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Chapter 4 Section 1
What Causes Climate
OBJECTIVE: Identify factors used to define climates and
differentiate between climate regions.
1. Climate: The average, year-after-year conditions of
Temperature, precipitation, winds and clouds in an area.
2. Two main factors determine the climate of a region:
Temperature and precipitation
3. TEMPERATURE-The main factors that influence temperature
are:
A. LATITUDE-Effects the amount of sun to the Earth
B. ALTITUDE-Temperature decreases about 6* for every km you
Go up through the Troposphere.
C. Distance from large bodies of water – Oceans keep land
Temperature moderate because they heat up slowly and cool
Down slowly.
D. OCEAN CURRENTS: Warm ocean currents make land nearby
warmer. Cool ocean currents make land nearby cooler.
4. PRECIPITATION: Factors that effect precipitation are:
A. PREVAILING WIND: Moves air masses which cause
precipitation.
B. MOUNTAIN RANGES: Rain and snow falls on the
windward side of a mountain. The land on the leeward side of
a mountain (down wind) is in the rain shadow.
C. SEASONAL WINDS: A seasonal change in wind patterns
can affect precipitation.
*Monsoons: Sea and Land breezes over a large region that
change direction with the season.
5.Micro climates: The same factors that affect large climate
Regions affect smaller areas. A small area with specific climate
Conditions*Park *Parking Lot or Drive way *Lawn
*Windy Peninsula in the ocean
6. The seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth’s axis as Earth
Travels around the sun.