Solar, Weather and Ocean Solar, Weather and Ocean SystemsSystems

88thth grade grade

• ClimateClimate – refers to the average year-after-year – refers to the average year-after-year conditions of temp., precipitation, winds, and cloudsconditions of temp., precipitation, winds, and clouds

• WindwardWindward – side of the oncoming wind hits – side of the oncoming wind hits• LeewardLeeward – downward side of mountains – downward side of mountains• Tropical zoneTropical zone – area near the equator – area near the equator• Polar zonePolar zone – area near both poles – area near both poles• Temperate zoneTemperate zone – area between tropical and polar – area between tropical and polar

zoneszones• Marine climatesMarine climates – climate of some coastal regions – climate of some coastal regions

with with fairly warm winters and cool summersfairly warm winters and cool summers• Continental climatesContinental climates – climate of the centers of – climate of the centers of

continents with cold winters and warm or hot continents with cold winters and warm or hot summerssummers

Climate vs. WeatherClimate vs. Weather

Weather is the day to day condition of the area at a certain place and time.Climate is the year-after-year events in a particular area.

The amount of snow and rain an area receives determines how dry orwet its climate is for that

particular region.

The main factors that affect precipitation are prevailing winds and mountains.Prevailing winds –

winds move lg. air massesair masses may be warm or cool, dry or

humidwarm air carries more water than coolair rising cools off water comes out cool air falling usually dryamount of moisture in air depends on where

it came from

Precipitation

Precipitation continued

Mountain ranges influence precipitationhumid air from ocean hit windward

side of mountain and rain or snow fallswhen air reaches leeward side

water all gone so air is cool and dry, considered to be in

a rain shadow

TemperatureTemperature

Factors that affect temperature:•Latitude•Altitude•distance from lg. bodies of water•ocean currents

LatitudeLatitudeCold climate 66.5o – 90.5oN/S

Warm/hot summers, cool/cold winter – 23.5o/66.5oN/S

Has direct sun, nearly direct sun year round, climate warm

AltitudeAltitude

Temperature decreases as altitude rises

Highland areas all over have cool climate no matter the latitude

Oceans/lg. lakes affect temperatureWater heats up more slowly, cools down more slowlyWinds from ocean keep coastal regions from extreme hot, coldWest coasts of N. America, S. America, Europe have mild marine climate (warm winter, cool

summer)Center of continents too far from ocean to be affected – have continental climate

(get extreme temp. – winter cold, summer warm, hot)

Marine climates influenced by ocean currentsWarm ocean currents carry warm water from tropics to polesCold currents from poles bring cold water toward

equatorSurface water warms/cools air above it, which then moves over nearby land and warms or cools temp. to land it touchesBest known current is Gulf Stream, gives Ireland and southern England a mild, wet climate

Changes in currents and winds greatly affect climateMost famous is El Nino – is an abnormal climate event that occurs

every 2 – 7 years in Pacific OceanCauses lg. sheet of warm water to move eastward toward S. AmericaConditions may last 2 yrs. Before normal winds, currents return

Smaller areas affected by inland mountains, lakes, forests, other natural featuresSaid to have own microclimate

Lab - Microclimate Lab - Microclimate TemperatureTemperatureQuestion: How does the temperature differ at Question: How does the temperature differ at

different heights on different surfaces?different heights on different surfaces?Hypothesis:Hypothesis:Materials:Materials: meter stickmeter stick 3 thermometers3 thermometers

tapetape timerstimersProcedure:Procedure:1.Tape a thermometer to the meter stick at 0cm, 1.Tape a thermometer to the meter stick at 0cm,

50cm, and at 100cm.50cm, and at 100cm.2. You will be going outside to the grass field, the 2. You will be going outside to the grass field, the

parking lot, a rocky area and the concrete parking lot, a rocky area and the concrete sidewalk outside B building.sidewalk outside B building.

Lab - Microclimate Lab - Microclimate Temperature cont.Temperature cont.

3. At each location hold the meter stick with the thermometers perpendicular to the ground for 1 minute to allow the thermometers to stabilize. Then take a reading and record the temperature in the Data Table.

4 After the temperature at all locations has been taken return to the room and untape the thermometers from the meter stick. Place all material on the lab table.

Data Table

temp 0 cm 50 cm 100 cm

grass

concrete

rock

asphalt

Results:

Conclusion:1.Graph the results putting all surfaces in

one graph. Use a different color for each surface.

temp 0 cm 50 cm 100 cm

grass      

concrete      

rock      

asphalt      

Lab - Microclimate Temperature cont.

2. On which surface and at which height was it the hottest? the coolest?

3. On which surface was there the biggest change?

4. Based on your graph how does altitude effect the temperature?

Does the surface make a difference?