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Weather and Climate. Weather and Climate. Weather = condition of the atmosphere at a particular time and place Climate = average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time Two main factors that affect climate Temperature Precipitation. Weather and Climate.
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Weather and Climate • Weather = condition of the atmosphere at a particular time and place • Climate = average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time • Two main factors that affect climate • Temperature • Precipitation
Weather and Climate • These affected by… • Latitude = position north or south of the equator, represented by east west lines on a globe • 0˚ latitude = equator • 90˚ N = North Pole…90˚ S = South Pole
Weather and Climate • Increase latitude; decrease temperature • Less direct sunlight • Seasons (w,sp,su,f) affected by the tilt of the earth which causes more/less direct sunlight
Weather and Climate • Ocean Currents • Warm currents…warm air • Cold currents…cool air
Weather and Climate • Prevailing Winds = wind that blows in one direction • From land = dry air • From water = moist air
Weather and Climate • Colder region = cool/dry • Warmer region = warm/moist • Air masses take on characteristics of what it is located over
Weather and Climate • Geography • Increase elevation; decrease temperature • Decrease elevation; increase temperature
Weather and Climate • Mountains • windward side = wet • Air rises, cools, condenses and rains • leeward side = dry…no moisture…deserts • air sinks, warms up, absorbs moisture
Weather and Climate • Three Major Climate Zones • Arctic Circle…66.5˚ N • Tropic of Cancer…23.5˚ N • Equator…0˚ • Tropic of Capricorn…23.5˚ S • Antarctic Circle…66.5˚ S
Weather and Climate • Tropical Zone • A. Tropical Rain Forest • 200 cm+ of rain • 70’s & 80’s temperature • Monkeys, lemurs, parrots, snakes, tigers, leopards
Weather and Climate • Tropical Savannah • 100 cm of rainfall • 80’s & 90’s temperature • Grasses, small trees, giraffes, lichens, hyenas, elephants
Weather and Climate • Tropical Deserts • 0-25 cm of rainfall • 60’s to 120’s temperature • Cacti, lizards, snakes, scorpions, kangaroo rats
Weather and Climate • Temperate Zone • A. Temperate forests • B. Temperate grasslands • C. Chaparrals • D. Temperate deserts
Weather and Climate • Polar Zone • A. Tundra • Permafrost = permanently frozen soil • Birds migrate in summer • Caribou, reindeer, rabbits, fox, birds
Weather and Climate • Taiga • “spruce-moose” biome • Conifers (evergreen), rabbits, moose, elk, wolves, bears