CLIMATE

What is Climate?

Climate - the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general over a long period

Climate Zones Tundra

Desert

Rain Forest

Deciduous Forest

Climate BrainPOP

Factors Affecting Climate

Temperature Factors

Rainfall Factors

2. Mountains - Orographic Precipitation2. Mountains - Orographic Precipitation

1. Latitude• Average Yearly Temperature• Yearly Temperature Range

2. Altitude3. Ocean Currents4. Marine Vs. Continental

1. Latitude1. Latitude

Latitude - Average Yearly Temperature

0° 90 °

Latitude

Avg. Yearly Temp.

• The area that receives the most direct rays of the Sun (equator, 0°) will have the highest yearly temperatures.

• The area that receives the least direct rays of the sun (poles, 90°) will have the lowest yearly temperatures.

• As latitude increases, average yearly temperatures decreases

Latitude - Yearly Temperature Range

Tem

pera

ture

JFMAMJJASOND

Month

Low Latitudes

High Latitudes

Mid Latitudes

• Equatorial areas receive the direct rays of the Sun for most of the year. Therefore, the yearly temperature does not change much.

Latitude - Yearly Temperature Range

0° 90 °

Latitude

• As latitude increases, yearly temperature range increases

Altitude - Average Yearly Temperature Range

Low average yearly temperature range

High average yearly temperature range

• Altitude - the height of an object above sea level.

Altitude - Average Yearly Temperature

Altitude

• As altitude increases, average yearly temperature decreases

Ocean Currents

Animation

• Ocean currents move warm water from the equator towards the poles.• Ocean currents move cold water from the poles back to the equator to be heated again. (pg. _4_ of ESRT)

Ocean Currents

Marine vs. Continental • Sea or land locations affects temperature ranges. Since land gains and loses heat much more quickly than water, land areas tend to have warmer summers and cooler winters. Coastal areas near the ocean have cooler summers and milder/warmer winters.• Coastal areas have marine climates with a small yearly temperature range and areas inland have continental climates with a larger yearly temperature range

Marine Vs. Continental

Interactive Climate Map Interactive Climate Map

This graph shows the average monthly temperatures for two cities, A and B, which are both located at 41ºN latitude.

Why is there a difference in the average yearly temperature range for the two cities?

• Because City A is located inland (continental) and City B is located near water (marine)

Rainfall Factors - Latitude

Animation

• Uneven heating of the Earth produces global wind & pressure belts. These belts determine the wetness or dryness of an area.

• Low Pressure - rising air creates precipitation

• High Pressure - sinking air creates a lack of precipitation

Latitude Continued

What latitudes are areas of low pressure? What is the climate like there?

What latitudes are areas of high pressure? What is the climate like there?

0°, 60°N, 60°SHigh rainfall

30°N, 30°S, 90°N, 90°S

Low rainfall

Orographic Precipitation

rises1. Rises2. Expands

3. Cools 5. Precipitation

4.Condenses

8. Warms

7. Compresses

6. Sinks

Humid/Moist Arid/Dry

Warm air

WindwardWINDWARD LEEWARD

Windward Vs. Leeward• Rainfall occurs on the windward side of the mountain where the air is rising.

• Cool & Wet• It is dry on the leeward side of the mountain where the air is sinking.

• Warm & Dry

Orographic Precipitation Video

El Nino

Animation

• A warming of the surface water of the eastern and central Pacific Ocean, occurring every 4 to 12 years and causing unusual global weather patterns.

• El Nino brings heavy rain to western South American and drought to eastern Australia and Indonesia.

El Nino Video

Lake Effect Snow

• The air moving over the water needs to be cooler than the water.

• The surface of the lake can’t be frozen

Lake Effect Snow

• Water begins evaporating off of the surface of the lake into the air.

• Fetch - distance over open water

• The greater distance the wind blows over the warm water, the greater the convection /evaporation.

Lake Effect Snow

Warm air over water begins to

RISE

EXPAND

COOL

CONDENSES

CLOUD FORMATION

Lake Effect Snow In some localities,

wind blowing from a lake onshore is forced to climb up hills creating the orographic effect

Lake Effect Snow Video

Areas Affected by Lake Effect