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A car is a road automobile used to carry passengers (people). Cars usually have four wheels (round things which turn in order to lead to movement), and an engine or motor to make them move.

Cars are also called automobiles, which comes from the Greek prefix "αυτό" (auto) and the French word "mobile". This name means "self-moving", as cars run on their own power and do not need horses or other power from outside to move.

Types of cars

Like other automobiles, cars are made in different shapes and sizes, for people with different needs. Here are some common types of cars.

A convertible is a car with a roof that can be opened or taken off for an open-air drive. Sportier convertibles are called roadsters.

A hatchback is a smaller car with a cargo area that uses the same space as the cabin (instead of a separate trunk like in a sedan or coupé). They combine the sportiness of coupés and sedans with the storage space of SUVs.

A pickup truck is a truck with a separate cabin and cargo area on a ladder frame. The cargo area is called the "bed".

A sedan is a car with a sloped rear window and separate trunk that has four doors.
A coupé (coupe in American English) is like a sedan, but usually only has two doors and is seen as sportier than a sedan.

An SUV (sport utility vehicle) is a rugged automobile that has a combined passenger and cargo area (like in hatchbacks, station wagons, and vans). SUVs are very popular due to their usefulness.

A van is a big box-shaped automobile meant for carrying plenty of passengers or cargo. There are many different sizes of vans, such as minivans, which are made for families.

To make a car move, it must have energy to turn the wheels. This energy might be chemical energy in gasoline or electrical energy in a battery. How quickly the engine or motor can send the energy to the wheels, and how much energy is sent, is called the power of the motor. The power of a car is usually measured in kilowatts or horsepower.

As of 2019, most cars burn a fuel to make an internal combustion engine (sometimes called a "motor") run. The power from the engine then goes to the wheels through a transmission, which has a set of gears that can make the car go faster or slower. The most common fuel is petrol, which is called " gasoline" or " gas" in American English.

Gasoline is called a fossil fuel because it comes from tiny fossils that were made millions of years ago. Over millions of years, they turned into oil, which was then drilled up from deep inside the Earth, and then turned into fuel by chemical changes. Old gasoline-powered cars are noisy and their exhaust makes city air dirty, which can make people ill. But cars made after the mid- 2010s are cleaner.

Burning gasoline, like any kind of fossil fuel, makes carbon dioxide, which makes global warming. Since 2017, less gasoline powered cars are being made, and some places will not allow gasoline-powered cars in future, like Amsterdam in 2030.

The cleanest cars are electric vehicles. They are usually plugged into a power outlet or a charging station and store electricity in a battery at the bottom of the car. The electricity then drives an electric motor, which turns the wheels. Some electric cars have 2 motors: one at the front, and one at the back. A few have 4 motors (one for each wheel).

Other sources of energy

Some cars burn diesel fuel, which is used in big trucks and buses, and a few use wood gas. In some countries, such as Brazil and Sweden, a mixture of ethanol and gasoline, called " gasohol" in Brazil and " E85" in Sweden, is used as automobile fuel. Other fuels include propane, natural gas, compressed air, and ethanol (which comes from plants). There are cars designed to run on more than one type of fuel - these are called " flex-fuel" and are rare.

A few cars generate electricity from hydrogen fuel cells (like the Honda Clarity). As of 2019, most of the hydrogen that people use comes from burning fossil fuels, but scientists and engineers are trying to make hydrogen from renewable energy a lot cheaper and easier to use.

Some cars even use solar cells for their electricity, but they are not very practical. There is a competition every year where people try to design a car that can last the longest and go the farthest on solar energy alone.

There is also a type of car that uses both an engine and an electric motor. This is called a hybrid electric vehicle; an example is the Toyota Prius.

Regenerative Brakes

All cars have brakes which work by friction to stop the car quickly in an emergency or stop it rolling when parked. Electric cars also have regenerative brakes, which slow the car by turning the energy in its movement back into electricity, like an electric motor working the opposite way. So regenerative means the electricity is generated again.

The earliest recorded automobiles were actually steam engines attached to wagons in the late 18th century. The steam engines were heavy, making these wagons slow and hard to control. Better and faster steam cars became common late in the 19th century.

Some cars in the early 20th century were powered by electricity. They were slow and heavy and went out of use until the idea came back later in the century.

The internal combustion engine changed the way many automobiles were powered. The engine used either gasoline, diesel, or kerosene to work. When the fuel is exploded in a cylinder it pushes the piston down and turns the wheels.

Although many people tried to make a good car that would work and sell well, people say that Karl Benz invented the modern automobile. He used a four-stroke type of internal combustion engine to power his Benz Patent-Motorwagen in 1886. He began to make many cars in a factory and sell them in Germany in 1888.

In North America, the first modern car was made by brothers Charles and J. Frank Duryea in Springfield, Massachusetts. The Duryea brothers' car also won the first-ever car race in 1895, competing against cars made by Benz. The race was in Chicago, Illinois, and 53 miles long. The Duryeas then began making the first automobiles for everyday use in 1896. That year, they made 13 cars by hand in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Benz may have invented the first modern car, and the Duryeas the first car to be sold, but Henry Ford sold the most cars to the most people. In 1910 he began making and selling his Model T, which was a huge success. Many people could afford this car, not just the rich, because Ford used mass production. This meant he made many Model Ts in a short time in a factory. People say that the Model T is the car that "put America on wheels". The Model T was the most popular car of the time because it was cheap but it was still a good quality car that ordinary people could own.

Since then, many different kinds of cars have been designed and built, from minivans to sports cars. In the 1950s, the United States made and used more cars than all the rest of the world. Fifty years later, China became the largest maker and user of cars.

Advantages

Cars are faster than walking or riding a bike if you are going a long way. They can carry more than one person and a large amount of luggage. Depending on local public transport quality, they can also be faster and far more convenient than using buses, bicycles or trains, and can often go where public transport cannot. 4-wheel drive "off road" vehicles are particularly good at reaching places difficult for other wheeled transport due to bad roads or harsh terrain. However, they cost more and burn more fuel, and there are many places even they cannot go.

Most cars enclose people and cargo in a closed compartment with a roof, doors and windows, thus giving protection from weather. Modern cars give further protection in case of collisions, as they have added safety features such as seat belts, airbags, crumple zones and side-impact protection that would be expensive or impossible on two-wheeled or light 3-wheeled vehicles, or most buses.

With regular check ups and service, cars can last a very long time. In some countries like Australia, you have to get your car checked by authorised mechanics regularly by law to confirm that your car is safe to drive. You can go to a car mechanic to get your car checked or have a mobile mechanic come to you to repair your car.

Disadvantages

Buying and running a car needs a lot of money, especially for newer good-quality cars. There are things to pay for - the car itself, fuel, parts (for example, tyres), maintenance, repairs, insurance to cover the cost of crashes or theft, parking charges, and toll roads and any taxes or licensing fees charged by the government.

When cars crash, they can become damaged and hurt people, and the life of a person is more important than keeping a car from damage. When too many cars try to go the same way, traffic congestion slows them all. Cars can cause air pollution if too many are used in a small area like a city, and the combined pollution of the world's cars is partly to blame for climate change. Many places where people live close together have public transportation such as buses, trains, trams and subways. These can help people go more quickly and cheaply than by car when traffic jams are a problem. Some of these problems can be made smaller, for example by carpooling, which is putting many people together in one car.

