🥔 How do we Classify Climates? Crash Course Geography #13

Summary

This Crash Course Geography episode explores the global significance of potatoes, tracing their origin to the Andean highlands near Lake Titicaca. Host Alizé Carrère delves into the concept of geo-literacy, illustrating how ancient Andean farmers used their understanding of climate and weather to cultivate potatoes. The episode explains the difference between weather and climate, and how the Andes' varied elevations create distinct climate zones, which were crucial for potato domestication. It also touches on the impact of human choices on the environment and hints at future discussions on climate change.

Takeaways

• 🥔 The potato is a globally embraced food, with a wide variety of dishes made from it across different cultures.
• 🌱 Potatoes were first domesticated 7,000 to 9,000 years ago in the Central Andean highlands near Lake Titicaca, known as Mama Jatha.
• 🌍 The potato is a significant food crop worldwide, with China, India, Ukraine, Russia, and the US being the top producers.
• 🌡️ Weather and climate are distinct concepts; weather is short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate is the long-term average of weather patterns in a region.
• ⛰️ The Andes mountains have distinct climate zones based on elevation, ranging from tropical rainforests to alpine meadows and perpetual snow.
• 🌱 Andean farmers were early geo-literates, using their understanding of climate and geography to cultivate potatoes in the varied mountain climates.
• 🌌 Ancient Andeans observed natural phenomena like the visibility of Pleiades stars to predict rainfall and adjust their planting schedules.
• 🌐 The Köppen climate classification system, developed in the early 1900s, categorizes the world into climate zones based on temperature, precipitation, and vegetation.
• 🌾 Potatoes thrive in the cold highland climates, which is reflected in their cultivation in the Andes and in other highland regions globally.
• 🌿 Human adaptation to local environments and the development of geo-literacy have allowed for the successful cultivation of potatoes in diverse climates.

Q & A

What is the significance of potatoes in global cuisine?

Potatoes are significant in global cuisine as they have been embraced by almost every cuisine worldwide, leading to a variety of dishes such as latkes, gnocchi, salchipapas, poutine, and potato chips.

Where did potatoes originate and what is their indigenous name in that region?

Potatoes originated near Lake Titicaca, on the border of Bolivia and Peru, in the Central Andean highlands. They are known as Mama Jatha, which translates to 'mother of growth'.

How are weather and climate different, as explained in the script?

Weather refers to the short-term atmospheric conditions at a specific place and time, which can change rapidly and is difficult to predict. Climate, on the other hand, is the average weather over many years in a region and is more predictable based on trends.

What is the normal lapse rate, and how does it affect mountain climates?

The normal lapse rate is the average decrease in air temperature of 6.5 degrees Celsius for every 1000 meters increase in elevation. This affects mountain climates by creating distinct climate zones based on elevation, each with different plant life.

What are the different climate zones in the Andes mountains, and how do they relate to potato cultivation?

The Andes mountains have climate zones including tierra caliente (hot country), tierra templada (temperate zone), tierra fria (cold zone), tierra helada (frost country), and zones of perpetual snow. Potatoes thrive in the cold and arid conditions found in the tierra fria and tierra helada zones.

What is geo-literacy, and how did Andean farmers use it to cultivate potatoes?

Geo-literacy is the understanding of how physical, biological, and social systems of the world connect places to each other. Andean farmers used their geo-literacy to observe the mountain climates and ecological niches, selecting suitable land for potato cultivation.

How did ancient Andean farmers predict rainfall patterns without modern technology?

Ancient Andean farmers observed atmospheric conditions, such as the visibility of stars like the Pleiades, to predict El Niño years and associated rainfall patterns. They used this knowledge to decide when to plant their potatoes.

What is the Köppen climate classification system, and how does it relate to potato cultivation?

The Köppen climate classification system is a method of categorizing the world's climates based on temperature, precipitation, and elevation. It helps explain why potatoes are grown in certain regions, such as the highland climates (H) and arid, cold steppe climates (BSk) in the Andes.

How have potatoes become a global crop, and what factors contributed to their widespread cultivation?

Potatoes have become a global crop due to their hardiness, ability to adapt to various climates, and the geo-literacy of farmers who have bred them to tolerate different temperatures. Global trade has also played a significant role in spreading potato cultivation to over 100 countries.

What is the importance of acknowledging the traditional and ongoing relationship of Indigenous peoples with their land?

Acknowledging the traditional and ongoing relationship of Indigenous peoples with their land is important because it recognizes their historical and cultural connections, as well as their contributions to understanding and managing the land and its resources.

How does the script encourage viewers to engage with local Indigenous and Aboriginal nations?

The script encourages viewers to engage with local Indigenous and Aboriginal nations by suggesting the use of resources like native-land.ca and by interacting with these communities through their provided websites and resources.