Things That Influence Climate Latitude The closer to the equator, the warmer the climate (if everything else is the same) North or south does not matter Latitude The warmest parts of the earth are located in the Tropics Between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn Latitude The next warmest climate is found in the Sub- tropics Examples: Florida, California, Australia Elevation The higher the elevation, the colder the climate The air is thinner (fewer particles) so it cant hold heat as well Ocean Currents Example: Gulf Stream Moves warm water from Gulf of Mexico up the East Coast and across the Atlantic Ocean Currents Gulf Stream changes to N. Atlantic Current in the mid-Atlantic Gulf Stream meets Labrador Current off our coast to produce fog You are here Ocean Currents Ocean currents move warm and cold water all over the earth Proximity to LARGE Bodies of Water Large bodies of water (ex. oceans) moderate climate They are slow to cool down in the fall and slow to warm up in the spring Proximity to LARGE Bodies of Water Thats why the coasts of North America are less likely to have a white Christmas Farther from oceans = colder December Air Masses Tropical air masses are warm Polar air masses are cold Arctic air masses are even colder Air Masses Continental air masses are dry Maritime air masses are moist Air Masses We tend to get: o Maritime polar air masses (blizzards) o Continental polar air masses (cold, dry air) o Maritime tropical air masses (tropical storms) Jet Stream River of air High up in atmosphere Moves from west to east Most of our weather arrives from the west Jet Stream To the north of the Jet Stream is cold air To the south of the Jet Stream is warm air Jet Stream The Jet Stream can change from day to day or hour to hour Jet Stream The top Jet Stream is typical in summer The bottom Jet Stream is typical in winter Summing Up The things that influence climate are: Latitude Altitude Ocean currents Proximity to water Air Masses Jet Stream CAL-JAB C urrents A ltitude L atitude J et Stream A ir masses B odies of water