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ClimateandHabitat1Objectives:Bytheendofthisactivity,studentswillbeableto:
1. Listkeyfactorsthatcontributetoregionalclimate.2. Describethelinksamongprecipitation,vegetationand
habitat,usingmapsassupportingevidence.3. Describetherelationshipsamongclimate,habitat,
vegetationtypesandwildlifespecies.4. Hypothesizehowchangingregionalclimatesmayaffect
wildlife.Background:
Habitatreferstotheareainhabitedbyaparticularspecies,andisdefinedbyabioticfactors(e.g.,temperature,rainfall,light,andsoil)andbioticfactors(e.g.,plantspecies,food,predators).Habitatisinfluencedbyregionalclimate,orthetypicalweatherpatternsforaregion.Regionalclimatecontrolsmanyabioticandbioticcomponentsofhabitat.TheNorthCarolinamountainshaveadifferentregionalclimatethantheNorthCarolinacoast.Regionalclimateismainlyinfluencedbyelevation,latitude,andproximitytoalargebodyofwater(e.g.,theocean).InNorthCarolina,thebiggestfactordrivingdifferencesinannualtemperaturesiselevation.OurstatehasthelargestelevationrangeofanystateeastoftheMississippiRiver.MountMitchell(6,684feet)isthehighestpointintheAppalachianMountains.Temperaturesinthemountainsarecool,andasthelandslopestowardthecoasts,temperaturesgetwarmer.Thetopographyofthemountainsalsoaffectsprecipitationamounts.Partofthesouthwesternmountains(nearLakeToxawayinTransylvaniaCounty)receivesalmost230cm(90in)ofrainfallperyearonaveragefromweathersystemsthatcomefromthesouth.Bycontrast,thenearbyFrenchBroadRivervalley(includingAsheville)isshelteredonallsidesbymountains,anditreceivesonlyabout100cm(40in)ofrainperyear,onaverage.Thislargedifferenceacrossashortdistance(about50miles)iscausedbyorographiclift,whichiswhenairisforcedfromlowelevationtohighelevation.Becausetheprevailingwindsinthisareacomefromthesouthwest,airisforcedfromthevalleysupthesidesoftheridgelinesofthemountains.Astheairrises,itcoolsquicklyandformsclouds,whichcausesprecipitationtoform.Therainfallspredominantlyalongtheridgeandonthesouthwestsideofthemountains(nearLakeToxaway)andasaresult,lessmoistureisavailableontheoppositeside(nearAsheville)forcloudsandrainfalltoform.Inaddition,theairsinksandwarmsasitdescendstheleewardsideofthemountain,whichisalsonotfavorableforprecipitationformation.Thisisalsoknownasarainshadow.Outsideofthemountains,NorthCarolinaaveragesaround120cm(45-50in)ofannualrainfall.Proximitytotheoceanalsoaffectsregionalclimate.Otherlocationsatthesamelatitudeas
Contentareas:ScienceandsocialstudiesNCEssentialStandards:6.L.2.3.,7.E.1.4,8.E.1.1,8.L.3.1Commoncore:R1,R3,R8,W1NGSS:MS-ESS2.C,MS-ESS2.D,MS_LS2.AMaterials:
o Countymap(oneforeachgroup)
o Statewidevegetationmap(incolor,oneforeachgroup)
o Statewidewildliferangemaps(oneforeachgroup)
Either:o Statewidetemperature
andprecipitationmaps(onesetpergroup)OR
o Temperatureandprecipitationdata(onecopypergroup)
o Coloredpencils(onesetpergroup)
ActivityTime:One45-minuteclassperiodSetting:Classroom
