Class 7 | Science | Chapter- 7 | Weather, Climate and Adaptation of Animals to Climate Notes

Class 7           Science

Chapter- 7

Weather, Climate and Adaptation of Animals to Climate Notes

Weather- The day to day condition of the atmosphere at place with respect to the temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind-speed, etc., is called the weather.

Humidity- Humidity is the amount of water vapour present in the atmosphere and is measured by hygrometer.

Rain gauge- Rainfall is measured by an instrument called the rain gauge.

Elements of the weather- The temperature, humidity, and other factors are called elements of the weather.

Climate- The average weather pattern taken over a long  time, say 25 years, is called the climate of the place.

Factor affecting Climate:

• Topography
• Sea level
• Ocean currents
• Prevailing winds
• Human influence

CLIMATE AND ADAPTATION:

Adaptation- The featuresand habits that help animals to live in a habitat are called adaptation.

Classified according to adaptation in three regions:- 

(i) The polar regions-
The polar regions present an extreme climate. These regions are covered with snow and it is very cold for most part of the year. For six months the sun does not set at the poles while for the other six months the sun does not rise. In winters, the temperature can be as low as –37°C.


(ii) The tropical rainforests-
The tropical region has generally a hot climate because of its location around the equator. Even in the coldest month the temperature is generally higher than about 15°C. During hot summers, the
temperature may cross 40°C.  Tropical region having hot summers and plenty of rainfall.


(iii) Desert-
Have extreme climate receive less rainfall and large amount of sunlight.

Migration- The regular mass movement of animals from certain regions is known as migration. Migration is another means to escape the harsh, cold conditions.