Chapter 7 Weather, Climate and Adaptations of Animals to Climate

The elements that determines the weather of a place are: climate, rainfall, wind speed, humidity and temperature.

Weather may be defined as the state of the atmosphere which differs palace to place. Climate is the average weather state which is taken over a long period of time. For example: deserts, tropical and temperate zones. 

The maximum temperature of the day is likely to occur in the afternoon whereas the minimum temperature is likely to occur in the early morning or the evening. In the afternoon, sun releases heat in the form of energy whereas in the night time sun's heat become less and the air becomes cool. 

(i) Climate
The average weather taken over a long time is called climate. Whereas weather refers to short- term changes in the atmosphere, climate describes what the weather is like over a long period of time in a specific area, and we refer to these three- decade averages of weather observations as climate normal.

(ii) Hot and dry
Deserts are the place which contains hot and dry climate throughout the year because it receives less rainfall on the annual basis and high temperature.

(iii) Polar Regions and tropical regions
These are the two regions with extreme climatic conditions because the polar region have very low temperature throughout the year and the tropica regions have very high temperature.

(a) Jammu and Kashmir- The climate of Jammu region is moderate because in winters temperature become too low and in summers temperature becomes too high; whereas in Kashmir region the climate is quite pleasant. 

(b) Kerala-  Kerala has also quite and pleasant weather throughout the year. It contains humidity with average temperature 37ºC throughout the year.

(c) Rajasthan: The climate of Rajasthan is generally arid or semi-arid, is also an desert area which receives very less rainfall and contains high temperature or low humidity. 

(d) North-east India- The climate of North-east India is moderate. They have cool summers and cold winters; for example: Mizoram. North-east shows the tropical climate. 

Weather changes frequently as compared to climate, because of change in various elements like wind speed, humidity etc. that determine weather. The temperature, humidity, rainfall, winds speed etc. is called the weather at that place. Hour-to-hour, day- to-day, and season-to-season. Weather reflects short-term conditions of the average daily weather for an extended period of time at a certain location. 

(i) Diets heavy on fruits - Tropical
Due to the heavy rainfall and moderate temperature, the quality of the fruits is good. That's why the birds feeds on fruit. 

(ii) White fur - Polar region
The organisms who lives in polar region have white furs which protects them from the extreme conditions of environment and protects them from the prey because they look like the snow.

(iii) Need to migrate - Polar region
This characteristic shown by the organisms that lives in the polar region. They migrate towards the lower region that contains moderate and average temperature from the excessive cold conditions for the survival. 

(iv) Loud voice - Polar region and Tropical rainforest
This characteristic is shown by both the regions polar and tropical. This characteristic is used to call the mates and to capture the prey by showing the groupism attack.

(v) Sticky pads on feet - Polar region
Sticky pads are used by the polar region organisms. This characteristic is used to make the grip on the snow.

(vi) Layer of fat under skin - Polar region
This characteristic is adapted by the organisms which lives in the polar region. These organisms contains layer of fat under the skin to protect themselves form the excessive cold conditions.

(vii) Wide and large paws - Polar region
These characters are adapted in the polar regions by the organisms who lives there. They contain these charaters to make the grip and for the easy movement pattrens in the snow.

(viii) Bright colours - Tropical
These characteristics are adapted by the organisms that lives in the tropical rainforest which is also known as evergreen forest. Bright colours are shown by the organisms to attract the mates and the animal pollinators for proceeding the process of pollination.

(ix) Strong tails - Tropical
Strong tails are adapted in the tropical region by the organisms that lives there. Strong tails are used to capture the prey.

(x) Long and large beak - Tropical
This characteristic is adapted by the birds of tropical region. This characteristic helps the birds to feed on the hard shelles nuts and seeds or to capture the insects.

The tropical rainforests are also known as evergreen forest which contains very large population of animals or we can say biodiversity due to the favourable weather conditions. Tropical rainforest contains different types of food which are easily available for animals. They contains very high rainfall anually and humid and hot weather. This supports the flora and fauna to survive easily.  

Animals adapt themselves to the climatic conditions according to their habitat. For example, a polar bear has a thick layer of fat under the skin and a layer of fat, adapted for extremely cold climate. The thick layer of fat keeps the animal warm. With these adaptations, the polar bear cannot be able to survive in the hot climatic conditions. In the same way, the animals that are adapted for the tropical region with features such as loud voice, strong tail cannot survive in the polar region. 

Elephant is the widely found animal of Indian tropical rainforest. Elephant shows adaptations to the condition according to their habitat. Some of the adaptations shown by elephant are as follows:

1. He used his trunk for picking up the food and to drink.
2. He used his tusks to tear the bark of trees
3. He used its trunk also as a nose so that it can sense strong smell.
4. He has thick padded feet, so he can handle his extreme weight.

(iv) Tropical rainforest

A carnivore with strips on its body moves very fast in comparison to herbivores while catching its prey, it is likely to be found in Tropical rainforest. The tropical rainforest is a hot and moist biome which have continuous rainfall all over the year.

(i) A white fur, fat below skin, keen sense of smell.

These characteristics and adaptations help polar bear to live in extreme conditions like cold. They contains white fur which protects them from being captured. They have a fat layer under the skin keeps them warm and have keen sense of smell; by this they can recognize the other thing from the very far distance.

(i) Hot and humid

Tropical region contains hot and humid climate with continuous rainfall throughout the year. We can found biodiversity their because it contains a variety of food and the survival is easy there.