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NorthCarolinaaredesserts(e.g.,theSouthwesternUnitedStates).OurproximitytotheGulfofMexicoandtheAtlanticOceanaswellastheprevailingsouthwesternwindscreatehumidconditionsinNorthCarolina.ThewarmGulfStreamandtheAtlanticOceanalsoinfluencetemperaturesalongthecoast.Ittakesalongtimefortheoceantoheatupandcooldownincomparisontotheland.Asaresult,theoceantemperaturelagstheairtemperatureintermsofwhenitisatitswarmestandcoolestpointsduringtheyear.So,theoceanhelpsmoderateairtemperaturesnearthecoast.Thismeansthatinthesummer,theoceanworkstolowertheairtemperaturealongthecoastandinthewinter,theoceanworkstowarmtheairtemperatureatcoastallocationsincomparisontosurroundinglocations.Thiseffectisespeciallyprominentduringwintermonths.Anotheraspectofthemoderatingeffectistheoceantemperaturedoesnotvaryasdrasticallyasairtemperature.Asaresult,coastallocationsenduphavingalowerdailytemperaturerange.2 Anadequatehabitatincludestherightrangeoftemperatures,accesstofreshwater,foodsources,andplacestohidefrompredatorsandraiseyoung.3Regionalclimatedriveslong-termpatternsintemperatureandprecipitation,whichdeterminethetypeofvegetationinanarea.Thisvegetation,inturn,influenceswhichwildlifespeciescansurviveinaparticularlocation.Forinstance,thecoolandwetsouthwesternNorthCarolinamountainssupportcertainspeciesliketheEasternHellbender,whichrequirecool,fastflowingriverstosurvive.Theabundanceofrainfallkeepsthosestreamsflowingwithplentyoffresh,well-oxygenatedwater.TheregionalclimatealsoprovidesexcellentconditionsforplantsliketheCatawbaRhododendronthatservesascoverforbirdslikethegrouseandprovidesfoodforhummingbirdsandbutterflies4.Thecoastalswamplandsaregenerallywarmerthanthemountainsandalthoughtheyreceivelessrainfall,thesoilsarebetteratholdingwater.Thewarmtemperaturesandsaturatedsoilssupportspecieslikethebaldcypress.Cypressseedsprovidefoodtowildturkey,woodducks,eveninggrosbeak,andsquirrels.Also,theirlargecanopiesprovidenestingsitesforbaldeaglesandospreys.Theirrootsystemsprovidebreedingsitesforcatfishandseveraltypesoffrogs,toads,andsalamanders5. Changesinregionalclimatewillchangeregionalvegetationpatternscreatinghabitatsthataremoresuitableforsomespeciesthanforothers.Inrecentyears,ariseinglobaltemperatureshasoccurred,whichhasdirectlyaffectedsomeregionalclimates.Landuseandlandcoverchangesaswellasurbanizationcanalsohaveaninfluenceonregionalclimate–thesechangescaneitherleadtocoolingorwarmingeffectsinaparticularregion.Onaverage,speciesacrosstheworldhaveshiftedtowardthepolesatarate16.9metersperdecadeandtohigherelevationsatarateof11.0metersperdecade,astheyfollowthecoolertemperaturesandassociatedvegetation.6Rainfallpatternshavealsobeenshiftingoverthepastfewdecades,withsomeareaslikethesouthwesternUnitedStatesexperiencingmorefrequentdroughts,andotherplacessuchastheSoutheastreceivingmorefrequentheavyrainfall7,8.Overrecentdecades,temperaturesinNorthCarolinahaveincreasedslightly,andaveragerainfallhasbeenincreasingveryslightly.2SealevelsalongNorthCarolinacoastshavealsoriseninresponsetoland-basedicemeltinginotherplacesaroundtheworld.9. Thenextactivitywilldivemoredeeplyintoclimatechangeanditspotentialimpactsonwildlife,butthisactivitypreparesstudentstothinkabouttheconnectionsbetweenclimate,wildlife,andhabitatandhypothesizehowclimatemayimpactwildlife.Gettingready:
1. Decidewhetheryouprovidestudentswithadatatableofannualtemperatureandprecipitationdataforyourstatebycountyorwhetheryouwillprovideready-mademaps.Usingtableswillgivestudentsgoodexperiencevisualizingdataonamap.However,itcanbetimeconsuming.Ifyouarepressedfortimeorworkingwithyoungeraudiences,youmaychoosetouseready-madetemperatureandprecipitationmaps.
