuels. ### 8.1 Conseguenze del Riscaldamento Globale - The consequences of global warming are multifaceted and include: - **Melting glaciers and ice sheets:** These are shrinking, leading to rising sea levels and altering coastal ecosystems. - **More extreme weather:** Increased frequency and intensity of storms, droughts, floods, and heat waves. - **Changes in precipitation patterns:** Droughts in some areas, heavy rainfall in others, impacting agriculture and water resources. - **Rising sea levels:** Leading to coastal erosion, displacement of communities, and inundation of low-lying islands. - **Species extinction and ecosystem disruption:** As climates change, some species can't adapt, leading to extinction and imbalances in ecosystems. ### 8.2 Mitigating Global Warming - **Reducing greenhouse gas emissions** is crucial to combat global warming. This can be achieved through: - **Transitioning to renewable energy sources:** Solar, wind, and hydroelectric power can replace fossil fuels. - **Improving energy efficiency:** Making buildings, vehicles, and appliances more efficient to conserve energy. - **Sustainable transportation:** Encouraging public transport, walking, cycling, and electric vehicles to reduce emissions. - **Responsible land use:** Protecting forests, restoring degraded ecosystems, and using sustainable agricultural practices. - **Individual actions:** Adopting eco-friendly habits like reducing energy consumption, conserving water, and choosing sustainable products. - Addressing global warming requires a collaborative global effort, involving governments, businesses, and individuals working towards a sustainable future.