• The weather reports are prepared by the Meteorological Department of the Government. This department collects data on temperature, wind, etc., and makes the weather prediction.
• The daily weather report carries information about the temperature, humidity and rainfall during the past 24 hours. It also predicts the weather for the day.
• Humidity, is a measure of the moisture in air.
• Rainfall is measured by an instrument called the rain gauge. It is basically a measuring cylinder with a funnel on top to collect rainwater.
• The day-to-day condition of the atmosphere at a place with respect to the temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind-speed, etc., is called the weather at that place. 
• Temperature, humidity and other factors are called the elements of the weather. 
• The maximum and minimum temperatures are recorded every day. There are special thermometers for this purpose, called maximum and minimum thermometers.
• The maximum temperature of the day occurs generally in the afternoon while the minimum temperature occurs generally in the early morning.
• All changes in the weather are caused by the sun. 
• The sun is a huge sphere of sun hot gases at a very high temperature. The distance of the sun from us is very large. Even then the energy sent out by the sun is so huge that it is the source of all heat and light on the earth. So, the sun is the primary source of energy that causes changes in the weather. 
• Energy absorbed and reflected by the earth’s surface, oceans and the atmosphere play important roles in determining the weather at any place. If you live near the sea, you would have realised that the weather at your place is different from that of a place in a desert, or near a mountain.
• The average weather pattern taken over a long time, say 25 years, is called the climate of the place.
• Kerala is very hot and wet in comparison to Jammu & Kashmir, which has a moderately hot and wet climate for a part of the year.
• Similar data for the western region of India, for example Rajasthan, will show that the temperature is high during most part of the year. But during winter, which lasts only for a few months, the temperature is quite low. This region receives very little rainfall. This is the typical desert climate. It is hot and dry.  
• The north-eastern India receives rain for a major part of the year. Therefore, we can say that the climate of the north-east is wet.
• Adaptation of animals to climatic conditions, we discuss only animals living in polar regions and tropical rainforests. 
• As the name suggests, the polar regions are situated near the poles, i.e., north pole and south pole. 
• Some well-known countries that belong to the polar regions are Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Alaska in U.S.A. and Siberian region of Russia. 
• Examples of some countries where the tropical rainforests are found are India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brazil, Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria.

• 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. Animals living there have adapted to these severe conditions. 
• Examples of polar regions animals are Polar bear and Penguins. 

• Polar bears have white fur so that they are not easily visible in the snowy white background. It protects them from their predators. It also helps them in catching their prey. To protect them from extreme cold, they have two thick layers of fur. They also have a layer of fat under their skin. In fact, they are so well-insulated that they have to move slowly and rest often to avoid getting overheated. 
• Physical activities on warm days necessitate cooling. So, the polar bear goes for swimming. It is a good swimmer. Its paws are wide and large, which help it not only to swim well but also walk with ease in the snow. While swimming under water, it can close its nostrils and can remain under water for long durations. It has a strong sense of smell so that it can catch its prey for food. 

 

 

• Another well-known animal living in the polar regions is the penguin. It is also white and merges well with the white background. It also has a thick skin and a lot of fat to protect it from cold. 
• You may have seen pictures of penguins huddled together. This they do to keep warm.
•  Like polar bears, penguins are also good swimmers. Their bodies are streamlined and their feet have webs, making them good swimmers.

 

 

#Tet Aspirant

#NCERT Environmental Studies (EVS) important notes Part 16 for AEES, KVS, NVS, DSSSB, UPTET, REET, CTET, BTET, MPTET, HTET and All other Teaching Exams