What causes Climate ?

1. What causes Climate ? Text Book page # 470 - 477

2. Weather:Thecondition of Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place. Climate:Theaverage, year after year, conditions of temperature, precipitation, winds and clouds in an area. Microclimates: Climate conditions within a small area that differ from those in the surrounding area. Examples: parks, cities, areas near lakes or ponds, gardens, etc.

3. Two main factors that causes Climate - • Temperature (cold or warm climate) • Precipitation (dry or humid climate)

4. Factors Affecting Temperature • Latitude • Altitude • Distance From Large Bodies of Water • Ocean Currents

5. Latitude • Latitude: The distance in degrees north or south of the equator. • Based on latitude Earth’s surface can be divided into 3 Temperature Zones • Tropical Zones: warm climates • Temperate Zones: ranging temperatures • Polar Zones: cold climates

6. Temperature Zones of Earth Polar Zone Polar Zone

7. Temperature Zones of Earth

8. Altitude • Altitude: elevation above sea level • High land areas have cooler climates For example: Mt. Kilimanjaro, in East Africa is covered with snow all year round although it is near equator (3 degrees south latitude. • Higher altitudes = cooler temperatures • Lower altitudes = warmer temperatures

9. Distance From Large Bodies of Water • Marine Climates: warmer winters and cooler summers • Where? Much of the west coast of North America, South America, and Europe. • Continental Climates: colder winters and warmer summers (extreme temperatures) • Where? Most of Canada and Russia, Central United States.

10. Ocean Currents • Ocean Currents- Streams of water within the oceans that move in regular patterns. • Oceans and lakes can affect temperatures / climate • 3 examples: Gulf Stream (warm water currents), North Atlantic Drift (brings milder and humid air to Ireland and Southern England) , California Current (cool water current)

11. Major Ocean Surface Currents

12. Factors Affecting Precipitation • Prevailing Winds • Presence of Mountain Ranges • Seasonal Winds

13. Prevailing Winds • movement of air masses caused by directional winds in a region • The amount of water vapor in an air mass influences how much rain or snow will fall • The amount of water vapor in the prevailing wind depends on where the wind comes from

14. Mountain Ranges • Air forced up the mountain cools, condenses, and creates clouds • Falls as precipitation on windward side (The side of the mountain that faces the wind). • Leeward side (the side of the mountain range that faces away from the oncoming wind) of mountain has drier conditions.

15. Seasonal Winds • Similar to sea or land breezes, but occurs over wider area. • Monsoons are type of seasonal winds. • Monsoons: Sea or land breeze over a large region that changes direction with the seasons. • Thailand and part of India get most of the rain from the summer monsoons. • The winter monsoons winds brings very little rain to same regions.