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Ifusingatable:Note:ForNorthCarolina,thereisanexampletableonpage17thatwillworkwell.Youmayusethatoneandforegothesesteps.ThefollowingrequiressomebasicfamiliaritywithExcel.
a. Visithttp://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/search.b. Selectthefollowingoptions:
i. WeatherObservationType/Dataset:AnnualSummariesii. Daterange:Selectthepreviouscompleteyear.Forexample,atthisprinting,wearein
themiddleof2014,soyoushouldselectJan-Dec2013.iii. Searchfor:Countiesiv. Searchterm:Stateinitials(e.g.,NC).
c. Clicksearch.Youshouldseeanumberofcountieshighlightedinyourstate.d. Intheleftmenu,addenoughcountiesthatyouhavearepresentativeareaofyourstate
covered.InNorthCarolina,youwillneedabout30counties.e. Intheupperrightcorner,clicktoviewyourcart.Thisisafreesite.f. SelectAnnualClimatologicalSummaryCSVandthemostrecentyearforthedaterangeand
clickContinue.g. SelectStationNameasanoption.Clickthe+signbyPrecipitation,thenselectTotal
Precipitation.UnderAirTemperature,selectMonthlymeantemperatureandclickcontinue.h. Enteryoure-mailaddressandsubmityourorder.Youshouldreceivetwoe-mailsshortly.The
firstconfirmsyourorderandthesecondincludesalinktoyourdataset.i. Clickdownloadthedata.Youshouldsee5columns:
i. StationIDii. StationNameiii. Date(yyyymm)iv. TPCP(totalprecipitationintenthsofaninch:divideby10forinches)v. MMNT(monthlymeantemperatureintenthsofdegreesF:divideby10fordegreesF).
Note:SomeofthedatafromtheNCDCisincompleteandyouwillsee“-9999”inplaceofactualmeasurements.Ifthisisthecase,deletethesecellsandeliminatethatstation’sdatafromyourdataset.
j. Inthenexttwocolumns,calculatetheaverageprecipitationandtemperature.Eachrowrepresentsonemonth.Forthefirststation,selecttheblankintheaverageprecipitationcolumnassociatedwithDecemberforanindividualstation.Typein“=AVERAGE(“andhighlighttheprecipitationaveragesforeachmonthassociatedwiththatcountyandclosetheparentheses.
k. Copyandpastethatformuladowntheentirecolumn.Repeattheprocessforthetemperaturedata.
l. CopybothcolumnsandPasteSpecialasvaluestodeletetheformulas.m. Deleteallrowsexceptfortheonesthatcontainthelastmonthinyourdataset(e.g.,
December).n. Usetheinternettolookupwhichcountyeachstationisin.Addanothercolumntitled
“County”andenterthatinformationintoyourdataset.ForNorthCarolina,seethetableonpages18-19foralistofstationsandcounties.
o. Providestudentswithatablewithfourcolumns.CountynameandPrecipitation(sortedfromlowesttohighestandCountynameandTemperature(sortedfromlowesttohighest).Seetheexampledatatableforclarification.
Ifyouareusingready-mademaps,downloadmapsofannualtemperatureandprecipitationfromyourstateclimateoffice.(SeeAppendixBforNorthCarolinaMaps).
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Eachgroupwillneed:
• Ifusingdatatable:coloredpencils• Ifusingready-madetemperatureandprecipitationmaps:onesetoftemperatureandprecipitation
mapspergroup.• Setofthefollowingmaps(SeeAppendixBforNorthCarolinaMaps):
o Statecountymap(easilyfoundonline)o Statevegetationmap(searchforyourstate’sGAPanalysisproject).Theseshouldbe
printedincolorifatallpossible.Otherwiseitisdifficulttoseethedistinctionbetweenallthedifferentvegetationtypes.Ifcolorcopiesarenotpossible,considerprojectingtheimagefortheclassincolor.
o Wildliferangemaps(availablethroughyourstate’swildlifeagencyorGAPanalysisprojectwebsite).