Traffic congestion and accidents can be dangerous to other road users, for example people riding bicycles or walking, especially in an old town built when cars were few. Some 20th century towns are designed for cars as the main transport. This can cause other problems, such as even more pollution and traffic, as few, if any, people walk. Communities are divided and separated by big roads. Pedestrians are in danger where there are too few foot bridges, small road bridges or other special crossings.

Images for kids

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A car is a road automobile used to carry passengers (people). Cars usually have four wheels (round things which turn in order to lead to movement), and an engine or motor to make them move. Cars are also called automobiles, which comes from the Greek prefix "αυτό" (auto) and the French word "mobile".

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Instantly access over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids on Epic

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San Francisco cable car system Facts for Kids

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Learn San Francisco cable car system facts for kids

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An electric vehicle is a vehicle that uses electricity to move. Its wheels are driven by electric motors.

Electric vehicles were one of the first kinds that did not use horse or human power. Electric trains and cars were built in the 1830's, and in the early 1900's there were more electric cars than gasoline-powered cars. But cars powered by gasoline or diesel fuel become the most common kind of car for most of the last 100 years.

Electric vehicles have long been used in some special cases, such as forklifts used inside a building, golf carts, trolley bus or certain vehicles used around airplanes at an airport. Early in the 21st century people are using more electric and hybrid vehicles again as a way to reduce pollution and use less gasoline.

It is unclear who the first inventor was, but Ányos Jedlik of Hungary built a small model of a working electric car in 1828. In the 1830's Robert Anderson of Scotland, Professor Stratingh of Holland and Thomas Davenport, a blacksmith from Vermont all built electric vehicles. Davenport is said to be the inventor of the DC electric motor. In 1865, Gaston Plante of France made a better battery. In 1886, the inventor Frank Sprague of Connecticut made important changes to the electric motor.

Great Britain and France were early leaders in making better electric cars. Interest in the electric car in the United States grew after 1891 when A. L. Ryker built a three-wheeled electric car, and William Morrison built a six-passenger wagon.

The years 1899 and 1900 were the best years for electric cars in America, as they outsold all other types of cars ( steam, gasoline and diesel). One example was the 1902 Phaeton built by the Woods Motor Vehicle Company of Chicago, which had a range of 18 miles, a top speed of 14 mph and cost $2,000. (At that time, there were few good roads between towns, so most driving was for short distances). Electric cars could go as far as steam-powered cars and did not take 30 to 40 minutes to get started. Gasoline engines were smelly and noisy.

But then the internal combustion engine (that used gasoline and diesel) were greatly improved, and cars that used those engines could go much farther and faster than other cars.

Some people would make electric cars in their garages by taking out the engine and putting in an electric motor and batteries, but for a long time, no big car company made an electric car. Only in the late 1990's did big car companies start making electric cars again. The most famous was the GM's EV-1. Now interest in alternative fuel vehicles is growing.

Kinds of electric vehicles

Pure electric cars

These types of cars do not have any kind of internal combustion engine, but are driven entirely using electric motors, which gets its power in different ways other than an engine.

A fuel cell makes electricity from hydrogen. Hydrogen is very common, but hard to store. It can be made from water, but is usually made from natural gas. These cars are very rare, because there are not many places where one can fill up with hydrogen, and so not many are made. One of the few companies who makes fuel cell cars is Toyota, which has the Mirai.

A solar cell stores energy from the sun as electricity to make the car go. But the sunlight that lands on a solar car is not enough to make a full sized car move very fast, and cannot work at night unless it stores energy somewhere. There is a competition every year to see who can make a car that goes the farthest on only solar power.

A battery-electric vehicle (BEV) stores electrical energy in a big battery inside the car. The batteries get their energy from an electric supply outside the car, usually a electrical outlet like those in a house. It is the most common kind of electric car seen today. Many governments around the world are encouraging public places to install charging stations, which have a plug that can charge most types of plug-in cars. Companies that make BEVs include Nissan, which has the Leaf, and Mitsubishi Motors, which makes the i-miEV. An American company called Tesla is famous for making BEVs that charge very quickly, such as the Roadster (a sports car) and more recently the Model S.

Hybrid cars

A hybrid is a combination of two things. In this case, it is an electric motor, and another type of power, such as an engine. Because of this, hybrid vehicles are not true electric vehicles.

A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) has both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor which drives the wheels. Usually, the electric motor is used when moving at low speeds and power from the internal combustion engine is used as the car goes faster. The engine get its power from gasoline, diesel, or any other kind of fuel, and can generate electricity which is stored in batteries to be used later with the electric motor. The battery is much smaller than that of a pure electric vehicle and even though the vehicle can go without starting the gas engine, it cannot go very far before the battery runs out of energy and the gas engine has to be started. The Toyota Prius is the best-selling HEV of all time, but many other companies around the world like Honda (with the Clarity), BMW (with the i3), and Ford (with the Focus) also make hybrid cars, some of which, such as the Honda Civic and Toyota Camry, come in both gas-only and hybrid versions. The hybrid version is usually more expensive because it has more parts.

A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is like an ordinary hybrid electric vehicle in that it has both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The difference is that a PHEV has a bigger battery that can be charged using a plug from an outlet, just like a battery-electric vehicle. This allows the car to go farther on electric power alone than a HEV before the gas engine has to be used. However, the battery is still quite small, meaning a PHEV most often does not go as far as a BEV on electric power alone. The Chevrolet Volt from General Motors and the Sonata by Hyundai are just two examples of plug-in hybrids, and Toyota also makes a plug-in version of its Prius, as does Honda with its Clarity.

A human electric hybrid vehicle (HEHV), in its simplest form, is a battery and motor put on a bicycle. The Twike is a covered vehicle that can hold two people. It can be pedaled, run from the battery, or both.

Other vehicles

There are many other types of electric vehicles. A trolley bus (also called a trackless trolley) uses overhead electric lines to power it. Many trains use a railway electrification system to supply power. A few high-speed rail lines use powered magnets in the track to move the train, in a system called ' mag-lev' (magnetic levitation). There are electric bicycles and motorcycles and some tricycles (trikes) like the Corbin Motors Sparrow, which was also seen in the Austin Powers movie Goldmember.

Most freight trains are diesel-electric. The locomotive has a diesel engine which provides electricity, and an electric motor which makes the wheels turn. In recent years, however, there are buses and trains that store their power in a battery or use some other source like fuel cells. These kinds of vehicles do not need wires.

Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages:
These vehicles use an electric motor, so they are very quiet, no smell and no pollution from exhaust gases that is why UK is considering stop sale of diesel, petrol and hybrid vehicles by 2035. They can even be used indoors, in tunnels and mines. Oil for gasoline and diesel is a limited resource - it will not last forever and is becoming more expensive. If the electricity for a battery-electric vehicle comes from a renewable energy source, like a windmill, solar cells, geothermal or hydroelectric, then it will not produce as many global warming gases.
Disadvantages:
Batteries do not store a lot of energy, and they are large and heavy, so the vehicles usually cannot go very far. It takes a long time to recharge a battery, sometimes many hours. Good batteries can be very expensive, and all batteries need to be replaced after a while. Most electricity in the United States comes from coal or natural gas, so an electric vehicle that is powered by electricity from one of these plants will still add to global warming gases.

