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Explore how temperature, precipitation, winds, and clouds shape climates. Learn about the impact of latitude, altitude, distance from water bodies, ocean currents, prevailing winds, mountain ranges, and seasonal winds on climate patterns.
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Chapter 4 Section 1 What Causes Climate
OBJECTIVE: Identify factors used to define climates and differentiate between climate regions. • Climate: The average, year-after-year conditions of • Temperature, precipitation, winds and clouds in an area. • Two main factors determine the climate of a region: • Temperature and precipitation • TEMPERATURE-The main factors that influence temperature • are: A. LATITUDE-Effects the amount of sun to the Earth B. ALTITUDE-Temperature decreases about 6* for every km you Go up through the Troposphere. C. Distance from large bodies of water – Oceans keep land Temperature moderate because they heat up slowly and cool Down slowly.
D. OCEAN CURRENTS: Warm ocean currents make land nearby warmer. Cool ocean currents make land nearby cooler. 4. PRECIPITATION: Factors that effect precipitation are: • PREVAILING WIND: Moves air masses which cause • precipitation. • MOUNTAIN RANGES: Rain and snow falls on the • windward side of a mountain. The land on the leeward side of • a mountain (down wind) is in the rain shadow. • SEASONAL WINDS: A seasonal change in wind patterns • can affect precipitation. • *Monsoons: Sea and Land breezes over a large region that • change direction with the season.
Micro climates: The same factors that affect large climate • Regions affect smaller areas. A small area with specific climate • Conditions- • *Park *Parking Lot or Drive way *Lawn • *Windy Peninsula in the ocean • The seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth’s axis as Earth • Travels around the sun.