Chapter 11: World Climate and Climate Change
Geography - Fundamental of Physical Geography • Class 11
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Chapter Analysis
Intermediate8 pages • EnglishQuick Summary
The chapter discusses the classification of world climates, primarily focusing on the Koeppen system, which categorizes climates based on temperature and precipitation. It explores various climate types such as tropical, dry, warm temperate, cold snow forest, and polar climates, highlighting distinct characteristics and regions where each climate is prevalent. The chapter also addresses climate change, examining both natural and anthropogenic causes, with a specific focus on the impact of greenhouse gases.
Key Topics
- •Koeppen’s Climate Classification
- •Characteristics of Major Climate Types
- •Impact of Greenhouse Gases
- •Natural Causes of Climate Change
- •Anthropogenic Climate Change
- •Global Warming Effects
- •Polar and Ice Cap Climates
Learning Objectives
- ✓Understand the empirical basis for climate classification.
- ✓Identify characteristics of major world climates.
- ✓Analyze the causes and effects of climate change.
- ✓Assess the role of greenhouse gases in global warming.
- ✓Explore historical climate variability and its records.
- ✓Examine impacts of climate change on different regions.
Questions in Chapter
Which one of the following is suitable for Koeppen’s “A” type of climate?
Answer: (c) Mean monthly temperature of all the months more than 18° C
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Koeppen’s system of classification of climates can be termed as:
Answer: (d) Empirical
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Most of the Indian Peninsula will be grouped according to Koeppen’s system under:
Answer: (d) “Am”
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Which one of the following years is supposed to have recorded the warmest temperature the world over?
Answer: (b) 1998
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Which one of the following groups of four climates represents humid conditions?
Answer: (d) A—C—D—F
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Which two climatic variables are used by Koeppen for classification of the climate?
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How is the “genetic” system of classification different from the “empirical one”?
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Which types of climates have very low range of temperature?
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What type of climatic conditions would prevail if the sun spots increase?
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Make a comparison of the climatic conditions between the “A” and “B” types of climate.
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What type of vegetation would you find in the “C” and “A” type(s) of climate?
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What do you understand by the term “Greenhouse Gases”? Make a list of greenhouse gases.
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Additional Practice Questions
Explain how Koeppen’s classification is used to identify climate types.
mediumAnswer: Koeppen’s classification uses temperature and precipitation data, relating these to vegetation patterns. He categorized climates with capital and small letters where main groups depend on temperature and subtypes on seasonal variations in precipitation.
Discuss the effects of global warming on polar climates.
hardAnswer: Global warming leads to melting ice caps and glaciers in polar climates, resulting in rising sea levels and loss of habitats for species adapted to cold environments. It can also alter weather patterns, increasing polar temperatures.
Describe the characteristics of a Mediterranean climate.
easyAnswer: Mediterranean climate features hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters, located along the west coasts of continents between 30° to 40° latitudes, exemplified by areas like Central California and parts of Australia.
How do greenhouse gases contribute to the greenhouse effect?
mediumAnswer: Greenhouse gases, such as CO₂ and methane, trap heat in the atmosphere by absorbing infrared radiation emitted from Earth's surface, preventing heat from escaping into space, thus warming the planet.
Identify different factors responsible for climate change.
hardAnswer: Climate change drivers include natural factors like volcanic eruptions, variations in solar radiation, and human activities such as emissions from burning fossil fuels and deforestation, enhancing the greenhouse effect.