Modern Vehicles

More electric cars are being made every year. Here are a few:

Tesla Roadster (a sports car, only sold for a short time, then replaced by the Model S)

Tesla Model S

Ford Focus Electric

Images for kids

In Spanish: Vehículo eléctrico para niños

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Extreme Sports Facts

Check out our range of extreme sports facts.

Learn about the summer and winter X Games, different types of extreme sports, the surfaces and environments such as water, land, snow and air, as well as lots more interesting facts and information.

Extreme sports, sometimes called action sports or adventure sports, do not have an exact definition but are generally considered to be activities that are seen as having a high level of potential danger.

Extreme sports often involve high speeds, dangerous heights, the requirement for a high level of specialist technical skill, and highly specialized gear or equipment.

Success in extreme sports usually involves judging panels scoring athletes based on visual and technical criteria and completion of a 'trick'.

Height based extreme sports include Bungee jumping, skydiving, BASE jumping, paragliding and hang gliding.

Water based extreme sports include scuba diving, windsurfing, kitesurfing, wakeboarding surfing, whitewater kayaking and rafting.

Wheel based extreme sports include BMX, skateboarding, mountain biking, inline skating, rally car and motocross.

Winter based extreme sports include skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobile.

Cliff and cave based extreme sports include rock climbing, ice climbing, caving, free diving, mountaineering and cave diving.

The X Games are an annual extreme sports event, organized by the U.S. sports broadcaster ESPN. Participants compete to win gold, silver, and bronze medals along with prize money.

The first Summer X Games were held in 1995 in Newport, Rhode Island. The first Winter X Games were held in 1997 at Mountain Resort, Big Bear Lake, California.

X Games are typically held in the USA. The winter games are held in January or February and the summer games are usually held in August.

X Games have also been held in Asia since 1998 and Europe since 2010.

The X Games competitions often makes heroes of those athletes who are talented and brave enough to pull of a new and exciting 'trick' such as Tony Hawk's 900 in skateboarding, Travis Pastrana's double backflip in freestyle motocross, Heath Frisby's first snowmobile front flip or snowboarder Torstein Horgmo's triple flip.

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Extreme Sports Facts - Information About X Games, Action Sports & More

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Extreme Sports Facts Check out our range of extreme sports facts. Learn about the summer and winter X Games, different types of extreme sports, the surfaces and environments such as water, land, snow and air, as well as lots more interesting facts and information.

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A police car is a motor vehicle used by police. It is used to assist with their duties in patrolling and responding to incidents. Typical uses of a police car include transportation for officers to reach the scene of an incident quickly. Police cars are also used to transport suspects, or to patrol an area.

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Extreme sport is term used for those adventurous sports that are dangerous. These sports involve great speeds, height or depth. They also require a tremendous physical stamina. This is the reason why extreme sports are not as popular as conventional sports which are a safe combination of adventure and skills. Extreme sports are often done using highly specialized gear and under expert supervision.

Some of extreme sports that you might or might not know are:

Rock Climbing - Rock climbing is an activity where competitors climb up, down or across rocks to reach the the final point without falling and shortest time possible. Rock climbing becomes very challenging when its done outdoors on natural rocks rather than indoor artificial rocks.

Bungee Jumping - In Bungee jumping participant attaches a large elastic cord around them and then jumps from a tall building, bridge or mountain.When the jumper plunges, at first the elastic cord stretches to the maximum and the jumper goes down with high speed. After the maximum stretch the cord recoils, and the jumper continues to oscillate up and down for quite a while.

Mountain Biking - This includes biking on a rugged mountainous terrain often with steep declines. Participants have mountain bikes that are specially constructed and are able to take the stress of such a rough usage.

Whoa! Even reading about these sports gives me goose bumps. Wonder how people participate in them!!

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Extreme sport is term used for those adventurous sports that are dangerous. These sports involve great speeds, height or depth. They also require a tremendous physical stamina. This is the reason why extreme sports are not as popular as conventional sports which are a safe combination of adventure and skills.

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A sportscar is a small, fast, quick-turning car. Most of them only have two seats or very small seats in the back.

A sportscar is different from a car for racing. The sportscar is allowed to drive on a normal road. A sportscar also has things like a Radio and air conditioning.

Since the first automobiles people wanted to make cars go faster. The first sportscars were made for rich people to go racing.

There are different versions of sportscars. There are cars with the motor in the front and Rear wheel drive. Examples are the Chevrolet Corvette or the Honda S2000. There are also cars with the motor behind the passengers in the middle of the car. One of the first cars like this was the Lamborghini Miura. Porsche uses a different layout. The motor in a Porsche 911 is in the back, behind the rear wheels. Since the 1980s a lot of sportscars also have Four wheel drive. The motor in the front and Front wheel drive is only used in a few sportscars.

Most sportscars only have two seats. There are some sportscars that also have very small seats in the back. For example the Porsche 911. The McLaren F1 has three seats. The driver sits in the middle.

Sportscars are often very fast and very expensive cars.

These are some sports cars:

Images for kids

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A sportscar is a small, fast, quick-turning car. Most of them only have two seats or very small seats in the back. A sportscar is different from a car for racing. The sportscar is allowed to drive on a normal road. A sportscar also has things like a Radio and air conditioning.

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The early history of the automobile can be divided into a number of eras, based on method of propulsion. Later periods were defined by trends in exterior styling, size, and utility preferences. The question of who invented the first automobile depends on how you define the words "automobile" and "invent". The history of the automobile is rich and varied. It goes back to Leonardo da Vinci in the 15th century who created early designs and models of transportation vehicles.

Early pioneers

In 1807 François Isaac de Rivaz designed the first hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine. In 1813 he built a car 6 metres (20 ft) long and weighing over 1 metric ton (0.98 long tons; 1.1 short tons).

Between 1832 and 1839, Robert Anderson built the first electric-powered carriage in Scotland.

In 1864 Siegfried Marcus built the first gasoline powered internal combustion engine. In 1870 he placed it on a pushcart making it the first four wheeled gasoline-powered vehicle. He built four more combustion-engine cars over a 10-to-15-year span that influenced later cars. Marcus created the two-cycle combustion engine. The car's second version in 1880 introduced a four-cycle, gasoline-powered engine. It had an ingenious carburetor design, and magneto ignition. He created an additional two models further refining his design with steering, a clutch, and brakes. His second car is on display at the Technical Museum in Vienna. During his lifetime, he was honored as the originator of the motorcar. But his place in history was all but erased by the Nazis during World War II. Because Marcus was of Jewish descent, the Nazi propaganda office ordered his work to be destroyed, his name expunged from future textbooks, and his public memorials removed. They gave credit instead to Karl Benz.

In 1885-1886, Karl Benz developed a petrol- or gasoline-powered automobile. It was called the Benz Patent-Motorwagen. This is also considered to be the first "production" automobile.

In 1886, Gottlieb Daimler built the first four-wheeled, four-stroke engine called the "Cannstatt-Daimler."

In 1893, Charles Duryea and his brother J. Frank Duryea built the first successful gasoline-powered car with a two-stroke engine. The two brothers set up the first American car manufacturing company.

