Factors That Affect Factors That Affect ClimateClimate

Atmosphere:Atmosphere:

• The layer of gases The layer of gases that surround the that surround the Earth and form a Earth and form a protective layer protective layer against the sun’s against the sun’s radiation.radiation.

Weather ClimateWeather Climate

• The condition of The condition of the the atmosphereatmosphere in in a specific place at a specific place at a specific time.a specific time.

• The average The average conditions of the conditions of the atmosphere over a atmosphere over a period of time, period of time, over a large region. over a large region. (ex. hot, cold, wet, (ex. hot, cold, wet, dry, windy, etc.)dry, windy, etc.)

Factors That Affect Climate Factors That Affect Climate ChangeChange

1.1. Earth and Sun FactorsEarth and Sun Factors

2.2. Atmospheric FactorsAtmospheric Factors

3.3. Hydrospheric FactorsHydrospheric Factors

4.4. Movement of ContinentsMovement of Continents

5.5. Human FactorsHuman Factors

Earth and Sun FactorsEarth and Sun Factors

1. Solar Activity:1. Solar Activity:

• Single most important Single most important factor.factor.

• The amount of solar The amount of solar energy that reaches energy that reaches earth varies with solar earth varies with solar activity. activity.

• When the number of When the number of sun spots is high, the sun spots is high, the sun emits more sun emits more radiation. radiation.

Earth and Sun FactorsEarth and Sun Factors

2. Movement of Earth2. Movement of Earth

• Eccentricity – earth’s Eccentricity – earth’s orbit around the sun orbit around the sun fluctuates from fluctuates from circular to oval. circular to oval.

• The closer the orbit, The closer the orbit, the more solar the more solar radiation reaches the radiation reaches the earth.earth.

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Earth and Sun FactorsEarth and Sun Factors

• Tilt – Earth rotates on Tilt – Earth rotates on an angle that varies an angle that varies from approx. 22from approx. 22oo to 24 to 24oo. . The greater the tilt the The greater the tilt the greater the greater the temperature temperature differences b/w the differences b/w the seasons.seasons.

• Precession (wobble) – Precession (wobble) – because earth is not a because earth is not a perfect sphere, it perfect sphere, it wobbles slightly as it wobbles slightly as it rotatesrotates

Earth and Sun FactorsEarth and Sun Factors

3. Latitude3. Latitude

• Sun’s rays hit the Sun’s rays hit the earth more directly earth more directly at the equator than at the equator than at higher latitudes.at higher latitudes.

• At higher latitudes At higher latitudes the rays are more the rays are more dispersed resulting dispersed resulting in less radiation. in less radiation.

Atmospheric FactorsAtmospheric Factors

1.1. The Greenhouse EffectThe Greenhouse Effect

• The atmosphere absorbs energy radiated The atmosphere absorbs energy radiated by the sun and the earth.by the sun and the earth.

• This helps to moderate earth’s This helps to moderate earth’s temperature. temperature.

Atmospheric FactorsAtmospheric Factors

2. Winds2. Winds

• The movement of air The movement of air from an area of high from an area of high pressure to low pressure.pressure to low pressure.

• This movement transfers This movement transfers thermal energy around thermal energy around the world.the world.

• Winds rotate clockwise in Winds rotate clockwise in the north and counter the north and counter clockwise in the south.clockwise in the south.

Atmospheric FactorsAtmospheric Factors

Ocean Currents:Ocean Currents:

• Winds move ocean Winds move ocean currents.currents.

• Energy is transferred Energy is transferred from air to water and from air to water and is distributed around is distributed around the globe. the globe.

• The air currents are The air currents are called called prevailing prevailing windswinds..

Hydrospheric FactorsHydrospheric Factors

HydrosphereHydrosphere: all the water in its different : all the water in its different

forms found on earth.forms found on earth.

• Oceans & lakes act as heat reservoirs.Oceans & lakes act as heat reservoirs.

• Can hold much more heat than air Can hold much more heat than air because water has a higher because water has a higher specific heat specific heat capacitycapacity

• Defined as the amount of heat required to Defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temp of 1 g. of a substance 1 raise the temp of 1 g. of a substance 1 degree C.degree C.

Hydrospheric FactorsHydrospheric Factors

Albedo Effect:Albedo Effect:

• The fraction of solar The fraction of solar energy reflected by a energy reflected by a surface.surface.

• Depends largely on Depends largely on colour of the surface.colour of the surface.

• Light colours reflect Light colours reflect more energy and more energy and therefore have a therefore have a higher albedo.higher albedo.

Movement of ContinentsMovement of Continents

Tectonic Plates:Tectonic Plates:

• 12 major plates make 12 major plates make up outer layer of up outer layer of earth’s crust.earth’s crust.

• Constantly moving by Constantly moving by tiny amounts each tiny amounts each year.year.

• Affects transfer of Affects transfer of energy b/w land and energy b/w land and water.water.

Movement of ContinentsMovement of Continents

Volcanic Activity:Volcanic Activity:• Spew gases, ash Spew gases, ash

and particles called and particles called aerosols into the aerosols into the atmosphere.atmosphere.

• This particulate This particulate matter reflects matter reflects solar radiation and solar radiation and has a cooling effect has a cooling effect on global climate.on global climate.

Human FactorsHuman Factors

““Anthropogenic” – Anthropogenic” – caused by humans.caused by humans.

• Burning of fossil fuels Burning of fossil fuels since the Industrial since the Industrial Revolution (1700’s).Revolution (1700’s).

• When burned release When burned release gases and pollutants gases and pollutants into the atmosphere into the atmosphere contributing to the contributing to the greenhouse effect.greenhouse effect.