Earth Systems Unit Test Study Guide PDF

Science: Earth Systems – Unit Test Study Guide Review your notes from class, and your work booklet. Some of the main points for you to know include: Weather vs. Climate: o Weather is short term, such as what is happening right now or in the near future....

Science: Earth Systems – Unit Test Study Guide Review your notes from class, and your work booklet. Some of the main points for you to know include: Weather vs. Climate: o Weather is short term, such as what is happening right now or in the near future. ▪ Examples of Weather: It is raining outside o The sky is cloudy and it looks like it might snow o It’s going to be sunny tomorrow o Climate is long term, it included the overall weather patterns for an area over a long period of time. ▪ Examples of Climate: Tropical rainforests are warm and humid o Alberta has cold winters and warm summers o It’s always cold and dry in the Arctic What Determines Climate? Several factors work together to create our climate zones, including; ○ Latitude - places closer to the equator are warmer than places closer to the north or south poles. ○ Landforms - shapes of the land, like mountains, deserts and plains can change how hot or cold, wet or dry a place is. ○ Altitude - how high a place is above sea level. Higher places are usually colder than lower places ○ Closeness to Oceans and bodies of water - being close to the ocean can make the climate milder (less extreme) Weather Measuring Instruments: ○ Thermometer – measures temperature in degrees Celsius ○ Anemometer – measures wind speed in km/h ○ Wind Vane – measures wind direction (a west wind comes FROM the west) ○ Hygrometer – measures humidity in percentage ○ Barometer – measures air pressure ○ Rain Gauge - measures the amount of precipitation received  ○ The 3 stages of the water cycle are; evaporation, condensation and precipitation o Evaporation – when water vapor (gas) rises into the atmosphere o Condensation – when water vapor cools and condenses onto particles, forming clouds o Precipitation – when condensed water becomes too heavy and falls back to the earth as rain, snow, sleet, hail or freezing rain. How does climate affect the lives of people and animals? ○ It affects growing seasons for farmers (droughts, flooding, heat waves, hail, etc.) ○ It affects our health (heat waves / cold snaps) ○ It affects our buildings and property (extreme storms like tornadoes, or large hail from thunderstorms) ○ It can change habitat for animals ○ It can affect the lifestyle of the animals we farm (the amount of water and food available for them) Why is sustainable harvesting/farming important? ○ Doesn’t waste water ○ Protects the soil and keeps it healthy ○ Planting different types of crops/plants can protect the soil from pests ○ Planting trees protects our environment How can we protect our climate? ○ Plant trees ○ Use less water ○ Recycle and Reuse ○ Use less energy when possible ○ Sustainables transportation (riding bikes, walking, carpooling, taking the bus, etc.) What are some ways animals adapt to our climate? ○ Many birds such as geese and ducks fly south for the winter ○ Some animals, such as squirrels, store up food for the winter ○ Some animals, such as coyotes and mountain goats, grow thicker fur to stay warm ○ Some animals’ fur changes colour in the winter and summer ○ Some animals hibernate for the winter months