Climate

1. Climate

2. Climate • Climate is the pattern of weather that occurs in an area over many years. • Determines: • Types of plants • Animals that can survive • How people live

3. Water • Water heats up[and cools down more slowly than land • Large bodies of water influence the land that is nearby by absorbing and giving off heat. • Meaning: • Warmer Winters • Cooler Summers • All together a MODERATE climate

4. Ocean Currents • Ocean currents affect coastal climates • Warm water from the equator flows north, warming the regions they pass • When the currents cool and flow back towards the equator they cool the air and climates of nearby land.

5. Mountains • At the same LATITUDE, the climate is colder in the mountains than at sea level. • The high altitude in the mountains makes the air have fewer molecules to absorb heat

6. Rain Shadows • On the windward side of a mountain range, air rises, cools, then drops moisture. • On the leeward side of a mountain range air descends, heats, and dries the land. • Deserts are common on the leeward side of a mountain Draw a Rain Shadow

7. Heat Island • Large cities affect local climates • Streets parking lots and buildings heat up- warming the air • Air pollution traps all of the excess heat • Cities can be up to 5 degrees warmer than surrounding rural areas

8. Wind • Wind moves from areas of HIGH pressure to areas of LOW pressure. • Generally, the warmer the air is the lower the air pressure is.

9. Sea Breeze • A sea breeze is created during the day because radiation warms the land more than the water (warm air= lower pressure) • Cooler denser air over the water has higher pressure and flows toward the warmer less dense air Draw a Sea Breeze

10. Land Breeze • At night when land cools more rapidly while the water maintains it’s temperature a land breeze forms • Air over the land becomes cooler than air over the ocean • Cooler denser air above the land moves over the water. Draw a Land Breeze