Climate

Weather v Climate

• Weather

• Climate

• Conditions in the atmosphere of one place over a short period of time.

• Weather patterns that an area experiences over a long period of time.

Factors Affecting Climates

• Latitude

• Air Masses

• Continentality

• Elevation

• Mountain Barriers

• Ocean Currents

• Pressure Cells

• Storms

Latitude

• Most important control on climate– Lower Latitude =

Higher Temperature– Middle Latitude =

Seasonal Temperature– Higher Latitude =

Lower Temperature

Air Masses• Air takes on the

characteristics of the land or water it passes over.– Southern Europe =

Mediterranean Climate• Hot and Dry in the

Summer (due to Sahara) • Cool and Wet In Winter

(due to Northern Europe)

– Sahara Desert = Hot Air – Himalayas = Cold Air

Continentality• Distance from water

– The farther away from water the greater change between winter and summer.

• Land does not hold heat as well as water.

– For example, two cities at same latitude

• San Francisco – Jan. 57/ Jul. 69

• Kansas City– Jan. 22/ Jul. 89

Elevation

• The higher the elevation the colder and drier the air is. – Air gets thin as it rises.

• Cannot continue to hold heat or moisture.

Mountain Barriers

• Mountains block precipitation.– Windward: Side that

air blows on that gets rain.

– Leeward: Side without rain.

– Example: Texas Panhandle is dry because Rocky Mountains block rain.

Ocean Currents• Water of the oceans distribute

heat.• Warm air from equator heads to

poles, cold water from poles head to equator

• Example: Marine West Coast Climate

• Western Europe is much warmer (and wetter) than places of similar latitude because of warmer ocean currents.

– Waters on the east coasts tend to be warm.

– Waters on the west coasts tend to be cool.

Pressure Cells• Lower Pressure Cells =

Rising Warm Air• Higher Pressure Cells

= Falling Cool Air

– 0-30°= Low Pressure– 30-60°= High Pressure– 60-90°= Low Pressure

Looking With LACEMOPS

Storm Systems

• Changes data but not long term patterns.– For example,

hurricanes bring rain but not all year and not every year.

Climate Zones: Polar

*Ice Cap– Very Cold All

Year

*Tundra– Cold with little

vegetation

*Subarctic-Cold snowy winters, cool rainy summers

Climate Zones: Temperate

• Humid Continental– Warm

rainy summers, snowy winters

• Humid Subtropical– Hot rainy

summers, mild winters

• Marine West Coast– Warm summers, cool

winters, always wet

Climate Zones: Temperate to Arid

*Mediterranean – Warm dry

summers, cool short winters

*Arid– Hot and dry all

year

*Semi-Arid-Hot dry summer, cool dry winter

Climate Zones: Tropical

• Tropical Wet and Dry– Hot all year, rainy/dry

seasons

• Tropical Wet– Hot and rainy all year

Climate Zones: Special

• Highlands– Varies with altitude

Review

• The lower the latitude the ____ the climates

• Air that passes over a desert will spread _____ and ______ air.

• If a place is far from water ____________.

• The higher the elevation the ____ the air.

• Moutains often block _____.

LACEMOPS REVIEW• 1. Most important influence

on climate• 2. Type of precipitation

that occurs above the equator where hot air rises

• 3. Mountains often block ______ leaving one side of a mountain a desert

• 4. The position of the ____ causes earth’s seasons, climates, and day/night.

• 5. Explains why climates in the center of a continent have more extreme changes in temperatures.

• A. Continentality• B. Precipitation• C. Sun• D. Latitude• E. Convectional

Climate and Ecosystems

Ecosystem: Interaction of plant, animal life, and the physical environment.Biomes: Major types of ecosystems in various regions of the world.

Climate: Average of temperatures and precipitation over a long period of time.

Climate

• Forests– Tropical Rainforest

• Occur where wet and hot (Tropics)• Broadleaf Evergreens (Keep Leaves All Year)• Most diverse animals and plants

– Mid-Latitude• Seasonal climates (Middle Latitudes)• Deciduous (Shed Their Leaves)

– Coniferous• Occur in cold climates (Polar)• Needle Leaves and Cones to Protect Seeds

• Grasslands (Center of Continents)– Tropical

• Warm lands near equator• Have wet and dry seasons

– Temperate• Occur in middle latitudes• Precipitation Varies

• Deserts• Arid (Dry)• Specialized plants and animals

• Tundra• Temperatures are always cool or cold• Small flowers, few plants, moss, lichen• Least diverse wildlife on earth