Note:Theabovematerialsallowstudentstocomparemapsside-by-side.Youmayalsowanttohavestudentsdrawprecipitationandtemperaturelayersusingtransparencies.Forthis,youwillneedtwotransparenciesperstudentgroupandyoushouldprintallmapsexceptthecountymaponatransparency.Procedure:
1. Reviewwithstudentskeyconceptsfromthepreviouslesson:a. Differencebetweenweatherandclimate(weatherisatmosphericconditions,suchas
temperature,precipitation,wind,andhumidity,onagivenday.Weatherishappeningtodayorinthenearfutureuptotwoweeks.Climatereferstothestatisticalrepresentationoftheenvironmentovertime,includingseasonalcycles,extremeevents,andyear-to-yearvariations,anddescribestrendsoftheweather).
b. Weatherandclimatecanhaveeffectsonwildlife
2. Reviewwithstudentstheconceptthatregionalclimatedeterminesaveragetemperatureandrainfallinanarea.Brainstormfactorsthatmightaffectregionalclimate(elevation/topography,latitude,proximitytotheocean).Askstudentstothinkabouthowclimatemightaffectwhatkindsofplantsandanimalscanliveinanarea.Explaintostudentsthattoday’sactivitywillhelpanswerthesequestions.
3. Reviewthehabitatconcept.Explainwhatwildlifeneedtosurvive:water,food,shelterandspace.Introducetheideathatregionalclimateaffectswildlifesurvivaldirectlybyinfluencingtemperatureandrainfallandindirectlybyinfluencingthetypeofvegetationinaregion.
4. Havestudentsworkthroughthe“ClimateandHabitatStudentSheet”ingroups.Ifstudentsarefairly
comfortablewithmapsanddata,provideatablefortheprecipitationandtemperatureaveragesbycountythatstudentscanusetomaketheirownprecipitationandtemperaturemaps.Foryoungerstudentsortosavetime,youcanprovideaverageannualtemperatureandprecipitationmaps.SeeAppendixBforthesemapsspecifictoNorthCarolina.Ifyouareusingtransparencies,havestudentsoverlayoneblanktransparencyoverthecountymaptoshadeinprecipitationregions.Thenhavethemoverlaythesecondtransparencyoverthecountymaptoputdrawsymbolsrepresentingtemperatureregions.Studentscanthenoverlaythesetransparenciestoseehowprepetitionandtemperaturecorrelate.
5. Whenstudentscomparetheprecipitationandtemperaturemapstothelandcovermap,theyshould
answerquestionsingroupsrelatedtohowvegetationcorrelateswithprecipitationandtemperature
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averages.Ifstudentsareusingtransparencies,theycanoverlaytheirprecipitationandtemperaturemapsontopofthelandcovermapforthiscomparison.
6. Whenstudentsarereadytocomparethesemapswiththewildliferangemaps,youcaneithergiveall
rangemapstoeachgrouporassigneachgroupadifferentrangemap.Ifgroupsdonothaveaccesstoalltherangemaps,haveeachgroupreportouttheirfindingstotheclass.Again,ifstudentsareusingtransparencies,theycanoverlayallthemapsorseveralatatimetoseehowtemperature,precipitation,land-cover,andwildliferangescorrelate.
Discussionandassessment
1. Afterstudentshavecompletedtheactivity,discussanswers,usingthefollowingquestionstoguidethediscussion.
a. Whydoyouthinksomeareasofthestategetmorerainfallthanothers?Arehotterthanothers?Whatimpactsthetemperatureofdifferentregions?Themainfactorsincludeelevation/topography,latitude,andproximitytotheocean.Seebackgroundinformationformoredetails,alongwiththeanswerkeytothestudentsheet.
b. Howdotemperatureandprecipitationaffectwildlife?Thesedeterminevegetationtypesinanarea,whichdeterminesthehabitatavailable,whichdictateswhatwildlifecanlivethere.
c. Whatdoyouthinkwouldhappenifregionalclimatechangedandsomeareasbecamewarmerorcolder?Hadlessormorerain?Ifprecipitationweremoreorlessintenseovertime(morefloodsand/ordroughts)?Thesechangeswouldhavemanyeffects(discussedinmoredetailinthenextactivity).Fornow,studentsshouldgrasptheconceptthatchangeintemperatureandprecipitationwillinfluencethetypeofvegetationthatcanliveinanarea,whichdirectlyaffectswildlifeintermsofwheretheycanthriveandsurvive.
