Lesson 5 Factors affecting Temperature and Precipitation

Transcription

1 Lessn 5 Factrs affecting Temperature and Precipitatin The temperature f an area can be affected by 3 main factrs 1. Latitude (has the biggest influence) 2. Nearness t Large bdies f Water 3. Elevatin 1. Hw Latitude affects Temperature Latitude affects temperature due t tw main factrs a. Angle f Inclinatin b. Angle f Incidence a. Angle f Inclinatin: seasns_interactive.html Define angle f inclinatin. The degree by which Earth s ples are tilted frm the perpendicular f the plane f its rbit Angle that the earth is tilted n its axis Earth has an angle f inclinatin f Earth rbits the Sun nce per year. Why d the Nrth and Suth Hemispheres receive different amunts f inslatin at the same time f year? During May Sept. the N. Hemisphere is angled mre t the sun During May Sept. the S. Hemisphere is angled away frm the sun This is ppsite frm Oct. March Define Slstice. When des the slstice ccur? One f the tw pints in Earths rbit when the ples are the mst tilted tward r away frm the sun Summer slstice June lngest day f year (N.Hemisphere) Winter Slstice Dec shrtest day f year (N. Hemisphere) Define equinx. When des the equinx ccur? Pint in earth's rbit when number f daylight hurs equals night time hurs Occurs n March and Sept Hw des the angle f inclinatin f the earth affect the temperature f a lcatin? 1

2 b. Angle f Incidence: pg Define angle f incidence. Angle between a ray falling n a surface and the line f the perpendicular t that surface. The angle f incidence at the equatr is 0 (degrees). The angle f incidence as yu mve away frm the equatr gets larger. Hw des the amunt f inslatin an area receives change as the angle f incidence gets larger? As angle f incidence gets larger, amunt f inslatin becmes less. Plar areas receive less slar energy per square kilmeter than areas at r near the equatr. Use this t explain why temperatures further nrth r suth f the equatr are always less than the equatr. If less slar energy falls n an area this means the air and grund will absrb less energy and it will be cler as a result 2

3 2. Hw large bdies f water affect temperature? Water has a high specific heat capacity This means it can absrb a large amunt f energy withut underging very much f a temperature change This allws water t stre and release energy When a lcatin has a large water bdy near it; during mnths f high inslatin the water bdy absrbs large amunts f slar energy, preventing that slar energy frm warming the air arund it during mnths f lw inslatin, the water bdy releases the stred energy and warms the air arund it 3. Hw des elevatin affect temperature? AU As yu increase in elevatin (altitude), the temperature f the air decreases 3

4 Factrs that affect Precipitatin Humidity is the amunt f water vapr in the air. This is prduced by the evapratin f water frm ceans, lakes, rivers, wetlands and plants. When water vapr in the air cls, it cndenses. In ther wrds, it becmes liquid and frms little drps. These drplets frm cluds. When the drplets are small, they remain suspended in the atmsphere. But they ften becme clder and their size and weight increases When they becme t heavy t remain suspended in the air, they fall t the Earth s surface. We call this precipitatin, which may be rain, snw r hail. Tw main factrs affect hw much misture an area receives: 1. Lcatin relative t muntain ranges There are 2 sides f a muntain windward side side the prevailing wind hits first Prevailing wind winds that blw predminantly frm a single general directin leeward side side sheltered frm the wind (ppsite f windward) Muntain ranges frces air t rise and cl Cl air hld less misture than warm air Therefre when the air rises, it drps it misture in the frm f rain r snw 2. Lcatin relative t large bdies f water Large bdies f water lse lts f water int the air when evapratin ccurs This water vapr then mves inland Therefre, areas clse t a large bdy f water will get mre rain/snw than areas far frm a large bdy f water 4

5 Practice Questins 1. Using yur knwledge gained in this lessn answer the fllwing questins using the diagram t the right. Supprt yur answers a. Which city prbably has the same type f weather year rund? Why? Use an atlas t find a similar city in Canada. b. What factr wuld cause lcatin F t have a clder yearly climate than any ther lcatin? c. What 3 factrs wuld cause lcatin E t have the greatest annual rainfall? d. Which lcatin, C r D, wuld yu expect t have the greater annual rainfall? e. Which lcatin, A r B, wuld yu expect t have the greater range in temperature during the year? Explain f. On June 21st, which city wuld have the clest temperature? Explain g. On Canada Day, which city wuld experience the biggest range in temperature between day and night? Explain 5

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