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What Causes Climate?. Section 9.1. Standards. Science 6.4 a Students know the sun is the major source of energy for Earth’s surface. Science 6.4 e Students know differences in pressure, heat, air movement and humidity results in a change in weather. . Language of the Discipline. Climate
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What Causes Climate? Section 9.1
Standards • Science 6.4 a Students know the sun is the major source of energy for Earth’s surface. • Science 6.4 e Students know differences in pressure, heat, air movement and humidity results in a change in weather.
Language of the Discipline • Climate • Tropical zone • Temperate zone • Marine climate • Continental climate • Ocean current • Leeward • Monsoon • Windward • Polar zone • Microclimate
Anticipatory Set • Let’s review the World Temperature Zones map we drew last week. • What zone occurs between 66.5* N and 23.5* N? • What zone is located at each of the poles? • What zone does Mexico and most of Africa live in?
Input/ Climate • Scientists used 2 factors for climate • Temperature and precipitation • These factors affect larger climate regions as well as smaller ones. • A small area of climate is different from those around it my have its own microclimate.
Factors Affecting Temperature • Latitude- • Longitude • Altitude- high mountains have an effect on climate • Distance from large bodies of water – Oceans or lakes • Ocean currents
Zones • Land by the equator is warmer because the suns rays hits Earth surface more directly. Farther away from the equator- the suns ray is spread out over a larger area and less warmth. • Tropical Zone – receives direct or nearly direct sunlight all year round. Look at your maps you drew. The green zone would be our examples of Tropical zones.
Zones • Polar zones- suns rays strike at a lower angle and they now have a cooler climate. Look at our maps we drew, the polar zones are located at the top and bottoms of our maps. • Temperate zones- in the summer the suns rays strike these zones more directly. Winter- they strike at a lower angle. Look at our maps, these zones can be identified by looking at the orange areas.
Bodies of Water • Marine Climates- mild winters and cool summers • Example: West coast of North America • Continental Climates- extreme temperatures than marine climates. Winters are cold and summers are warm/hot. • Example: Canada and Russia
Ocean Currents • Streams of water within the oceans that move in regular patterns. • May flow on the surface or deep below • Currents can move heat from the tropics towards the poles. This produces warm air. Cold currents bring cold water and produces cold air.
Factors Affecting Precipitation • Prevailing winds- weather patterns depend on the movement of huge air masses. They can be warm or cold. Water vapor in the clouds determine precipitation. Water from near oceans/lakes carry more precipitation.
Precipitation Factors • Presences of mountains (Sierra Nevada mountains) • Windward- side of the mountain that the wind hits first. • Leeward- side of the mountain that is in a rain shadow (hardly rains) (Death Valley) • Warm air blows in from the ocean and is pushed up by the mountains. As the air rises it cools and water vapor condenses. Precipitation is then released.
Seasonal Winds • Monsoons- sea and land breezes over a large region that change the direction with the seasons. • The air that blows is very warm and humid. It rises over the land and cools. Clouds are formed and creates heavy rains. • Thailand and India – receive little rain in winter • “Land Breeze” blows steadily from the land to the ocean.
Seasons • Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall • Tilted Axis- seasons are cased because of this axis as Earth travels around the sun. • An imaginary line that passes between both poles. Earth is tilted to a 23.5* angle. • When it is winter here, it is summer in Australia. When it is summer here, it is winter is Australia.
Modeling • Let’s answer questions that relate to our text to help create logical notes. • 1. How does temperature vary in Earth’s temperature zones? • 2. List 3 things that affect precipitation • 3. How might Earth’s climate be different if Earth were not tilted on its axis?
Checking for Understanding • List one continent that is in the polar zone • In June, what season is it in the Southern Hemisphere? • What is a monsoon?
Guided PracticeIndependent Practice • Worksheet • Guided Practice # 1-3 • Stop! Have your paper checked! • Independent Practice # 4-10