In 1895, George Baldwin Selden received the patent for the combined internal-combustion engine with a carriage. He never produced the vehicle and only seldom collected royalties for using his patent.

In 1908, Henry Ford began producing affordable, simple and reliable cars anyone could drive.

Evolution of the automobile

Invention era

This is the period starts with the car made by Karl Benz in 1885. There were earlier inventions that used mainly steam-power to move the vehicles but the Benz car was the first to use a gasoline powered internal combustion engine in what could be called an automobile. The period goes up to the start of the production of Henry Ford's Model T.

Manufacturing era

This period dates from 1908 to 1914 and the beginning of World War I. While earlier designs were more ornamental, vehicles from this period are simpler and more affordable. It is the time when hundreds of smaller automobile manufacturers were trying to compete for attention and sales. A number of improvements were developed during this time. These include the electric ignition system, four-wheel brakes and the independent suspension. Transmissions were adopted. Along with throttle controls, these allowed the vehicles to travel at a number of speeds depending on conditions.

Coachwork era

From about 1920 to 1930, car manufacturers began creating a closed body on the vehicle. This protected the driver and passengers from the weather. Vehicles began using curved glass and the new enclosed bodies gave a sense of privacy. Heaters were added for comfort. Many of the features of modern cars came from this period. These include four-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, and hybrid electric vehicles. Safety glass protected those inside the car from sharp glass in cases of an accident. By the end of the 1920s cars were becoming faster and were showing a level of style and beauty.

Classic era

The classic era began about 1930 during the Great Depression and ended just before World War II. The Great Depression was a time when many in the United States were just trying to survive. But it is also the era of some of the most significant improvements to the automobile. Cars took on a great deal of style and sophistication. They became works of art in many cases.

Many new features were introduced during this era including the automatic transmission, the V-8, the V-12 and the V-16 engines. The gearshift lever moved to the steering column, hydraulic brakes were introduced for faster stopping and cars got trunks to carry luggage and cargo.

The car industry changed during the 1930s. It saw the rise of the Big Three automakers. These were General Motors, Ford Motor Company and Chrysler. They were able to successfully design and sell cars during the Great Depression when fewer people could afford a new car.

Integration period

In 1949, the automobile industry finally got back on its feet after World War II. This same year General Motors, Cadillac and Oldsmobile introduced the integrated one-piece automobile body. The process joined all the different parts of the body into one body shell. Cars produced during this period concentrated on safety. Cars were big during this time. But in the late 1960s carmakers tried to market much smaller cars. The attempts by General Motors, Chrysler and Ford were all marketing failures. Instead, what sold was the performance car. Cars like the Ford Mustang and the Plymouth Barracuda were very successful. During the late 1950s, many smaller countries began producing cars. Both India and Iran were making cars from about 1959. The first Indian car design from 1950 was very similar to the Opel Kapitän. The first Iranian cars were very similar to several American cars. Both were designed in the United Kingdom.

This period started about 1968 and continues to today. Body styles changed dramatically. The three most popular are the hatchback, the Minivan and the Sport utility vehicle (SUV). Starting in the Integration period, car manufacturers began designing cars for men while others are designed to attract women. The body shapes, colors and other cues are designed to appeal to a particular sex.

Today, women tend to prefer crossovers more than men. Examples are the Kia Sportage and the Honda CR-V. Men seem to prefer powerful cars like the Chevrolet Camaro and the GMC Sierra pickup truck. In car colors, men seem to prefer brighter colors while more women seem to prefer traditional neutral colors.

Related pages

Images for kids

German Flocken Elektrowagen of 1888, regarded as the first electric car of the world

In My Merry Oldsmobile songbook featuring an Oldsmobile Curved Dash automobile (produced 1901-1907) and period driving clothing

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History of the automobile Facts for Kids

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The early history of the automobile can be divided into a number of eras, based on method of propulsion. Later periods were defined by trends in exterior styling, size, and utility preferences. The question of who invented the first automobile depends on how you define the words "automobile" and "invent".

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The ancient city of Machu Picchu was built by the Inca.

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Peru

FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Constitutional republic

CAPITAL: Lima

POPULATION: 31,331,228

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: Spanish, Quechua

MONEY: Nuevo Sol

AREA: 496,224 square miles (1,285,216 sqare kilometers)

MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Andes

MAJOR RIVERS: Amazon, Ucayali, Madre de Dios

Peru is the third largest country in South America, after Brazil and Argentina. It is made up of a variety of landscapes, from mountains and beaches to deserts and rain forests. Most people live along the coast of the Pacific Ocean, where the capital, Lima, is located.

Along Peru's west coast is a narrow strip of desert 1,555 miles (2,500 kilometers) long. Ancient people, called the Chimú and the Nasca, first inhabited this region thousands of years ago. The coastal desert makes up only about 10 percent of Peru, but it is home to more than half of all Peruvians.

The world's largest rain forest, the Amazon, covers nearly half of Peru. Called the selva in Spanish, this huge jungle, which also covers half of Brazil, is home to plants and animals that do not live anywhere else on Earth. Some scientists think there may even be Indian tribes there that have never seen the outside world.

The second highest mountain range in the world runs through Peru. These peaks, called the Andes, are so tall and forbidding that the ancient Inca people thought they were gods. They run from north to south and can be seen from Peru's beaches 50 miles (80 kilometers) to the west. The highest peak, Mount Huascarán, is 22,205 feet (6,768 meters) high.
Map created by National Geographic Maps

PEOPLE & CULTURE

The people of Peru are a mix of many different cultures, including Indians, Spaniards and other Europeans, descendants of African slaves, and Asians. Until recently, most people lived in the countryside. But now, more than 70 percent live in cities. Most Peruvians follow the Catholic religion introduced by the Spanish.

Because it has so many different ecosystems, Peru is home to a wider variety of plants and animals than most other countries on Earth. For many reasons, Peruvians have not had as much of an impact on their natural world as many other countries, and much of these ecosystems have been undisturbed.

A 250-acre (100-hectare) plot of Peruvian rain forest is home to more than 6,000 kinds of plants! There are hundreds of species that are only found in the Amazon. To protect these plants and animals, Peru has created special forest areas called reserves.

On the Pacific Coast, many interesting plant and animal species have adapted to the dry desert climate. And off the coast, the Peru Current nourishes huge numbers of small fish, which in turn support large populations of bigger fish and seabirds, including Humboldt penguins.

Peru's mountains support special types of grasses and plants, which provide food for mammals like llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas. One plant that grows in the Andes, the puya raimondi, grows for a hundred years before blooming.

GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY

Peru is a constitutional republic, with a president, a congress, and a supreme court. Peruvians are required to vote by law. Presidents serve five-year terms and can only be elected twice in a row.

Peru is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of natural resources. Gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, and iron are found across the country, and there are reserves of oil and natural gas. Even so, jobs there can be very hard to find, and Peru remains one of the world's poorest countries.

Peru is a very old country. The earliest inhabitants arrived there about 15,000 years ago. Societies emerged on the west coast more than 5,000 years ago and began to spread inland. These included the Chavín, the Moche, and the Nasca.

One of the most important Peruvian cultures was the Inca, who lived in Peru around 600 years ago. Their capital, Cusco, is still a major city today. The Inca also built Machu Picchu, a famous and mysterious ancient city in the Andes. They thrived for centuries before being conquered by the Spanish in 1532.

