Download Weather and Climate - Central Middle School

Weather and Climate
Ms. Twardowski
8 Green
Central Middle School
Weather vs. Climate
(write these definitions)

Weather: is the daily
condition of the
atmosphere at a
specific time and
place. (What is
happening outside
RIGHT NOW?)

Climate: is the
AVERAGE weather in
a specific location
over TIME (at least 10
years).
So…
Green = Yes/True
Red = No/False
One day, in Dover, DE, in 2013, the high
temperature on January 31st was 65F.
This is a much warmer temperature.
 This is an example of a CLIMATE change.

So…
Green = Yes/True
Red = No/False
Over the past 12 years, the average
temperature in July, in Dover, DE, has
increased by 2 degrees F.
 This is an example of a CLIMATE change.

Things that are included in climate:
Temperature
 Precipitation
 Number of days of sunshine
 Air Pressure
 Humidity

Things that influence climate:
(Write these down)
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Latitude
Proximity (nearness) to water
Proximity to land - inland
Elevation - altitude
Nearness to mountains
Ocean Currents
Living in an urban area (city)
El Nino and La Nina
Prevailing Wind Directions
Latitude

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Latitude is a measure of
degrees north and south of the
equator.
The equator is 0 degrees
latitude.
Regions closer to the equator
receive more solar radiation.
The Sun shines overhead in
the “tropics” – for a great
portion of the year.
In the arctic zones, the Sun
shines at an angle – spreading
a little bit of light over a very
large area.
The United States is in the
“mid-latitude” region.
Elevation/Altitude (going UP in the
atmosphere)
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Temperature decreases at
higher elevations
Windward: is the side of
the mountain that the
wind is blowing towards
(air rises, cools,
condenses and drops
precipitation).
Leeward: side where air
falls, heats up, and dries
the land.
Nearness to water/land

Near water (Coastal):
wetter climate, but
more stable (doesn’t
change much).
 Inland: weather
extremes/unstable
(hot in summer, cold
in winter, severe
storms, etc.)
Large Cities/Urban (Concrete
Jungle)

Parking lots, buildings
and streets absorb
large amounts of
heat. Pollution can
trap this heat and
cause higher
temperatures than
the surrounding rural
areas.
So…
Green = Yes/True
Red = No/False

Coastal areas (near water) have a more
stable climate.
So…
Green = Yes/True
Red = No/False

Inland areas have a climate with more
weather and temperature extremes (really
hot and really cold, severe storms, etc.)
El Nino/La Nina
El Nino: periodic
warming in sea
temperatures across
the central and east
equatorial Pacific.
Occurs every 3-5
years. Affects GLOBAL
weather patterns.
 La Nina: the cooling
phase of El Nino.

Wind & Ocean Currents
Jet Stream: wind
currents move Heat
Energy around the
globe.
 Gulf Stream: ocean
currents (water) move
Heat Energy around
the world, too.
 *creates different air
masses.*

Winds

The world’s winds
move heat energy
around the globe.
Summarize: Ocean Currents
Looking at this picture, why is England warmer
than other countries at its same latitude?