Extensions
1. Havestudentswriteanargumentonhowregionalclimatechangesmayaffectwildlife.ReferencesandSourcesforMoreInformation1Thisactivitywasadaptedfromseveralmappingactivitiesincluding“RainfallintheForest”fromProjectWILD.2StateClimateOfficeofNorthCarolina.(2014).NCClimateOverview.RetrievedOctober27,2014,fromhttp://www.nc-
climate.ncsu.edu/climate/ncclimate.html3NationalWildlifeFederation.(2014).EffectsonWildlifeandHabitat.RetrievedOctober27,2014,from
http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Global-Warming/Effects-on-Wildlife-and-Habitat.aspx4Spira,T.P.(2011).WildflowersandPlantCommunitiesoftheSouthernAppalachianMountainsandPiedmont:ANaturalist'sGuide
totheCarolinas,Virginia,Tennessee,andGeorgia:ANaturalist'sGuidetotheCarolinas,Virginia,Tennessee,andGeorgia.UnivofNorthCarolinaPress.
5Coladonato,Milo.(1992).Taxodiumdistichum.In:FireEffectsInformationSystem,[Online].U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,ForestService,RockyMountainResearchStation,FireSciencesLaboratory(Producer).RetrievedOctober27,2014fromhttp://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/.
6Chen,I.-C.,Hill,J.K.,Ohlemüller,R.,Roy,D.B.,&Thomas,C.D.(2011).Rapidrangeshiftsofspeciesassociatedwithhighlevelsofclimatewarming.Science,333(6045),1024–6.doi:10.1126/science.1206432
7Walther,G.,Post,E.,Convey,P.,Menzel,A.,Parmesan,C.,Beebee,T.J.C.,…Bairlein,F.(2002).Ecologicalresponsestorecentclimatechange.Nature,416,389–395.
8 National Climate Assessment. (2014). Retrieved November 21, 2014, from http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/ 9ClimateCentral.(2014).SurgingSeas:SealevelriseanalysisforNorthCarolina.RetrievedNovember03,2014,from
http://sealevel.climatecentral.org/ssrf/north-carolina
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AverageAnnualTemperatureandPrecipitationforSelectNorthCarolinaCounties
ANNUALAVERAGE
PRECIPITATION(INCHES)
ANNUALAVERAGE
TEMPERATURE(OF)
Greene 34.7
Avery 44.5Craven 35.6
Haywood 52.9
Franklin 37.1
Transylvania 54.2Rockingham 39.2
McDowell 54.8
Scotland 40.3
Swain 55.0Chowan 41.0
Macon 55.9
Mecklenburg 41.3
Lincoln 56.5Guilford 42.0
Rockingham 56.5
Robeson 42.4
Cherokee 56.6Rowan 42.8
Wilkes 56.7
Bladen 43.5
Rutherford 57.0Orange 44.2
Caldwell 57.2
Anson 45.0
Rowan 57.5Wilson 45.1
Franklin 58.0
Hyde 45.4
Orange 58.2Lenoir 45.4
Guilford 58.4
Hoke 46.0
Cabarrus 58.6Cabarrus 47.4
Hoke 59.2
Carteret 47.9
Mecklenburg 60.0NewHanover 50.7
Bladen 60.3
Wilkes 54.8
Greene 60.4Caldwell 57.3
Wilson 60.6
Lincoln 57.4
Chowan 60.7Haywood 57.8
Anson 60.8
Rutherford 58.5
Scotland 60.8Cherokee 64.2
Robeson 61.1
McDowell 66.5
Carteret 61.2Swain 68.4
Hyde 62.4
Avery 69.7
Lenoir 62.7Transylvania 72.3
NewHanover 63.2
Macon 78.3
Craven 63.3
Retrievedfromhttp://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/datasets.2013data.Precipitationsuggestedgroupings:34-45inches,45.1-55inches,55.1-65inches,65.1-75inchesTemperaturesuggestedgroupings:45-50oF,50.1-55oF,55.1-60oF,60.1-65oF
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ClimateMonitoringStationandCountylistforNorthCarolina
Station County
Station CountyArcola Warren
Elkin Surry
Aurora Beaufort
Elkin YadkinBannerElk Avery
Fairfield Hyde
Bayboro3E Pamlico
Fayetteville CumberlandBeechMountain Avery
FlatSpringsIE Avery
Bridewater Burke
ForestCity8W RutherfordBurgaw Pender
Gastonia Gaston
BurlingtonFireStation#5 Alamance
Graham2ENE AlamanceBurnsville Yancy