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Peru is the third largest country in South America, after Brazil and Argentina.

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16 Interesting Facts about Cars - Fact or Fiction  | Educational Videos by Mocomi

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How in the World does a Car's Engine Work? 

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How in the World does a Car's Engine Work? 

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Cars for Kids — Smarty Moose — How in the World does a Car's Engine Work? Episode 2 - Cars for Kids

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cars - Kiddle - visual search engine for kids

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Peru - Geography & Regions | Countries of the World

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Long before Columbus sailed the ocean blue, the Inca people built a vast empire. So how did how fewer than 200 Spanish conquistadors manage to bring the mighty empire down?

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Peru is a country in South America. The capital is Lima. The ruins of Machu Picchu, the Andes mountains, and the source of the Amazon River are all found in Peru. Peru is bordered to the north by Ecuador and Colombia, to the east by Brazil, and to the south by Chile and Bolivia.

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Peru Bordering Countries:

Regional Maps:

Map of South America, World Map

Where is Peru?

Google Earth is a free program from Google that allows you to explore satellite images showing the cities and landscapes of Peru and all of South America in fantastic detail. It works on your desktop computer, tablet, or mobile phone. The images in many areas are detailed enough that you can see houses, vehicles and even people on a city street. Google Earth is free and easy-to-use.

Peru is one of nearly 200 countries illustrated on our Blue Ocean Laminated Map of the World. This map shows a combination of political and physical features. It includes country boundaries, major cities, major mountains in shaded relief, ocean depth in blue color gradient, along with many other features. This is a great map for students, schools, offices and anywhere that a nice map of the world is needed for education, display, or decor.

If you are interested in Peru and the geography of South America, our large laminated map of South America might be just what you need. It is a large political map of South America that also shows many of the continent's physical features in color or shaded relief. Major lakes, rivers, cities, roads, country boundaries, coastlines and surrounding islands are all shown on the map.

Peru Cities:

Abancay, Arequipa, Atalaya, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Callao, Cerro de Pasco, Chachapoyas, Chiclayo, Chimbote, Chincha Alta, Chorrillos, Chosica, Cusco, Desaguadero, Goyllarisquizga, Huacho, Huancavelica, Huancayo, Huanuco, Huaraz, Ica, Ilo, Inapari, Iquitos, Juliaca, La Oroya, Lima, Manu, Matarani, Moquegua, Moyobamba, Nauta, Nazca, Nepena, Paita, Pantoja, Pisco, Piura, Pucallpa, Puerto Maldonado, Puno, Quillabamba, Salaverry, San Martin, Santa Lucia, Sullana, Tacna, Talara, Tarapoto, Tarma, Tingo Maria, Toquepala, Trujillo, Tumbes, and Yurimaguas.

Peru Locations:

Alto Purus River, Amazon River (Amazonas), Andes Mountains, Apurimac River, Gulf of Guayaquil, Huallaga River, Jurua River, Lake Arapa, Lake Chinchaycocha, Lake Titicaca, Machu Picchu archaeological site, Madre de Dios River, Mantaro River, Maranon River, Napo River, Pacific Ocean, Pastaza River, Purus River, Putumayo River, Santiago River, Sechura Bay, Ucayali River, Urubamba River, and Yavari River.

Peru Natural Resources:

Peru has mineral resources, some of which are copper, gold, iron ore, and silver. Fuel resources for this country include petroleum, natural gas, coal and hydropower. Other natural resources found in Peru include timber, fish, phosphate and potash.

Peru Natural Hazards:

Peru has a number of natural hazards, which include mild volcanic activity, earthquakes, flooding, landslides, and tsunamis.

Peru Environmental Issues:

Soil erosion due to overgrazing is a problem on the slopes of the coastal and mountain areas. Illegal logging has contributed to deforestation of the country. Desertification of the land and overfishing of the waters are also matters of concern. In addition, the country's rivers and coastal waters are polluted from municipal and mining wastes, and the capital city of Lima experiences some of the worst air pollution in Latin America.

Copyright information: The images on this page were composed by Angela King and Brad Cole and are copyright by Geology.com. These images are not available for use beyond our websites. If you would like to share them with others please link to this page. The satellite image was produced using Landsat data from NASA.

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A political map of Peru and a large satellite image from Landsat.

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Freaky weather facts

1) You can tell the temperature by counting a cricket's chirps!

2) Sandstorms can swallow up entire cities.

3) Dirt mixed with wind can make dust storms called black blizzards.

Did you know that we have a FREE downloadable weather primary resource? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!

4) A mudslide can carry rocks, trees, vehicles and entire buildings!

5) The coldest temperature ever officially recorded was -89.2°C. Brrrr!

6) Mild autumn weather often means bigger spiders in our homes.

7) A heatwave can make train tracks bend!

8) About 2,000 thunderstorms rain down on Earth every minute.

9) A 2003 heatwave turned grapes to raisins before they were picked from the vine!

10) Lightning often follows a volcanic eruption.

11) Raindrops can be the size of a housefly and fall at more than 30kmph.

12) Cape Farewell in Greenland is the windiest place on the planet.

13) Hurricanes can push more than 6m of water ashore.

14) In July 2001 the rainfall in Kerala, India, was blood red!

15) Blizzards can make snowflakes feel like pellets hitting your face.

16) A in Florida, USA, caused 900 captive pythons to escape.

17) Worms wriggle up from underground when a flood is coming.

18) A thunderstorm can produce 160kmph winds!

19) In Antarctica, snow can fall so hard you can't see your hand in front of your face.

20) A whiteout or heavy snowfall that makes it difficult to see, can make you feel sick.

21) Wildfires sometimes create tornadoes made of fire called fire whirls.

22) In 1972, a blizzard dumped 8m of snowfall on Iran, burying 200 villages.

23) Some tornadoes can be faster than formula one racing cars!

24) Black ice, a transparent coating of ice on a surface, can make pavements super-slippery.

25) Some frogs get noisier just before it rains.

26) In 525 BC a sandstorm buried hundreds of soldiers in an Egyptian desert.

27) Waterspouts, or rotating columns of air over water, can make sea creatures rain down from the sky.

28) The most damage ever caused by a thunderstorm was in 1995, when hailstones bigger than cricket balls fell in Texas, USA.

29) In 1684, it was so cold that the River Thames froze solid for two months.

30) Cats and dogs have been known to sense when a is approaching.

Photos: Getty Images UK.

What do you think to our freaky weather facts? Let us know by leaving a comment, below!

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30 freaky facts about the weather! | National Geographic Kids

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Check out 30 facts about the world's weather here at Nat Geo Kids. From sandstorms and blizzards to wildfires and tornados - you'll be blown away!

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Weather vs. Climate: Crash Course Kids #28.1

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Weather is a specific event-like a rainstorm or hot day-that happens over a few hours, days or weeks. Climate is the average weather conditions in a place over 30 years or more. NASA has observed that Earth's climate is getting warmer.

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School strike for climate - save the world by changing the rules | Greta Thunberg | TEDxStockholm

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Fun Kids - the UK's children's radio station

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Here are ten top facts about the weather.

1. There are about 2,000 thunderstorms happening right now!

Thunderstorms happen when hot and cool air meet.

