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Name Date Weather and Climate Topic Class/Subject Chapter 4, Section 1 (pg 108-115) What Causes Climate? Define climate. Climate is the average, year-after-year conditions of temperature, precipitation, winds, and clouds in an area. Define microclimate. Microclimate is a small area with climate conditions that differ from those around it. Name 2 main factors used Factors used to describe climate: to describe climate. 1. precipitation 2. temperature Name the 4 main factors that influence temperature. Factors that influence temperature: 1. latitude 2. altitude 3. distance from large bodies of water 4. ocean currents How does latitude influence temperature? Climates of locations near the equator are warmer than climates of areas far from the equator. Describe the 3 temperate zones. Temperate zones: 1. tropical zone = found between 23.5° N and 23.5° S, and is warm year round 2. polar zones = found from 66.5° to 90° N and 66.5 ° to 90° S, and is cold year round 3. temperate zones = found from 23.5° to 66.5° N an d 23.5° to 66.5° S, and ranges from warm or hot in summer to c ool or cold in winter How does altitude influence temperature? • • In the troposphere, temperature decreases approximately 6.5°C for every 1km increase in altitude. Cool climates result. How does the distance from large bodies of water influence temperature? • • • Oceans make temperatures of nearby land less extreme. Marine climates (coastlines) have relatively mild winters and cool summers. Continental climates (inland) have cold winters and warm or hot summers. How do ocean currents influence temperature? • • Name the 3 factors that affect precipitation. Factors that affect precipitation: 1. prevailing winds 2. mountain ranges 3. seasonal winds How do prevailing winds affect precipitation? Prevailing winds, the directional winds that usually blow in a region, move air masses from place to place. The amount of water vapor in the air mass influences how much rain or snow will fall. How do mountain ranges affect precipitation? Warm, moist air blows in from the ocean and is pushed up by the mountains. As the air rises, it cools and water vapor condenses. Moisture in the air is released as precipitation on the windward side (the side the wind hits). The land on the leeward side (downwind) is in a rain shadow and little precipitation falls there. How do seasonal winds affect precipitation? Seasonal winds are similar to land and sea breezes, but occur over a wider area. Monsoons are sea and land breezes over large regions that change direction with the seasons. What causes the seasons? The seasons are caused by the tilt of Earth’s axis as Earth travels around the sun. Warm currents from the tropics to the poles bring warm air. Cold currents from polar zones to the equator bring cool air. What is the effect of the tilted axis? Summary The main factors that influence temperature are latitude, altitude, distance from large bodies of water, and ocean currents. The main factors that influence precipitation are prevailing winds, the presence of mountains, and seasonal winds. The seasons are caused by the tilt Earth’s axis as Earth travels around the sun.