The Factors the Affect Climate: L.A.C.E.M.O.P.S

.

L = Latitude Distance from the equator is one of the most

important factors in determining climate.

LOW

MIDDLE

HIGH

MIDDLE

HIGH

High: Polar climates.

One Season: COLD

Middle: Temperate Climates

4 Seasons: Winter, Summer, Spring, Fall

Low: Tropical Climates

2 Seasons: Rainy, Dry

Zones of Latitude

Climate A Climate B

Study the two climographs below.

• Can you pick out the one that depicts a tropical climate? How do you know?

• Bonus Question: Is it a tropical wet or a tropical wet and dry climate? How do you know?

A is for Air Masses

Air Masses• Northern hemisphere = • cold air from the polar

regions comes from the north

• hot air from the tropics comes from the south.

• Southern hemisphere = • cold air from the polar

region comes from the south

• hot air from the tropics comes from the north.

Why is the direction that cold air comes from flip flopped in the

Northern and Southern Hemispheres?

C is for Continentality

ContinentalityThe effect of a location on a continent

• Why is there so little difference between summer and winter along the coast of California?

It takes the ocean a long time to heat & cool!

Wind blowing off of water moderates coastal areas.

• What is the difference between summer

& winter in Kansas? BIG difference in seasons in Kansas…why?

Land heats & cools quickly!!

• Close to large body of water = smaller difference in temperature

• Farther away from water = greater difference in temperature.

Continentality: How Does It Affect Climate?

Remember: continentality is the effect of location on a continent on the climate of a place. Inland locations

typically have larger temperature ranges and (possibly) drier conditions than maritime locations.

Compare these two locations. Which one has a more varied climate? How can you

tell?

E is for Elevation

ELEVATION• The higher you go, the colder it gets. • As you go up in elevation, the air gets thinner

and does not trap heat.

Remember: elevation affects climate and climate affects the type of vegetation.

Elevation

M is for Mountain Barriers

MOUNTAIN BARRIERS

• Winds blow across the ocean & push moisture inland.

• Moisture cloud reaches the mountains, gets “popped” by the mountain top & rains on the coastal side

• By the time this cloud reaches the other side of the mountains, the air is dry.

What very dry state do you find East of the Sierra Nevada Mts??

Video

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK2q8mTszr4

Mountain Barriers: Rain Shadow

O is for Ocean Currents

Ocean Currents• Cold currents create dry conditions on the

coast. • Warm currents create wet conditions on the

coast.

P is for Pressure and Prevailing Winds

High Pressure =H Heavy, cool air, brings clear skies and no rain.

Low Pressure =L Light, warm air, usually brings precipitation

Pressure

Earth’s winds would blow in straight lines, but since the earth rotates they are turned at an angle.

In the northern hemisphere, they turn to the right.

In the southern hemisphere they turn to the left.

This bending of the wind is called the Coriolis Effect.

Wind and the Coriolis Effect

S is for Storms

Storms• Storms occur where ….• polar winds meet westerlies• when hot & cold air masses collide

Tropical Storm

Cat. 5 Hurricane

TornadoCyclone

Storm Tracks

• L atitude• A ir Masses• C ontinentality• E levation• M ountain Barriers• O cean Currents• P ressure & Prevailing Winds

• S torms

This acronym was .introduced by: Dr. James Petersen – Texas State University – San Marcos, TX, 1990.