Biology: Life on Earth
Biology: Life on Earth
10th Edition
ISBN: 9780321729712
Author: Gerald Audesirk, Teresa Audesirk, Bruce E. Byers
Publisher: Benjamin Cummings
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Chapter 29, Problem 1FTB

The tilt of Earth on its axis produces ____________. Coastal climates are more moderate because of____________. A dry region on the side of a mountain range that faces away from the direction of prevailing winds is called a(n) ____________.

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Summary Introduction

To review:

The given blank space in the statement, “the tilt of the Earth on its axis produces _________. Coastal climates are more moderate because of _______. A dry region on the side of a mountain range that faces away from the direction of prevailing winds is called a (n) _______.”

Introduction:

The Earth constantly rotates on its axis and revolves around the sun. These movements give rise to night and day and seasons. The Earth is also covered 70% in water, which provides a hospitable environment to the organisms. The Earth’s surface is covered with various features like deserts, oceans, mountains, plateaus, grasslands, ice, and forests.

Explanation of Solution

The Earth is slightly tilted on its axis at an angle of 23.5° (degrees). Thus, its distance from the sun during the revolution and its tilted axis give rise to seasons like summer, winter, spring, and autumn. The hemisphere facing the sun experiences hot summers while the one that is faced away from the sun, experiences cold winters.

The water has a high latent heat, which brings the surrounding air’s temperature to an optimum level. The countries lying close to the oceans or seas or any other water body experience relatively moderate climate due to the oceanic currents. Thus, apart from the Earth’s position to the sun, the ocean also affects its climate.

The air becomes cooler as it raises from the lower altitudes and the pressure decreases. As a result, the mountains are generally cooler than the plains as they are located at a higher altitude. The mountains also receive heavy rainfall as the rising air condenses and sheds its water before crossing the mountain. This part of the mountain is called windward side while the dry part, which does not receive rainfall and prevalent winds, is called rain shadow area.

Conclusion

The tilt of earth on its axis produces seasons. Coastal climates are more moderate because of ocean currents. A dry region on the side of a mountain range that faces away from the direction of prevailing winds is called a rain shadow area.

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Climate is due to temperature and rainfall that in turn are determined by     variations in the solar radiation received on a spherical earth.     the topography or landscape, such as mountains.     the tilt of the earth's axis as it rotates about the sun.     the distribution of land masses and oceans.     All of these determine the temperature and rainfall patterns on earth.   The taiga is a     tropical rain forest.     grassland.     temperate deciduous forest.     coniferous forest.     chaparral.   The open sunlit layer of the body of a lake is the     littoral zone.     aphotic zone.     abyssal zone.     photic zone.     benthic zone.
As global average temperature increases, which of the following regions is expected to experience the most significant warming?   a. high northern latitudes   b. northern and southern mid-latitudes   c. the tropics   d. high southern latitudes
Which of the climate change factors listed below is NOT caused by warming temperatures? A. Higher frequency of category 6 hurricanes B. Rising sea levels C. Ocean acidification   D. Melting glaciers and ice sheets
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