Weather, Climate and Adaptations

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

• Maximum temperature: Usually in the afternoon.
• Minimum temperature: Usually in the early morning.

• (i) The average weather taken over a long time is called climate.
• (ii) A place receives very little rainfall and the temperature is high throughout the year, the climate of that place will be hot and dry.
• (iii) The two regions of the earth with extreme climatic conditions are Polar regions and Tropical rainforests.

• (a) Jammu and Kashmir: Moderately hot and wet.
• (b) Kerala: Hot and wet.
• (c) Rajasthan: Hot and dry.
• (d) North-east India: Wet.

Weather changes frequently.

Animals adapt to the specific conditions of their habitat to survive. Example: Polar bears live in polar regions. They have thick fur and a layer of fat (blubber) to protect them from extreme cold. This adaptation is useless in a hot climate.

1. Trunk: Used as a nose for strong smelling sense and to pick up food.
2. Tusks: Modified teeth used to tear bark of trees.
3. Large Ears: Help it to hear very soft sounds and also keep it cool in hot climate.

(iv) Tropical Rainforests (Example: Tiger).

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

(i) Hot and humid.

The ability of an animal to blend with its surroundings to hide from predators or prey. Example: White colour of polar bear blends with snow.

• Weather: Day-to-day condition of atmosphere (temp, humidity, rainfall, wind).
• Climate: Average weather pattern taken over a long time (say 25 years).
• Sun: Primary source of energy that causes all weather changes.

• Polar Bear: White fur (camouflage), Thick fur (insulation), Layer of fat (blubber) under skin, Wide paws (swimming/walking on snow).
• Penguins: White belly, thick skin, huddle together to keep warm, streamlined body.
• Migratory Birds: Siberian Crane migrates to Bharatpur (India) in winter to escape extreme cold.

• Red-eyed Frog: Sticky pads on feet to climb trees.
• Monkeys: Long tails for grasping branches.
• Toucan: Long beak to reach fruits on weak branches.
• Lion-tailed Macaque: Silver-white mane, lives on trees (arboreal).
• Big Cats (Lion/Tiger): Sensitive hearing, sharp eyesight, thick skin, camouflage stripes.

• Max-Min Thermometer: Measures maximum and minimum temperature of the day.
• Rain Gauge: Measures rainfall.

• The temperature in Polar regions can go as low as **-37°C**.
• Tropical rainforests cover about 6% of earth's surface but house more than half of the plant and animal species.
• Humidity: Measure of moisture in air.
• Penguins are flightless birds.