2. The lowest temperatureever recorded is −89.2 °C

It was recorded at the Soviet Vostok Station in Antarctica.

It's not the coldest temperature ever but it is the coldest that humans have ever detected.

3. The highest temperature ever recorded 58 °C

That was recorded in the Libyan Desert.

Again, it's not the hottest ever - remember, water boils at 100ºC - but it is the hottest naturally occurring temperature due to the weather.

4. Crickets tell the temperature

This one's weird!

How often crickets chirp varies according to temperature.

To get a rough estimate of the temperature, count the number of chirps in 15 seconds.

The number you get will be an approximation of the outside temperature!

5. A sandstorm swallowed an army

It's known as the Lost Army of Cambyses and we've found some archeological evidence it exists.

In 524 BC, Persian Emperor Cambyses sent an army of 50,000 people to attack somewhere else.

Seven days into their march, a massive sandstorm broke out and buried the entire army, never to be seen again.

6. The Thames has frozen!

In 1684, it was so cold that the River Thames froze solid for two months.

It's the first time the Thames has frozen for that long. But it's not the first time it's ever frozen.

In fact, if you look hard enough, you might be able to find some photos of people skating on parts of the Thames!

7. Hailstones don't have a size limit

In theory, anyway.

In 1995, the record for damage ever recorded by a hailstorm was broken when hailstones bigger than cricket balls fell in Texas in the United States.

There are reports of hailstones the size of bowling balls also falling!

It gives a whole new meaning to Mind Your Head.

8. Spiders love warm, damp weather

That's why they love to get into all the little nooks in your home in the autumn as they look for better places to nest!

9. Snakes love tornados

...but not for the reason you think.

A hurricane in Florida in the United States of America once caused 900 captive pythons to escape!

10. Space has weather too

It's true! Solar winds and more.

Watch this video to find out all about it!

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Top 10 Facts about weather! - Fun Kids - the UK's children's radio station

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Here are ten top facts about the weather. Thunderstorms happen when hot and cool air meet. It was recorded at the Soviet Vostok Station in Antarctica. It's not the coldest temperature ever but it is the coldest that humans have ever detected. That was recorded in the Libyan Desert.

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A storm darkens the sky at the mouth of the Russian River, north of Bodega Bay, Calif. Weather can change from minute-to-minute, hour-to-hour, day-to-day, and season-to-season. Climate, is the average of weather over time and space.

We hear about weather and climate all of the time. Most of us check the local weather forecast to plan our days. And climate change is certainly a "hot" topic in the news. There is, however, still a lot of confusion over the difference between the two.

Think about it this way: Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get.

Weather is what you see outside on any particular day. So, for example, it may be 75° degrees and sunny or it could be 20° degrees with heavy snow. That's the weather.

Climate is the average of that weather. For example, you can expect snow in the Northeast in January or for it to be hot and humid in the Southeast in July. This is climate. The climate record also includes extreme values such as record high temperatures or record amounts of rainfall. If you've ever heard your local weather person say "today we hit a record high for this day," she is talking about climate records.

So when we are talking about climate change, we are talking about changes in long-term averages of daily weather. In most places, weather can change from minute-to-minute, hour-to-hour, day-to-day, and season-to-season. Climate, however, is the average of weather over time and space.

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national oceanic and atmospheric administration

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What is the difference between weather and climate?

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Weather reflects short-term conditions of the atmosphere while climate is the average daily weather for an extended period of time at a certain location

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Is the weather actually becoming more extreme? - R. Saravanan

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We've all heard of it, but what is climate change and what is it doing to our planet?

So, what is climate change?

Climate change (or global warming), is the process of our planet heating up.

Scientists estimate that since the Industrial Revolution, human activity has caused the Earth to warm by approximately 1°C. While that might not sound like much, it means big things for people and wildlife around the globe.

Unfortunately, rising temperatures don't just mean that we'll get nicer weather - if only! The changing climate will actually make our weather more extreme and unpredictable.

As temperatures rise, some areas will get wetter and lots of animals (and humans!) could find they're not able to adapt to their changing climate.

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National Geographic Kids is an exciting monthly read for planet-passionate boys and girls, aged 6-13! Packed full of fun features, jaw-dropping facts and awe-inspiring photos - it'll keep you entertained for hours! Find our magazine in all good newsagents, or become a subscriber and have it delivered to your door! Ask your parents to check out the 'Subscribe' tab on our website!
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What causes climate change?

1. Burning fossil fuels

Over the past 150 years, industrialised countries have been burning large amounts of fossil fuels such as oil and gas. The gases released into the atmosphere during this process act like an invisible 'blanket', trapping heat from the sun and warming the Earth. This is known as the " Greenhouse Effect ".

2. Farming

Believe it or not, cows' eating habits contribute towards climate change. Just like us, when cows eat, methane - a type of greenhouse gas - builds up in their digestive system and is released in the form of... a burp! This might sound funny, but when you imagine that there are almost 1.5 billion cows releasing all that gas into the atmosphere, it sure adds up!

3. Deforestation

Forests absorb huge amounts of carbon dioxide - another greenhouse gas - from the air, and release oxygen back into it. The Amazon rainforest is so large and efficient at doing this that it acts like our planet's air conditioner - limiting climate change. Sadly, many rainforests are being cut down to make wood, palm oil and to clear the way for farmland, roads, oil mines, and dams.

How will climate change affect the planet?

The Earth has had many tropical climates and ice ages over the billions of years that it's been in existence, so why is now so different? Well, this is because for the last 150 years human activity has meant we're releasing a huge amount of harmful gases into the Earth's atmosphere, and records show that the global temperatures are rising more rapidly since this time.

A warmer climate could affect our planet in a number of ways:
- Shrinking sea ice
How will climate change affect wildlife?

Climate change is already affecting wildlife all over the world, but certain species are suffering more than others. Polar animals - whose icy natural habitat is melting in the warmer temperatures - are particularly at risk. In fact, experts believe that the Arctic sea ice is melting at a shocking rate - 9% per decade! Polar bears need sea ice to be able to hunt, raise their young and as places to rest after long periods of swimming. Certain seal species, like ringed seals make caves in the snow and ice to raise their pups, feed and mate.

It's not just polar animals who are in trouble. Apes like orangutans, which live in the rainforests of Indonesia, are under threat as their habitat is cut down, and more droughts cause more bushfires.

Sea turtles rely on nesting beaches to lay their eggs, many of which are threatened by rising sea levels. Did you know that the temperature of nests determines whether the eggs are male or female? Unfortunately, with temperatures on the rise, this could mean that many more females are born than males, threatening future turtle populations.

How will people be affected by climate change?

Climate change won't just affect animals, it's already having an impact on people, too. Most affected are some of the people who grow the food we eat every day. Farming communities, especially in developing countries, are facing higher temperatures, increased rain, floods and droughts.

We Brits love a good cuppa, (around 165 million cups of the stuff every day!), but we probably take for granted just how much work goes into growing our tea. Environmental conditions can affect the flavour and quality plus it needs a very specific rainfall to grow. In Kenya, climate change is making rainfall patterns less and less predictable. Often there will be droughts followed by huge amounts rain, which makes it very difficult to grow tea.

Farmers might then resort to using cheap chemicals to improve their crop to earn more money, even when long-term use of these chemicals can destroy their soil.

