Longitude & Latitude

The Earth’s Grid

What do you know?

Geographic GridImaginary lines on the globe to help identify

locations.Latitude

&Longitude

LatitudeImaginary lines that run parallel to the

equator

90* in North Latitude

90* in South Latitude

Equator – central latitude line

LongitudeImaginary lines that run from pole to pole

Meridians

Prime Meridian

0* Longitude

Longitude and Latitude

LatitudeI'm climbing the Ladder of Latitudes, latitudes, latitudes.

I'm climbing the ladder of latitudes, all around the world.

LongitudeIt's a LONG LONG way from pole to pole, pole to pole, pole to pole.

It's a LONG LONG way from pole to pole, so we call those LONGITUDES.

Significant LinesLatitude

Tropic of Cancer – 30* N

Equator – 0*

Tropic of Capricorn – 30*S

Longitude

Prime Meridian – 0*

Map What You’ve Learned

LatitudeLongitudeEquator

Prime MeridianTropic of Cancer

Tropic of CapricornNorth PoleSouth Pole

Climate Investigatio

n

1. What are the 3 general zones of latitude? Map (shade) and label the zones.

2. Write a description of each zone’s climate.

3. What factors can affect a climate zone?

4. What zone is affected by seasons? How are they affected?

Use your textbook and Atlas to answer the

following questions.

Complete the written answers on the back

and map all components on the

front.

Climate Zones

The three major climate zones on the Earth are the polar, temperate, and tropical zones. Temperatures in these three climate zones are determined by angle of sun’s rays and are marked by latitudes into zones.

Climate ZonesTropic Zone

The tropical zones, which extend from 30 degrees north and south latitude to the equator (0 degrees) have high temperatures and high humidity. Precipitation in the tropical zones is usually very heavy during part of the year. Tropical zones are also known as low latitude climates.

Tropical climates have the warmest average yearly temperatures. There is no winter in tropical climates. In a tropical climate, the average temperature during the coldest month of the year does not fall below 18 degrees C.

In each hemisphere, the temperate zone is found between 60 and 30 degrees latitude. In the areas of the temperate zones farther from the equator, snow is common in the winter. In the areas of the temperate zones closer to the equator, rain normally falls all year round. But the average amount of precipitation is about the same throughout the temperate zones. Average temperatures in the temperate zones vary greatly. They range from about 5 C to more than 20 C. These temperatures fall between those of the polar and the tropical zones.

Climate ZonesTemperate Zones

Polar ZonesIn each hemisphere, the polar zone extends from the pole (90) to about 60 degrees latitude. Polar climates have the coldest average temperatures. Within the polar zones, the average yearly temperature remains below freezing (below O degrees C). Polar climates have no summer. Even during the warmest months of the year, the average temperature does not rise above 10 degrees C. There is little precipitation in the polar zones.

Climate ZonesPolar Zone

Climate Dolls

Identify the location for your doll. Where is she/he from?

Dress your doll appropriately for the climate zone and season.

Add an object to the hand that would represent the climate zone and region.

Attach an index card to the doll’s feet with the following information:

Location (Name & Coordinates)

Typical weather

Description of appropriate dress

Tools that may be utilized to adapt to weather conditions

Choose one of the following coordinate

locations and complete the tasks to create

your own paper doll.

60*N in January

10*N in February

35*N in July

40*S in August

Wrap-up QuestionExplain how the lines of latitude impact

the climate.