What is Climate?. Climate is… the long-term characteristic weather of a region. Determined by...
Transcript of What is Climate?. Climate is… the long-term characteristic weather of a region. Determined by...
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What is What is Climate?Climate?
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Climate is…Climate is…
• the long-term characteristic weather of a region.
• Determined by averaging the weather over a long period of time – Temperature - Precipitation– Air pressure - Humidity
– Days of sunshine
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Factors that Affect Factors that Affect ClimateClimate
LatitudeTopographyProximity to
WaterLarge Cities
Evergreen, CO Climograph
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Precipitation (in.)
Köppen climate = BSk
Dry, Steppe, Average annual temperature is less than 18 ° C
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LatitudeLatitude
• Different areas on the Earth receive different amount of solar radiation due to the Earth’s tilt.– Equatorial
latitudes receive the most radiation
– Polar latitudes receive the least
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Latitude (cont’d.)Latitude (cont’d.)• Reason for the Seasons
– Dec-Feb: N-hemisphere points away from sun
– Jun-Aug: N-hemisphere points towards sun
• Equator always gets more direct and intense solar radiation
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Latitude (cont’d.)Latitude (cont’d.)
• Global wind patterns (aka Hadley cells)– Air is heated over the
equator more than at the poles.
– Differential heating causes the warm, low density air to rise
– Air sinks at 30° and 90° latitude.
– Colors indicate air temperatures
– Large arrows indicate wind direction
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Latitude Climate ZonesLatitude Climate Zones• Tropics
– between 23.5N & 23.5S – hot temperatures, humid– Trade Winds: blow from east to west, toward the equator
• Polar Zones– from 90° to 66.5N & S latitudes – cold temperatures and dry– Polar Easterlies: blow from east to west, away from the poles
• Temperate Zones– between the tropics & polar zones– moderate temperatures– Can be humid or dry– Westerlies: blow from west to east
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TopographyTopography
• Within each climate zone, topographic features affect the climate.
• Structure of the Atmosphere– Increase in altitude
--> colder, dryer; fewer molecules to absorb solar radiation
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Topography: Orographic EffectTopography: Orographic Effect
• Windward Side of Mountains– air rises, cools, and
forms precipitation• Leeward Side of
Mountains– air descends, heats
up, and dries out the land
– rain-shadow deserts
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Large Bodies of WaterLarge Bodies of Water• Higher moisture
availability• Temperatures are
more moderate• Coastal areas are
warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer
Average Monthly Temperature
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Dodge City, KS San Francisco, CA
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Large Bodies of Water Large Bodies of Water (cont’d)(cont’d)
• Sea Breezes– Air moves from
cool to warm• Daytime: from sea
to land• Nightime: from land
to sea
– Effect of moderating area’s temperature and raises the humidity
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Large Bodies of Water Large Bodies of Water (cont’d)(cont’d)
• Ocean Currents– Cold currents
cool air– Warm currents
warm air
• Air temperatures over land are directly effected by temperature of ocean current
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Large CitiesLarge Cities• Summer temperatures
can be 5C warmer.• Streets, parking lots,
and buildings absorb solar radiation.
• Absorbed solar radiation is then re-radiated back into the atmosphere as heat.
• Pollution traps heat.
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What causes climates to What causes climates to change?change?
• Climate Forcing – Processes that force changes in the
atmosphere
• Climate Feedback – Indirect, secondary change in response to a
forcing mechanism
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Climate Forcing MechanismsClimate Forcing Mechanisms• Greenhouse gases• Aerosols• Albedo• Incoming solar radiation
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Volcanic EruptionsVolcanic Eruptions
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Climate FeedbacksClimate Feedbacks
• An interaction mechanism between processes – initial process triggers changes in a second
process that in turn influences the initial one.
• A positive feedback intensifies the original process (generally, bad).
• A negative feedback reduces it (good).
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Climate Climate FeedbacksFeedbacks
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The Problem with Positive The Problem with Positive FeedbacksFeedbacks
• Runaway Trains
• Amplification and increasing rates of change
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• http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/climate-feedbacks-the-connectivity-of-the-positive-ice-snow-albedo-feedback-terrestrial-snow-and-vegetation-feedbacks-and-the-negative-cloud-radiation-feedback
• http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/glossary.html#ClimateFeedback
• http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/gases.html• http://www.ossfoundation.us/projects/environment/
global-warming/feedbacks