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Climate. Weather Climate. Conditions in the atmosphere of one place over a short period of time. Weather patterns that an area experiences over a long period of time. Weather v Climate. Factors Affecting Climates. L atitude A ir Masses C ontinentality E levation M ountain Barriers
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Weather Climate Conditions in the atmosphere of one place over a short period of time. Weather patterns that an area experiences over a long period of time. Weather v Climate
Factors Affecting Climates • Latitude • Air Masses • Continentality • Elevation • Mountain Barriers • Ocean Currents • Pressure Cells • Storms
Latitude • Most important control on climate • Lower Latitude = Higher Temperature • Middle Latitude = Seasonal Temperature • Higher Latitude = Lower Temperature
Air Masses • Air takes on the characteristics of the land or water it passes over. • Southern Europe = Mediterranean Climate • Hot and Dry in the Summer (due to Sahara) • Cool and Wet In Winter (due to Northern Europe) • Sahara Desert = Hot Air • Himalayas = Cold Air
Continentality • Distance from water • The farther away from water the greater change between winter and summer. • Land does not hold heat as well as water. • For example, two cities at same latitude • San Francisco • Jan. 57/ Jul. 69 • Kansas City • Jan. 22/ Jul. 89
Elevation • The higher the elevation the colder and drier the air is. • Air gets thin as it rises. • Cannot continue to hold heat or moisture.
Mountain Barriers • Mountains block precipitation. • Windward: Side that air blows on that gets rain. • Leeward: Side without rain. • Example: Texas Panhandle is dry because Rocky Mountains block rain.
Ocean Currents • Water of the oceans distribute heat. • Warm air from equator heads to poles, cold water from poles head to equator • Example: Marine West Coast Climate • Western Europe is much warmer (and wetter) than places of similar latitude because of warmer ocean currents. • Waters on the east coasts tend to be warm. • Waters on the west coasts tend to be cool.
Pressure Cells • Lower Pressure Cells = Rising Warm Air • Higher Pressure Cells = Falling Cool Air • 0-30°= Low Pressure • 30-60°= High Pressure • 60-90°= Low Pressure
Storm Systems • Changes data but not long term patterns. • For example, hurricanes bring rain but not all year and not every year.
*Ice Cap Very Cold All Year *Tundra Cold with little vegetation Climate Zones: Polar *Subarctic -Cold snowy winters, cool rainy summers
Humid Continental Warm rainy summers, snowy winters Humid Subtropical Hot rainy summers, mild winters Climate Zones: Temperate • Marine West Coast • Warm summers, cool winters, always wet
*Mediterranean Warm dry summers, cool short winters *Arid Hot and dry all year Climate Zones: Temperate to Arid *Semi-Arid -Hot dry summer, cool dry winter
Tropical Wet and Dry Hot all year, rainy/dry seasons Climate Zones: Tropical • Tropical Wet • Hot and rainy all year
Climate Zones: Special • Highlands • Varies with altitude
Review • The lower the latitude the ____ the climates • Air that passes over a desert will spread _____ and ______ air. • If a place is far from water ____________. • The higher the elevation the ____ the air. • Moutains often block _____.
1. Most important influence on climate 2. Type of precipitation that occurs above the equator where hot air rises 3. Mountains often block ______ leaving one side of a mountain a desert 4. The position of the ____ causes earth’s seasons, climates, and day/night. 5. Explains why climates in the center of a continent have more extreme changes in temperatures. A. Continentality B. Precipitation C. Sun D. Latitude E. Convectional LACEMOPS REVIEW
Climate and Ecosystems Climate: Average of temperatures and precipitation over a long period of time. Ecosystem: Interaction of plant, animal life, and the physical environment. Biomes: Major types of ecosystems in various regions of the world.
Forests • Tropical Rainforest • Occur where wet and hot (Tropics) • Broadleaf Evergreens (Keep Leaves All Year) • Most diverse animals and plants • Mid-Latitude • Seasonal climates (Middle Latitudes) • Deciduous (Shed Their Leaves) • Coniferous • Occur in cold climates (Polar) • Needle Leaves and Cones to Protect Seeds • Grasslands (Center of Continents) • Tropical • Warm lands near equator • Have wet and dry seasons • Temperate • Occur in middle latitudes • Precipitation Varies • Deserts • Arid (Dry) • Specialized plants and animals • Tundra • Temperatures are always cool or cold • Small flowers, few plants, moss, lichen • Least diverse wildlife on earth