How are people coping with climate change?

Buying Fairtrade products can help make sure a farmer is paid a fair wage. This means they can cover their costs, earn enough money to have a decent standard of living, and invest in their farms to keep their crop healthy, without needing to resort to cheap methods of farming which can further damage the environment.

This support also helps farmers to replace eucalyptus trees - which take up a lot of water - with indigenous trees that are better for the farmers' soil. They can learn to make fuel-efficient stoves which will not only make them a little extra money, but also reduce the carbon footprint of the community - cool!

How can I help prevent climate change?

Small changes in your own home can make a difference, too. Try switching to energy-saving lightbulbs, walking instead of using the car, turning off electrical items when you're not using them, recycling and reducing your food waste.

All these little things can make a difference. You can check out more eco-friendly ideas, in our kids' guide to saving the planet! Plus, check out our cool article about Greta Thunberg, too, to discover how young people are making their voices heard.

You can download information about Fairtrade and climate change for your school, here! www.fairtrade.org.uk/schools.

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What is climate change: facts for kids | National Geographic Kids

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What is climate change (a.k.a. global warming) & why is it happening? We explain how it affects our planet & how we can prevent it...

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Suppose you were going on a vacation to a tropical island. What would you pack? A swim suit and flip flops? What about a trip to Alaska? Maybe a warm coat and boots? You would know what to pack because of the climate of those places.

Climate is a part of everyone's lives, no matter where we live on planet Earth. People all over the world have adapted in various ways to the climates in which they live. Climate influences not only the clothes we wear, but the kinds of plants we can grow, the kinds of animals we see, the kinds of houses we live in, and the ways that people work and play. Let's learn more about climate.

What Is Climate?

Climate is not the same thing as weather. Weather is the day-to-day conditions in a certain location, including rainfall, snow, heat, wind, clouds, humidity, and storms. Weather is what you see outside your window. Weather can change from day to day, and even from hour to hour. It might be sunny and warm one day, but cool and wet the next. Maybe in the nighttime, there will be a thunderstorm or a strong wind. The next morning, there might be no wind at all. Weather is temporary, which is why people often check the weather forecast to see what kind of weather is predicted for tomorrow.

Climate, on the other hand, is the average weather in a large area over a long period of time - 30 years or more. Weather patterns, observed over many years, help describe a region's climate. Usually the climate of an area remains the same, changing only slowly over hundreds or thousands of years. A desert area may have an occasional rainstorm (weather) - but the climate doesn't change; it's still a hot, dry climate. There is a saying that describes the difference: "Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get."

Meteorologists study and predict short-term weather, while climate scientists, or climatologists, study climate. Climatologists measure and analyze long-term weather patterns over time. They study climates of the past, factors that influence weather, and the effects of weather patterns on the environment. They predict future trends for the years to come.

What Determines Climate?

Climate scientists measure an area's temperature and precipitation over time to describe its climate. But what makes the climate of an area the way it is? Why is the climate of Brazil different from the climate of Canada?

The basis of all climate on the earth is the way the sun's energy moves in and out of the atmosphere and moves around the planet. Many factors influence the way that the sun's energy is spread around and determine an area's climate.

One of those factors is latitude. If you look at a globe of the earth, you can imagine a line circling around the middle of the earth. That imaginary line is the equator and is considered to be zero degrees latitude. Other circular lines north and south of the equator are latitude lines. Climate varies with latitude, or distance from the equator. Because the sun's rays shine most directly at the equator, the climate in those areas is very warm. Places far from the equator receive less intense sunlight. At latitudes closer to the north and south poles, the climate is colder.

Another factor is altitude or elevation. High-altitude areas such as mountains have cooler temperatures than lower areas. At higher altitudes, the air is thinner and less able to absorb and store heat.

Nearness to large bodies of water influences climate. Areas near oceans are usually milder and wetter than inland areas, and have less temperature variation. The ocean absorbs and stores large amounts of heat, which it exchanges with the atmosphere to impact climate. Areas further inland from the ocean will have more extreme temperature ranges. One interesting fact is that the southern hemisphere of the earth has more ocean area than the northern hemisphere, so climate conditions over land in the south are more moderate than at similar latitudes in the north.

The surface temperature of ocean water varies with latitude, as shown below. Red colors indicate warmer ocean water and blue indicates cooler ocean water.

Image courtesy of NOAA

Ocean currents, both warm and cool, help to regulate climate as they transport water around the globe. Prevailing wind patterns also influence climate as air masses move across the land. The interactions between the sun's energy and how the atmosphere and oceans move heat around the earth produce different climate in different parts of the world.

Image: NOAA/scijinks.gov

Two locations at similar latitudes on the globe may have quite different climates due to the influence of winds and ocean current. For example, the warm Gulf Stream current makes the climate of England milder than that of Canada, even though latitude is the same.

The surface features of land also impact climate. Places with a lot of ice and snow (light colors) tend to reflect more sunlight back into the atmosphere, providing a cooling influence on climate. Dark-colored oceans tend to absorb more heat. The amount and type of vegetation influences evaporation and temperature. Mountain ranges are barriers to air movement and often act as boundaries between climate zones.

Climate Zones

The Koppen system, developed by climate scientist Wladimir Koppen, is the most common system for classifying types of climate. In this system, based on temperature, precipitation, and seasonal variation, the climates of the earth are divided into five main categories: tropical (A), dry (B), temperate (C), continental (D), and polar (E). The picture below shows roughly where those climate zones appear on the earth.

Image courtesy of NOAA

The image below shows most of the United States classified into climate zones. The "H" zone refers to highlands or mountains, where the climate is due to altitude and differs from the surrounding area.

Image courtesy of NOAA

Each of these five climate types can be broken down into sub-categories.

image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Tropical climates are found near the equator in parts of South America, Africa, India, and Indonesia. Tropical wet climates are hot and humid, with high rainfall and warm temperatures all year round. A tropical wet and dry climate is also warm, but with distinct rainy and dry seasons.

Dry climates have hot days and little rainfall. Arid climates, with less than ten inches of rain a year, are found in southwest United States, north Africa, and much of Australia. Semi-arid climates, found in central Asia and U.S. Great Basin states such as southern Idaho, have slightly more rain and may be higher in elevation.

Temperate or Moderate climates are "medium" climates with warm summers and mild winters. Much of the eastern United States has a sub-climate known as humid subtropical. The Pacific Northwest coast has a marine climate that is mild and rainy all year, while the California coast has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters. All of these are mid-latitude temperate climates.

Continental climates have cold, snowy winters. The humid continental climate has a lot of seasonal temperature variation and is found in much of Europe and the northern United States, including north Idaho. The subarctic climate, with its short, cool summers and long, cold winters, is found in large portions of Alaska, Canada, and Russia.

Polar climates are cold and dry, with long winters and very short summers. The Arctic region has a polar climate. A climate known as icecap, where temperatures are always below freezing, is found in places such as Greenland and inland Antarctica. Highland climate may be polar at the tops of mountains, but temperate on the lower slopes. Learn more about climate zones.

