J. Nguyen – Physical Science

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Chapter 25 Notes Points Earned

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Copy Notes: pictures + color + label 20

Questions: 20 questions + arrows 10

Summary: 2 paragraph(s) 10

Drawings: 2 drawing(s) 4

TOTAL 46

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J. Nguyen – Physical Science

Chapter 25 Standards

6a. Students know weather (in the short run) and climate (in the long run) involve the transfer of energy into and out of the atmosphere.

6b. Students know the effects on climate of latitude, elevation, topography, and proximity to large bodies of water and cold or warm ocean currents.

5e. Students know rain forests and deserts on Earth are distributed in bands at specific latitudes.

J. Nguyen – Physical Science

J. Nguyen – Physical Science

J. Nguyen – Physical Science

A. Weather vs. Climate

1. Weather are conditions such as temperature, humidity, wind and precipitation that vary within a day and from day to day (short term or short run).

a. Involves transfer of energy into and out of the atmosphere (latent heat).

2. Climate is weather conditions that are averaged over a long period of time (long term or long run).

a. Involves transfer of energy into and out of the atmosphere (latent heat).

b. Described by mainly using average temperature and average precipitation.

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B. Temperature and Precipitation1. Temperature is measured

daily.a. To describe climate,

scientists use the yearly temperature range which is the difference between the highest and lowest monthly temperature averages.

2. Precipitation is any form of water that falls to Earth’s surface from clouds (rain, snow, sleet and hail).a. To describe climate,

scientists use the monthly and yearly averages as well as the range.

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C. There are five factors that affect climate.

1. Latitude

2. Ocean Currents

3. Topography

4. Elevation

5. Proximity to Large Bodies of Water

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D. Climate and Latitude1. Latitude is the measurable distance from the

equator.2. The further away from the warm equator, the

climate gets colder and colder.3. Latitude determines the amount of solar energy

received by a region.4. The amount of solar energy that a location

receives depends on two factors: a. the angle at which the rays of the sun strike

the earth b. the number of hours of daylight the location

receives (the longer the sun shines in an area, the warmer it will be!)

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J. Nguyen – Physical Science

5. The Earth’s tilt also affects the amount of solar energy that a location receives.

a. The earth is tilted on its axis at a 23.5 °

angle so different latitudes on earth

receive different amounts of solar energy.

i. At the equator, the sun’s rays always strike the earth at nearly 90° for much of the year.

ii. At the temperate zones, the sun’s rays strike at about 60°.

iii. At the polar zones, sun’s rays strike at about 30°.

b. These different angles results in uneven heating of the earth.

c. It also results in the four seasons.

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POLAR ZONE

POLAR ZONE

TROPICS

TEMPERATE ZONE

TEMPERATE ZONE

0° Equator

23.5°

23.5°

66.5°

66.5°

Tropic of

Cancer

Tropic of

Capricorn

HOT

WARM

COLD

(Color and label the picture.)

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6. Solar energy determines the wind patterns of an area.

a. This affects climate because winds can move solar energy from one place to another so temperature can either increase or decrease.

b. Winds also affect the amount of precipitation an area gets.

c. Winds can carry water vapor away from the oceans cause that water vapor to fall as precipitation somewhere far away from oceans.

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E. Climate and Ocean Currents

1. The water in the ocean moves in giant, horizontal streams called currents.

2. Surface currents can carry warm or cool water to different locations.

3. The surface temperature of the currents affects the temperature of the air above it and as a result, the climate.

a. Warm currents heat the surrounding air and cause warmer air temperatures.

b. Cool currents absorb energy from the surrounding air and cause cooler temperatures.

J. Nguyen – Physical Science

J. Nguyen – Physical Science

F. Climate and Topography

1. Climate can vary due to topography

which are features on the surface of

the land such as mountains and valleys.2. Rain shadow is an effect caused by a mountain.

a. When an air mass comes across a mountain range, the air mass rises, cools, and loses most of its moisture in the form of precipitation.

i. This is the windward side of a mountain and the climate on this side is usually wet and cool.

b. When that air mass flows down or sinks on the other side, it has already lost its moisture.

i. This is the leeward side of a mountain and the climate on this side is usually dry and warm.

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Windward Side(Wet)

Leeward Side(Dry)

As air rises, it cools and releases moisture

As air sinks, it compresses and warms

(Climate is wet and cool.)

(Climate is dry and warm.)

(Color and label the picture.)

J. Nguyen – Physical Science

G. Climate and Elevation1. Temperatures generally decrease with increasing

elevation.

2. The higher up a mountain you go, the cooler the temperature.

3. Even along the equator, the peaks of high mountains can be cold enough to be covered with snow.

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H. Climate and Proximity to Large Bodies of Water1. Proximity means how close you are to something so

being close to large bodies of water can influence an area’s climate due to the high specific heat nature of water.

a. Specific heat is the amount of energy needed to change the temperature of 1 g of a substance (land or water) by 1ºC.

b. A given mass of water requires more heat than does the same mass of land to increase both their temperatures to the same degrees which is why water has a higher specific heat.

2. Land and water both absorb and release heat at different rates.

a. Land heats up and cools down quickly. It also increases to a higher temperature than water.

b. Water heats up and cools down slowly.

