Factors that Affect Climate

Global wind circulation

Global patterns of air movement are initiated by unequal heating of the Earth- Produces Convection Currents

Unequal Heating of Earth

As the Sun's energy passes through the atmosphere and strikes land and water, it warms the surface of Earth. But this warming does not occur evenly across the planet. The % of incoming sunlight that is reflected from a surface is called its albedo. – The variation in angle at which

the Sun's rays strike – The amount of surface area

over which the Sun's rays are distributed

– Some areas of Earth reflect more solar energy than others. (Albedos)

As Earth rotates, this causes a deflection of objects that are moving directly north or south. Coriolis Effect- the deflection of an object's path due to Earth's rotation.

The prevailing winds of the world are produced by a combination of atmospheric convection currents and the Coriolis Effect. Prevailing winds regulate climate.

Global ocean currents Global ocean currents are mainly a result of global wind patterns and also show deflection due to the Coriolis Effect. The circular pattern of major ocean currents are called gyres. Gyres that cross latitudes, bring in warm or cold water into their new surroundings, and affect climate in that region.

The Earth's axis of rotation is tilted 23.5 ˚. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, and vice versa. There are changes in Earths movement over long periods of time- orbit around the sun and tilt on its axis Milankovitch Cycles

Topography, Mountains, and The Rain Shadow Effect

• When air moving inland from the ocean that contains a large amount of water vapor meets the windward side of a mountain range (the side facing the wind), it rises and begins to experience adiabatic cooling.

• Because water vapor condenses as air cools, clouds form and precipitation falls. • The presence of the mountain range causes large amounts of precipitin to fall on its

windward side. • The cold, dry air then travels to the other side of the mountain range (the leeward side),

where it descends and experiences higher pressures, which cause adiabatic heating. • This air is now war and dry and process arid conditions on the leeward side forming the

region called a rain shadow. Proximity to large bodies of water

• Water has a high specific heat capacity. • The specific heat of a substance is the heat needed to change the temperature of one

gram of the substance by one degree Celsius. • Some substances (ex. air) change temperature with the addition of very little energy,

while others, like water, need greater amounts of energy to change. • So, the specific heat capacity of water helps regulate climate in coastal regions. • Coastal regions have narrower ranges in temperature compared to inland areas.

Earth’s tilt responsible for our seasons & the system shifts N/S with orbital position, pressure bands at 0, 30, 60, & 90 with winds in between cause wet/dry conditions, prevailing winds generate ocean gyres & air flow over mountains that can cause condensation & precipitation, and proximity to large bodies of water regulates climate of coastal areas. Increases in elevation shows similar climate changes as see from the equator to the poles.

Leeward side

Windward side