Download Atmosphere & Climate - Liberty Union High School District

Climate
How is climate different from weather?
Weather changes every day & every moment
It is simply what is happening in the atmosphere at a
particular moment & place
Climate is the average temperature and precipitation
(weather) in an area over a long period of time.
Climate
Climate Factors
What factors determine climate?
1. Latitude (distance from Equator)
2. Atmospheric Circulation
3. Ocean Circulation
4. Local Geography (mountains, valleys, lakes, etc.)
Climate Factors
1. Latitude (distance from Equator)
When we studied about “biomes” in the first
quarter, you may have noticed that rainforests,
deserts and frozen forests occur at specific
latitudes around the Earth. This is largely due to
the amount of sunlight they receive and how
much humidity is in the air (including
precipitation).
Climate Factors
2. Atmospheric Circulation
– Convection:
hot air ________
Sinks
Rises / cold air ________
- Coriolis Effect:
- Rotation of the earth causes curving
patterns in wind and ocean currents.
Climate Factors
3. Ocean Circulation
– Surface Currents
– Deep Ocean Currents
Deep Ocean Currents
Deep Ocean Currents
Climate Factors
4. Local Geography
• Generally, being close to water
increases humidity in the air and
chances for precipitation
• Depending on the direction of the wind,
mountains thrust clouds to higher
altitudes, causing them to drop moisture
on the windward side, resulting in a dry
“rain shadow” on the downwind side.
Climate Change
Climate Change
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/
terc/navigation/chapter21.cfm
http://cleanet.org/cln/climateliteracy.html
http://gcce.larc.nasa.gov/