Download III. Climate Regions

III. Climate Regions
• A. The Sun
– 1. Earth’s climate is linked directly to the Sun.
• a) Tropics more sun.
• b) Poles less sun.
• c) Movement of air and water helps distribute the
Sun’s energy.
• B. Winds
– 1. Air in the tropics moves north and south
toward the poles of the Earth.
• a) Colder air moves to the equator which form wind.
III. Climate Regions
• b) These patterns of wind are called prevailing winds.
– 2. Because the Earth rotates, winds curve across
the Earth’s surface.
• a) Winds from east to west are trade winds.
• b) Westerlies from west to east between 60° and the
tropics.
• C. Storms
– 1. When moist, warm air rises suddenly and
meets dry, cold air, major storms can develop.
• a) Summer thunderstorms and winter blizzards.
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• b) Hurricanes (E. Pacific & W. Atlantic) and typhoons
(W. Pacific).
• D. Ocean Currents
– 1. The steadily flowing streams of water in the
world’s seas are called currents.
• a) Currents that carry warm water to higher latitudes
can effect the climates in those latitudes. (Gulf Stream)
• E. El Niño and La Niña
– 1. Sometimes unusual weather patterns can
occur.
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• a) In one of these events, weakened winds allow
warmer waters to reach South America’s coast.
• b) This change altars weather and beyond.
• c) These conditions are known as El Niño.
• d) La Niña causes unusually cool waters and low
rainfall for the Eastern Pacific.
• F. Landforms and Local Winds
– 1. Some landforms cause local winds, or wind
patterns that are typical only in small areas.
• a) Day = cool sea breeze blows into land.
• b) Night = cool sea breeze blows out to sea.
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• c) Local winds also occur near tall mountains.
• G. Mountain, Temperature, and Rainfall
– 1. The slopes of a mountain can heat more
quickly than nearby land.
• a) Air is thin at the peaks resulting in colder
temperatures.
– 2. Mountains have an effect on rainfall called a
rain shadow that blocks rain from reaching
interior regions. (Andes and Himalayas)
• a) Mountains facing wind = windward
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• b) Mountains not facing wind = leeward.
• H. Climate Zones
– 1. Climate zones are areas of similar temperature
and precipitation patterns.
– 2. Biomes ex: rain forest, desert, grasslands,
tundra, etc.
• I. Major Climates
– 1. Scientists have identified 5 major climate
zones.
• a) Tropical, dry, mid altitude, high altitude, highland.
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• J. Urban Climates
– 1. Urban cities show significant climate
differences from surrounding areas in their
climate zone.
• a) Urban climates are marked by higher temperatures
and other differences.
• b) Paved streets and stone buildings soak up and then
release more of the sun’s energy than areas covered by
plants.