GrandfatherMountain Avery
ButnerFilterPlant Granville
Hamlet RichmondCanto Madison
HawRiver1E Alamance
CarthageWaterTreatmentPlant Moore
HickoryFFAAirport CatawbaCasar Cleveland
HotSprings Madison
Catawba5SW Catawba
Jefferson AsheCelo2S Yancy
King Forsyth
CharlotteDouglasInternationalAirport Mecklenburg
Kinston LenoirChathamWTP Chatham
KinstonAGResearch Lenoir
Clayton Johnston
LakeLure RutherfordColumbiaAGGumNeck Tyrrell
Lenior Caldwell
Concord Cabarrus
Lexington DavidsonConover Alexander
Longwood Brunswick
ConoverOxfordShoal Catawba
Louisburg FranklinCullowhee Jackson
Marshall Madison
Dunn Harnett
Mocksville DavieEdenton Chowan
MooresCreekNationalBattlefield Pender
Edenton Rockingham
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Station County
Station County
Morganton Burke
Tapoco GrahamMountAiry2 Surry
Tarboro1S Edgecombe
MountHolly4NE Gaston
Taylorsville AlexanderMountOlive Duplin
Transou Ashe
MountPleasant Cabarrus
Turnersburg IredellOcracoke Hyde
Wallace1SE Duplin
OxfordAG Granville
Warsaw5E DuplinPlymouth Washington
Washington Beaufort
Raeford Hoke
Whiteville7NW ColumbusReelsboro Pamlico
Williamston Martin
Reidsville Rockingham
Wilmington7N NewHanoverRhodhissHydroPlant Burke
Wilmington7SE NewHanover
Robbinsville Graham
WilmintonInternationalAirport NewHanoverRockyMount6SW Nash
Wilson3SW Wilson
RockyMount8ESE Edgecombe
Yadkinville6E YadkinRoxboro Person
RuralHall Forsyth ShallotteAG Brunswick Shelby2NNE Cleveland Shouthport5N Brunswick SilerCity Chatham Smithfield Johnston SprucePine Avery Statesville2NNE Iredell SurfCity Pender SwansquarterFerry Hyde
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ClimateandHabitat
StudentSheet
Name:___________________________________Directions:Yourteachermayprovideyouwithstateprecipitationandtemperaturemaps.Ifso,comparethesemapsandbeginbyansweringthequestionsfollowing#5.
1. Usingthedatatable,separatethecountiesintofourroughlyequalprecipitationgroups.Forinstance,iftheaverageprecipitationrangesfrom0-100cmannually,youmightsplitthegroupsinto0-25cm,26-50cm,51-75cm,and76-100cm.
2. Assignacolorforeachgroupofprecipitationandcreatealegendonthecountymap.3. Usingcoloredpencils,shadeeachcountyonthemaptheappropriatecolor.4. Youshouldnowbeabletoapproximatetemperatureregionsforthestate.Drawlinesbetween
differentcolorregionsshadeinregionaccordingtoyourlegend.5. Repeatsteps1-4withtheprecipitationdata,butusesymbols(x,o,#,-,etc.)insteadofcolorstosignify
thefourcategoriesofannualprecipitation.
Whichregionofthestatehasthelowestaveragetemperatures?Whydoyouthinkthatis?
Whichregionofthestatehasthehighestaveragetemperatures?Whydoyouthinkthatis?Whichregionofthestatehasthelowestaverageprecipitation?Whydoyouthinkthatis?
Whichregionofthestatehasthehighestaverageprecipitation?Whydoyouthinkthatis?
Doyouseeanyrelationshipbetweenthetemperatureandprecipitationregions?
6. Nowcompareyourprecipitationandtemperaturemap(s)tothevegetationmap.Answerthefollowingquestions:
Whatdoyounotice?
Howarevegetationpatternsrelatedtotemperatureandprecipitation?
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7. Nowcomparethewildliferangemapstomapsfortemperature,precipitation,andvegetation.Answer
thefollowingquestions:Howdoestemperature,precipitation,andvegetationcorrelatewithwhereanimalslive?Wheredoesahellbenderlive?Whydoyouthinkitlivesthere?Wheredoesanalligatorlive?Whydoyouthinkitlivesthere?WheredoesaNorthernflyingsquirrellive?Whydoyouthinkitlivesthere?
