Notepack 41 Aim: What factors determine the climate of a certain area? Do Now: What is the difference between weather and climate?
WEATHER VS. CLIMATE Weather atmospheric conditions at a certain location and time. (Changes daily) Climate is the overall, yearly averages of temperature and precipitation of an area or region.
WEATHER OR CLIMATE? Its raining in Brooklyn today. The Caribbean Islands have hot rainy summers. It will snow tomorrow. It is cold and dry in Antarctica.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT AFFECT CLIMATE? Latitude solar radiation (angle of isolation) Prevailing winds ocean currents Nearness to bodies of water Mountain ranges (altitude) Lake Effect snow
Factor 1 that affects climate -LATITUDE Low latitudes receive more sunlight than latitudes closer to the poles causing certain areas to heat up more than others. This will shift during the year due to the Earth s tilt. (The Seasons) But will overall be constant. cooler warmer
Factor 2 that affects climate - Prevailing Winds Prevailing winds are currents of air that constantly move in a particular pattern. These currents are the results of convection current created as the result of different temperatures at different latitudes. Pole = COLD Equator = HOT Air at the equator is hot so it rise. As it rises, it begins to cool. When the air cools it sinks. As it moves down it begins to heat up again.
LATITUDE: PREVALING WIND PATTERNS Rain forest and ice caps are found Deserts are found Air goes from high to low pressure. Winds are curved due to Earth s rotation (coriolis)
Why do winds curve (coriolis force)?
Wind are named by where they come from. Prevailing Westerlies- typical west wind at this latitude. Trade winds- prevailing wind from east below Florida s latitude (Named for the trade routes sailors used to trade with the Caribbean islands) Jet stream- high altitude, high speeds winds river of air Where jet airliner fly.
LATITUDE: PREVALING WIND PATTERNS
Factor 3 that affects climate OCEAN CURRENTS Like air, water can move using convection currents. Water is most dense at 4 C. (COLD) so is sinks. Warm water is less dense so it rise. This sinking and rising causes the great ocean currents.
This side has a cool climate This side has a warm climate
Factor 4 that affects climate NEAR OCEAN or LAND Water has a high specific heat it doesn t change its temperature easily. The closer you are to water, the less the temperature changes throughout the year. If you live very far inland you will have colder winters and warmer summers. Example: Go to the beach on a hot day in June, how does the water feel? Go to the beach on a cool day in October, how does the water feel?
MONSOON A monsoon is a large-scale sea breeze in Asia. Remember a maritime air mass holds a lot of water. Cold air above the sea has a high pressure. Warm air over land in Asia has a low pressure. A monsoon forms because the air moves over land, bringing extreme rain and wind.
MONSOON
Factor 5 that affects climate ELEVATION (HOW HIGH LAND IS) AND MOUNTAIN RANGES: Orographic (mountain) effect: Moist air on Windward side of the mountain is forced to rise. When air rises it cools to make clouds which leads to precipitation. On the leeward side (other side) of the mountain, the air is now dry and descends (moves) down the mountain. This air is now dry and warms up. There is no rain on the leeward side of a mountain. Land one 1 side of the mountain gets a lot of rain while the other side of the mountain get very little rain.
OROGRAPHIC (MOUNTAIN)EFFECT
Factor 6 that affects climate LAKE EFFECT SNOW When cold wind passes over a lake, it will pick up some moisture from the lake. Once the air gets to the other side of the lake it starts to snow. Only the downwind side of a lake will have snow.
Factor 7 that affects climate VEGETATION: Plant life affects climate. Plants take in CO 2, which helps cool down the atmosphere. Plants also give off water through transpiration making the air wet. RAINY The dark color of the plants helps absorb heat, thereby keeping the area warm.
CLIMATE CHANGE: Climate change refers to any change in global temperatures and precipitation over time. This change is due to both natural variability and human activity. Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of Earth's near-surface air and oceans due to the burning of fossil fuels which increases the amount of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere. This affect is upsetting many ecosystems around the world.
DESERTIFICATION: Desertification is the extreme deterioration of land in arid and dry sub-humid areas due to loss of vegetation and soil moisture. Desertification also occurs as sand dunes from the dessert blow onto fertile areas causing these areas to become uninhabitable.
DEFORESTATION: Deforestation is the clearance of naturally occurring forests by logging and burning.
GREENHOUSE EFFECT: Certain scientists say that human activities such as fuel burning are causing an overall increase in the average global temperature. This is called the Greenhouse Effect.