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The climate of a region is affected by interactions among components of Earths biosphere. Earths biosphere is the thin layer of the Earth that is able to support life. The relatively thin layer of Earth that has conditions suitable for supporting life is composed of all the living things on Earth and the physical environment that supports them.

Earth may be divided into three spheres Biosphere (bio = living, Sphere = ball) ; The living layer around the planet Includes atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere

Atmosphere (atmos = gas) ; The gas layer around the planet Lithosphere (lithos = rock); The rock layer around the planet Hydrosphere (hydro = water); The water layer around the planet

Air is the mixture of different gases found in the Earths atmosphere. The layer of gas that extends out 300km from the Earths surface.
Major gasses Oxygen and Nitrogen

Trace Gases Argon, carbon dioxide, helium, methane, and krypton

The atmosphere is approximately: 78% nitrogen gas 21% oxygen gas 1% other gases (argon, carbon dioxide, etc.)

In addition to these gases, the atmosphere also contains atmospheric dust, made up of abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) particles. Air quality is affected by the quantity of particles. Smog, a word combining smoke and fog, occurs when soot particles combine with car exhaust in the air.

The atmosphere is subdivided into regions according to their distance from Earths surface. These layers are described in terms of temperature, chemical composition, air movement, and density, which may differ from place to place.

Layer

Altitude (km)

Troposphere 0-10

Stratosphere 1050

Mesosphere

5080

Thermosphe re

80+

Temp Characteristics Range (C) 80 percent of atmospheric gas by mass 20 60 can support life contains most of the carbon dioxide and water vapour in the atmosphere contains almost all of the atmospheric dust in the atmosphere where weather takes place contains most of the ozone gas in the 0 60 atmosphere, which protects living organisms from damaging high-energy radiation clumps of cells found but no other life Air temperature increases with height as ozone gas absorbs ultraviolet solar radiation. very little gas 0 100 Air is thin, and atmospheric pressure is low. fewer oxygen molecules (O2) 100 to very little gas Gas particles are hot during the day and 1000

The solid portion of Earth that floats on the semifluid portion of the mantle. The lithosphere is home to many micro-organisms, plants, and animals, including humans. It is the outer surface of Earth (its crust) plus the solid part of the upper mantle.

It extends downward from Earths surface and varies in thickness from 5 km in the ocean to 100 km beneath the continents. Only a few meters is warmed by the sun, the rest is warmed by decaying radioactive material

Movements in the lithosphere can affect climate. The science of plate tectonics describes how the different plates of Earths lithosphere move over the mantle. When plates collide, mountains form. The windblown side of mountain ranges receive rain while the other side is dry. Volcanic eruptions can spew millions of tonnes of ash high into the atmosphere, blocking the sun and cooling the global climate for a few years.

All of the water on Earth.

About 97 percent of this water is salt water in Earths oceans.

The other 3 percent is fresh water. Groundwater, lakes, and streams, ice in snow and glaciers

Many different organisms, from whales to algae, live in the large water bodies of the hydrosphere. Most organisms in the lithosphere or atmosphere need water to survive. The hydrosphere is warmed by incoming solar radiation.

Weather is the condition of the atmosphere in a specific place at a specific time. It describes factors such as wind, temperature, humidity, & precipitation.
Climate refers to the condition of the atmosphere over a large area, averaged over many years.

A) Cloud cover
B) Annual Rainfall C) Chance of Precipitation

D) Average Monthly Temperature

The 4 main factors affecting an areas climate are:

The 4 main factors affecting a specific areas climate are (more factors tomorrow): Latitude

The 4 main factors affecting an areas climate are: Latitude Elevation

The 4 main factors affecting an areas climate are: Latitude Elevation Air masses that flow over the area

The 4 main factors affecting an areas climate are: Latitude Elevation Air masses that flow over the area Nearness to large bodies of water

A biome is a large geographical region with a defined range of temperature and precipitation - its climate.

A biome is a large geographical region with a defined range of temperature and precipitation its climate.

Each biome is characterized by the plant (and animal) life that is adapted to it. E.g. the cold, dry tundra is characterized by its lichens, mosses, and sedges.

Dividing Earth into biomes helps scientists study and understand how the biotic and abiotic components of each biome interact and how the biomes interact with each other.
Biome divisions also make it easier for scientists to predict how different groups of organisms may be affected by changes in a region, such as a decrease in precipitation or an increase in summer temperatures.

The climate of any particular area can be analyzed using climatographs which compare precipitation and temperature over time.

The six terrestrial biomes in Canada are tundra, boreal forest (also called taiga), temperate deciduous forest, temperate grassland, temperate coniferous forest, and mountain. Mountains show several different biomes as you climb, with tundra at the tops of the highest mountains.