Whatdoyouthinkwouldhappentooneofthesespeciesiftheaveragetemperaturesbegantoriseovertime?
Whatdoyouthinkwouldhappentooneofthesespeciesiftheaverageprecipitationlevelsbegantoriovertime?
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ClimateandHabitatStudentSheetAnswerKey
Name:_____Key______________________________Directions:Yourteachermayprovideyouwithstateprecipitationandtemperaturemaps.Ifso,comparethesemapsandbeginbyansweringthequestionsfollowing#5.
1. Usingthedatatable,separatethecountiesintofourroughlyequalprecipitationgroups.Forinstance,iftheaverageprecipitationrangesfrom0-100cmannually,youmightsplitthegroupsinto0-25cm,26-50cm,51-75cm,and76-100cm.
2. Assignacolorforeachgroupofprecipitationandcreatealegendonthecountymap.3. Usingcoloredpencils,shadeeachcountyonthemaptheappropriatecolor.4. Youshouldnowbeabletoapproximatetemperatureregionsforthestate.Drawlinesbetween
differentcolorregionsshadeinregionaccordingtoyourlegend.5. Repeatsteps1-4withtheprecipitationdata,butusesymbols(x,o,#,-,etc.)insteadofcolorstosignify
thefourcategoriesofannualprecipitation.Whichregionofthestatehasthelowestaveragetemperatures?Whydoyouthinkthatis?
Themountainshavethelowesttemperaturesbecausetheelevationismuchhigherthanatthebeach.Inmostcases,temperaturedecreaseswithheight.
Whichregionofthestatehasthehighestaveragetemperatures?Whydoyouthinkthatis?
Thehighestaveragetemperaturesarenearthecoast.Elevationisthemainfactordeterminingthis,butproximitytotheAtlanticOceanandthewarmGulfStreamplaysabigrole,too.Asexplainedinthebackgroundsection,theoceanhasamoderatingeffectoncoastallocations.Thismoderatingeffectoftheoceantendstobemorepronouncedduringwinter(e.g.hasawarmingeffectoncoastallocations)thanduringsummer(e.g.hasacoolingeffectoncoastallocations).Anotheraspectofthemoderatingeffectistheoceantemperaturedoesnotvaryasdrasticallyasairtemperature.Asaresult,coastallocationshavealowerdailytemperaturerange.Takingintoaccountallofthesefactorsandaveragingoverayear,thecoastalareasofNCarestillwarmerthaninlandlocations. Studentswilllikelynotseethiseffectonmapsatthisscale,butitispossiblethattheymaybringupthenotionthaturbanareasarewarmerthansuburbanareas.Thisisknownasan“urbanheatisland”.Becauseurbanareashavemorepavedsurfacesandfewertrees,theyareoftenafewdegreeswarmerthantheadjacentareas.
Whichregionofthestatehasthelowestaverageprecipitation?Whydoyouthinkthatis?
ThelowestaverageprecipitationoccursintheFrenchBroadrivervalley(inthemountainsnearAsheville).Thisisbecausethemountainssurroundingthisareacreatearainshadowduetotheorographicliftdiscussedinthebackgroundsection.Mostofthemoisturecomingthroughthemountainsfromthesouthwestfallsonthesouthwestsideoftheridgeline,leavingdrier,descendingairtoenterthenextvalley.Elsewhereinthestatewherethetopographyisnotasmountainous,theprecipitationlevelsarefairlyuniform.
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Whichregionofthestatehasthehighestaverageprecipitation?Whydoyouthinkthatis?Theareaofhighestaverageprecipitationisinthesouthwesternmountains(nearLakeToxaway
inTransylvaniaCounty)duetotheprevailingwindscomingfromthesouthwestandtheorographiclifteffect(seebackgroundsection).Theweathersystemsthatenterthisregionfromthesouthwestrunintothehighridgesofthemountainssoairrisesandcloudsform,dumpingmostofthemoisturethere.
Doyouseeanyrelationshipbetweenthetemperatureandprecipitationregions?