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3. Many coastal regions are warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer than inland areas of similar latitude.

a. During the summer, land heats more quickly than the ocean does, thus wind moves towards the land (high pressure to low pressure).

b. During the winter, the land loses heat more quickly than the ocean and the cool air flows away from the land, thus the wind moves seaward.

c. In other words, the closer you are to a large body of water, the temperature ranges are smaller (regulated) than land.

J. Nguyen – Physical Science

Write 10 questions for this section.

Highlight key words and phrases.

Draw a picture.

J. Nguyen – Physical Science

Summary (one paragraph) – Page 4

Weather is ______________________________

whereas climate is ________________________.

Precipitation is _______________________. The

five factors that affect climate are ____________,

____________, ____________, ____________,

and ____________. Rain shadow is __________

________________________________.

J. Nguyen – Physical Science

J. Nguyen – Physical Science

A. Climate Zones1. Each zone has distinct temperature

characteristics with several types of climates due to amount of precipitation in each zone.

2. Earth has three major climate zones:

a. Tropical Climate Zone

b. Middle-Latitude (Temperate) Climate Zone

c. Polar (Arctic) Climate Zone

(Color and label the picture.)

J. Nguyen – Physical Science

B. Tropical Climate Zone1. Tropical climates are characterized by high

temperatures and located at the equatorial region.

2. Three types of tropical climates:a. Tropical rain-forest climate

i. 5°N & S – 10°N & S latitudeii. Warm, humid regions covered with dense,

rain-forest vegetation.iii. Warm and moist air rises to produce an annual

rainfall that is usually greater than 250 cm.iv. South America, Central America, and

Southeast Asia have tropical rain forest climates

J. Nguyen – Physical Science

b. Savanna climate

i. 10°N & S – 20°N & S latitude

ii. Very wet summers and very dry winters with open areas of coarse grasses that grow in clumps.

iii. Occurs in areas located between the tropical rain forest climate and the tropical desert climate.

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c. Tropical desert climate

i. 20°N & S – 30°N & S latitude

ii. Warm, dry weather conditions with very little or no vegetation.

iii. The Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn (the limit to which the sun advances on the summer and winter solstices) both fall within this zone and includes some of Earth’s driest deserts.

J. Nguyen – Physical Science

C. Middle-Latitude (Temperate) Climate Zone1. Middle-latitude climates are characterized by

temperatures that are no warmer than 18°C in the warmest month and no cooler than 10°C (50°F) in the coldest month.

2. Five types of middle-latitude climates:a. Marine west coast climates

i. Cool, moist polar air.ii. Relatively cool in the summer and relatively mild in

the winter.iii. Coasts of Oregon, Washington, and N. Cal receive

a great deal of moisture.

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b. Steppe climates

i. Dry climates.

ii. Little precipitation, cold winter season, and summer season that ranges from warm to very hot.

iii. Much of land in western US other than the coasts and the mountains.

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c. Humid continental climate

i. Has both cold, dry continental polar air masses and warm, moist tropical air masses.

ii. Summers are warm and humid and winters are cold.

iii. East Coast in North America and Asia

d. Humid subtropical climate

i. Warm, humid weather, heavy rains, and occasional hurricanes.

ii. Southeastern regions of continents

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e. Mediterranean climate

i. Dry summers and wet winters. Climate is like that of the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

ii. Regions along central and southern California coast.

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D. Polar Climate Zone

1. Polar Climates are characterized by an average monthly temperature no higher than 10°C.

2. Three types of polar climates.

a. Subarctic climate

i. Dry continental polar air masses control this climate.

ii. Yearly precipitation is only 25 cm to 50 cm.

iii. Winters are severe, summers are short.

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b. Tundra climate

i. This climate is named for the vegetation common to the region, the tundra.

ii. Tundra has no trees, but the ground is covered with mosses, lichens, and small flowering plants.

iii. About 25 cm of precipitation each year, most in the form of snow.

iv. Very cold, very dry air.

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c. Polar icecaps

i. Land surface and ocean are covered in thick sheets of ice year round.

ii. The average temperature never rises above freezing.

J. Nguyen – Physical Science

E. Local Climates (Microclimates)1. Sometimes the climate of a small area can be

much different from that of the larger area surrounding it.

2. A localized climate that differs from the main regional climate is called a microclimate.

3. Influenced by:

a. density of vegetation

b. elevation

c. proximity to large bodies of water

J. Nguyen – Physical Science

Write 10 questions for this section.

You should have a total of 20 questions.

Highlight key words and phrases.

Draw a picture.

J. Nguyen – Physical Science

Summary (one paragraph) – Page 6

The three major climate zones are ____________,

____________, and ____________. Tropical

climate zones are characterized by ____________

_________________________. Middle-latitude

climate zones are characterized by ____________

_________________________. Polar climate

zones are characterized by ___________________

_________________________. A microclimate is

_________________________.

J. Nguyen – Physical Science

Notes Points

Chapter 25 Notes Points Earned

Points Possible

Highlight Key Words/Phrases 2

Copy Notes: pictures + color + label 20

Questions: 20 questions + arrows 10

Summary: 2 paragraph(s) 10

Drawings: 2 drawing(s) 4

TOTAL 46

Name _____________________________________ Period ________