what are mountain environments really like
TRANSCRIPT
A question from last lessonWhat happens after a pyroclastic
flow?
What are mountains really like?
Camping looking at K2, the worlds second highest mountain
Climate Graph Puzzle
The outline map of South America (in yellow), has 2 red dots on it. Each dot is a place in South America. Above you have been given 2 graphs, 1 on La Paz and 1 on Goias.
What information is shown on the graphs?What are the main differences between La Paz and Goias?Use the graphs to decide which red dot is La Paz and which is Goias
South America
Climate Graph Puzzle
Homework:
• See word document
What are mountain
environments really
like?
Lesson Objectives
All students must be able to understand that temperature declines with heightMost students should be able to appreciate the difference in rainfall and vegetation between the leeward and windward side of a mountain rangeSome students could be able to explain how plants and animals have adapted to be able to survive at high altitude
How altitude affects temperature
And this means that there are less particles in the air to soak up the sun’s energy
This is because the air is THINNER which means there is less oxygen in the air-(causes altitude sickness)
Why is this?
The higher the altitude (height above sea level) the colder the air gets
So, the higher we go up a mountain, the less oxygen there is and the colder it
gets. That is why the snow stays at the top of
mountains
Leicester Mount Snowdon
Mount Everest
About 15 Degrees Celsius
About -40
Degrees Celsius
About 8 Degrees Celsius
Height: 40m Height: 8848mHeight: 1085m
Doug Scott on The Ogre
Doug Scott crawling with 2 broken ankles
Where will the wind be strongest?Coldest?
Wind
Wind Barrier
This brings very different weather ... Can you think how the weather might be different?
... the weather on the leeward side (sheltered from the wind).
Weather on the windward side of the mountain (facing the wind) can be very different to ...
Mountains act as a barrier to the wind
The leeward side is sheltered from the wind and the windward side faces the wind
Windiest and coldest point
Most sheltered and warmest
point
How altitude affects precipitation
So this means that precipitation (snow or rain) is more likely to fall on the mountains
The moisture from these clouds falls on the mountains
This cooling and rising air forms clouds
Mountains force air to cool and rise
La Paz
This process is why we get so much snow on the mountain tops and also the reason we can have ski resorts!!
Who is that?
What is the benefit of a ski resort?
Aspect
So slopes that face the sun for a large part of the day will be warmer and therefore have less snow…better for plants!
For example, East facing slopes get the sun in the morning but not in the afternoon
One side of the mountain faces the opposite way to the other side
The aspect means the way you are facing
Whereas slopes that face away from the sun are colder and snow collects there ... perfect for a ski resort!
Plant Adaptations
How do you think these plants have adapted to life on the mountains?
How have they adapted to:Strong Wind
Cold TemperatureLess Carbon Dioxide
Poor soil
Plant adaptations
• Short stems-close to the ground to protect it from the wind
• The shrink back down to their roots in the winter to survive under the snow, then they grow back in the spring.
• Plants grow very slowly because of the thin soil.• Most plants will tend to grow in the sheltered and
sunny places.
Wind direction South-East
C
E
B
A
D
A
F
G
G
H
I
Label the diagram on your worksheet...
Lesson Objectives
All students must be able to understand that temperature declines with height
Most students should be able to appreciate the difference in rainfall and vegetation between the leeward and windward side of a mountain range
Some students could be able to explain how plants and animals have adapted to be able to survive at high altitude
Wind direction South-East
All: Hands up if you can tell me where the warmest and coldest spots will be and why?
Lesson Objectives
All students must be able to understand that temperature declines with height
Most students should be able to appreciate the difference in rainfall and vegetation between the leeward and windward side of a mountain range
Some students could be able to explain how plants and animals have adapted to be able to survive at high altitude
Wind direction South-East
Most: Who can point to the wettest and windiest parts on the mountain ? Who can point to where you would find the most plant life?
Lesson Objectives
All students must be able to understand that temperature declines with height
Most students should be able to appreciate the difference in rainfall and vegetation between the leeward and windward side of a mountain range
Some students could be able to explain how plants and animals have adapted to be able to survive at high altitude
Wind direction South-East
Some: Hands up if you think you could name one way a plant on the mountain top could adapt to survive?