Desert biome

Rainforest biome

A biome is not quite the same as climate. A biome is made up of the plants and animals that live in a certain type of climate. Since the climate of an area determines what type of biome can exist in that region, the enormous variety of life of Earth is largely due to the variety of climates that exist. Biomes are usually labeled by the major type of vegetation. So, a tropical climate may be associated with a rainforest biome, a dry climate with a desert biome, a polar climate with tundra biome, and a temperate climate with a deciduous forest. The living things of a biome in one part of the earth share certain characteristics with living things of a similar biome elsewhere in the world, because their environment has many of the same advantages and challenges. For example, different species of cactus live on different continents, but they have adapted to the dry desert in similar ways. Learn more about biomes around the world.

In addition to the regional climates described above, scientists also study the global climate. Global climate is a description of the climate of a planet as a whole. Global climate depends on the amount of energy received from the Sun and the amount of energy trapped in the atmosphere. Global climate scientists study the factors that affect the climate of our whole planet.

Climate Change

Although climate does not change from day to day like weather, it can change slowly over hundreds or thousands of years. The Earth's climate has warmed and cooled many times in the past. Scientists know that the earth was warmer and wetter when dinosaurs roamed the earth. You may have heard of the Ice Age; at different times in the past, glaciers have covered large portions of Earth with ice. Evidence shows that the Sahara Desert was once covered by ocean during a warm "wet age." More recently, the "Little Ice Age" from the 14th through the 19th centuries was a time of colder climates all around the world.

Climates of the past are called paleoclimates. Scientists study paleoclimates to learn more about Earth long ago. They look for clues to figure out what climates used to be like. One way they do this is by studying tree rings. Each year that a tree is alive, it grows another ring, making its trunk wider. The thickness of a ring depends on what the climate was like at that time.

Ice core image: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Another way scientists learn is by studying ice cores, drilled from deep below the surface of the ice in polar regions. Scientists analyze the frozen layers in an ice core to learn about temperatures and carbon dioxide levels long ago. They also study fossils and layers of mud and sand in lakes to learn about paleoclimates.

The graph below shows what scientists have learned about carbon dioxide (CO2) in Earth's atmosphere over the last 600,000 years.

Image courtesy of NASA

Why do climates change? Climate change can happen for many reasons. The earth goes through natural cycles of warming and cooling, as can be seen from the study of the past. Some factors, such as volcanoes, produce short-term climate change. In a large volcanic eruption, ash particles from the explosion can block out the sun's rays, causing a change in Earth's climate that can last for years. A condition known as El Niño sometimes happens in the Pacific Ocean, where the usual strong trade winds blow in the opposite direction from normal. The resulting changes in sea temperature can cause a change in climate. Climate can also be affected when there is a change in the amount of the sun's energy that reaches Earth.

In recent years, human activity has had an impact on climate as well. Temperatures in areas with large cities, built with lots of asphalt, steel and cement, are higher than in rural areas. Cutting down forests removes the cooling influence of trees and affects the local climate.

Our Warming Earth

Our earth is currently in a period of warming. Scientists are concerned because the Earth is warming faster than it has in the past. They believe that human activity is contributing to the climate change known as global warming, the rise of the earth's average surface temperature.

NASA/JPL-Caltech

Have you ever visited a greenhouse where plants are grown? Panels of glass trap heat from the sun and moisture from the air to keep the greenhouse warmer than the outside air. Earth is something like a giant greenhouse. When sunlight enters the earth's atmosphere, some of the sun's heat is trapped by a layer of gases and prevented from escaping back into space.

NASA/JPL-Caltech

Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor are known as "greenhouse gases" because they trap warmth from the sun and keep the earth warm enough to live on. This is good, because without any greenhouse gases, Earth would be an icy wasteland.

But too much greenhouse gas means an increase in Earth's temperature as more heat is trapped. Since 1900, the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by 30%. One reasons for this increase is the burning of fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal in cars, planes, power plants and factories. When these fuels are burned, carbon is released into the air as carbon dioxide. Cutting down forests also contributes to greenhouse gases, since trees that naturally remove carbon dioxide are gone.

As a result, Earth is getting warmer. Its average surface temperature has increased almost 2º Fahrenheit over the past hundred years. That may not sound like very much, but it is changing our global climate. The past five years have been some of the hottest ever recorded.

Graph: NOAA/climate.gov

What are the effects of global warming?

Image: NASA

Polar areas are warming faster than other parts of the world. As the light-colored ice and snow melts, less of the sun's energy is reflected back out into space and more heat is absorbed on Earth. Temperatures continue to rise.

Permafrost, the Arctic ground just below the surface that stays permanently frozen, is thawing. When this happens, microbes begin decomposing organic material, releasing carbon dioxide and methane. Northern towns, buildings and roads built on permafrost become unstable.

Arctic sea ice is melting. Animals that depend on sea ice, such as polar bears, are becoming threatened or endangered.

Glaciers are melting. All over the world, glaciers have shrunk.

NASA/Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets

Sea level is rising due to melting glaciers and expansion of warmer seawater. Sea levels have risen 7 inches in the last 100 years. Rising sea level puts many coastal communities in danger.

Oceans are warming and becoming more acidic. Warmer waters endanger the health of coral reefs and other kinds of ocean life.

Higher temperatures have caused more extreme weather events. In some places, there has been more rainfall and increased flooding. In others, warmer temperatures have increased evaporation rates and caused droughts. Hurricanes and heat waves have become more intense and more frequent.

Image: NOAA

Warming temperatures affect growing seasons, bird migration, pollinator life cycles, and wildlife habitat. Some living things rely on temperature to figure out when to migrate or reproduce. Other animals must adapt to new conditions or move to other areas when habitats change. Some species may become extinct. On the other hand, warmer conditions may cause unwanted or disease-carrying insect pests to increase.

Learn more about theeffects of climate change.

Image: NASA: spacecraft measuring CO2

Earth-observing satellites collect a lot of information about current climate conditions. Climate scientists analyze this information and use climate models to predict how the atmosphere, oceans, land surfaces, and ice will interact. They expect Earth's average temperature to continue to rise and our planet's climate to continue to change.

What You Can Do

There are things you can do to help! You can take steps in your everyday life to slow down global warming. Talk to your parents about the issue of climate change. As a family, make some choices that will reduce your " carbon footprint" - your contribution to global warming.

Whenever possible, walk or ride your bike instead of using the car. Burning one gallon of gasoline puts 19 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Biking or walking just one mile a day for a year could prevent 330 pounds of carbon dioxide!

When you must travel by car, encourage your family to carpool and to combine errands into one trip.

Reduce and reuse as much as possible. Factories emit carbon dioxide when making new things, so fix up what you have instead.

Since the production of energy often emits greenhouse gases, cut down on the amount the energy you use. Turn off appliances when you are not using them. Reduce the use of air conditioning by opening windows or using a fan. Wear a warm sweater instead of turning up the heat.

Try to eat mostly in-season and locally grown fruits and vegetables. This cuts down on the energy used to grow and transport food, which reduces the release of heat-trapping gases.

Image: NASA

Plant trees. Trees help fight climate change naturally by pulling carbon dioxide out of the air through photosynthesis.

Send a letter to your mayor, senator, or other elected official, asking them to do something about climate change. Write a letter to the editor of your local or school newspaper. Encourage your parents to vote for people who care about climate change.

Learn as much as you can about climate change and share what you know with others. The more people understand the problem, the more we can work together to find solutions.

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