Studentsmaybeabletoidentifysomepatterns.Ingeneral,highertemperaturesyieldmoreevaporation.Whenthereislotsofwateravailable(likeatthecoast),higherevaporationcanyieldhigherrainfall.However,thewettestareainthestateisalsooneofthecoolest(southeasternNC).Inthiscase,theprecipitationhaslesstodowithtemperatureandhumidityandmoretodowithtopography.
Nowcompareyourprecipitationandtemperaturemap(s)tothevegetationmap.Answerthefollowingquestions:Whatdoyounotice?
Studentsshouldbeabletoseeclearpatternsbetweentemperature,precipitationandvegetation.Howarevegetationpatternsrelatedtotemperatureandprecipitation?
Somevegetationtypeslikecoolerareasandsomelikewarmerareas.Forinstance,sprucefirforeststhriveinthecoolermountaintemperatureswhilePocosinwoodlandandshrublandsarebettersuitedfortheclimatesofthecoast.
8. Nowcomparethewildliferangemapstomapsfortemperature,precipitation,andvegetation.Answer
thefollowingquestions:Howdoestemperature,precipitation,andvegetationcorrelatewithwhereanimalslive?
Theyareallconnected.Temperatureandprecipitationarelinkedtothetypeofvegetationinanarea.Thisdetermineswherecertaintypesofwildlifecanlive.
Wheredoesahellbenderlive?Whydoyouthinkitlivesthere?
Onlyinthemountains.Itlikescooltemperaturesandlivesinthewater.Coldtemperaturesandlotsofrainfallmakecool,fastflowingmountainstreams,whichareperfectforhellbenders.Becausetheyarecoldandfastflowing,mountainstreamscanholdalotofdissolvedoxygen,whichthehellbendersneedandbreatherightthroughtheirskin.Themountainshaveboth(cooltemperaturesandlotsofrainfall).
WheredoesanAmericanalligatorlive?Whydoyouthinkitlivesthere?
Thealligatorlivesinfreshwaternearthecoast.Theypreferwarmwaters,sotheyareclosertothecoastwheretemperaturesaremoreconsistentlywarmallyear.
WheredoesaNorthernflyingsquirrellive?Whydoyouthinkitlivesthere?
Inthemountains.Theyhaveaniche(specialty)habitatintheborealanddeciduousforestsofthehighestNCmountains.Theytendtoforagearoundtheconifers(redspruce,Fraserfirs,andEasternhemlocks)andnestinhardwoodtreeslikeyellowbirch,buckeye,andsugarmaple).Sincemanyofthesetrees(particularlytheconifers)onlyoccurinthesecool,highclimatesthesquirrelsalsoonlylivehere.
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Whatdoyouthinkwouldhappentooneofthesespeciesiftheaveragetemperaturesbegantochangeovertime?
Ifthetemperaturebecamewarmer,itwoulddirectlyaffectthehellbenderbecauseitneedscoolwater(whichholdsmoreoxygen).Alligatorsmaybeabletoexpandtheirranges,andtheyalsomaygrowfaster.WarmertemperaturesmaycauseNorthSprucePineforeststomovenorthward,whichmeansthatNorthernflyingsquirrelsmaylosetheirhabitatinNorthCarolina.
Whatdoyouthinkwouldhappentooneofthesespeciesiftheaverageprecipitationlevelsbegantochangeovertime?
Precipitationcanaffectthehydrologyofstreamsandcoastalriversandestuaries.Thesechangescanbecomplex,affectingwaterflowvolumes,waterchemistryandsedimentation.Ifprecipitationlevelsdrop,mountainstreamsvolumesmaydropandflowslower.Thismaylowerthedissolvedoxygenlevelsthehellbendersneed.Higherprecipitationlevelsmaybegoodforstreamflowanddissolvedoxygen,butfloodingcanalsowashextrasedimentintostreambeds,affectinghellbendernests.Lessfreshwatercomingintoanestuarysystemmaymeanthatsalinityrises,whichwouldaffectthealligatorsastheyliveinfreshwater.Higherrainfallmaymeanmorefreshwatercomingintoanestuary,whichwouldlowerthesalinitylevels.Seasonaldroughtsmayaffectthehealthofthespruce-firforestsystemsonwhichtheNorthernflyingsquirrelsdepend,whereasincreasedrainfallmaymeanmorevegetationgrowth.