Download Factors That Affect Climate

Factors That Affect Climate
Latitude: Temperature
Temperature decreases
as latitude increases.
Why? Higher latitudes
receive less direct
sunlight.
Latitude: Precipitation
Precipitation is high at the equator
and 60 degrees north and south.
Precipitation is low at 30 degrees
north and south and at the poles.
Why? Global winds carry moisture
either away from or towards this
band of latitude.
Nearness to the center of a
large landmass (continent):
Temperature
Temperature changes more as
nearness to the center of large
landmasses increases.
Why? Land heats up, and cools
down, faster than water.
Nearness to large bodies of
water: Temperature
Temperature doesn’t change as
much with nearness to large
bodies of water.
Why? Water heats up, and cools
down, slower than land.
Nearness to large bodies of
water: Precipitation
Precipitation increases closer to
large bodies of water.
Why? Clouds carrying moisture
from over large bodies of water,
so areas near large bodies of
water receive more precipitation.
Elevation
Temperature decreases as
elevation increases.
Why? The thinner atmosphere at
higher elevations holds less heat
from the sun than the thicker
atmosphere at lower elevations.
Mountain Ranges
Windward sides of mountains
receive more precipitation than
leeward sides of mountains.
Why? Clouds release most of
their moisture as they rise and
cool on the windward sides of
mountains.
http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/tlw3/eBridge/Chp29/animations/ch29/rain_shadow_formation.swf
Ocean Currents
Warm ocean currents cause
higher temperatures and cold
ocean currents cause lower
temperatures.
Why? The air gains heat from
warm ocean currents, and the air
loses heat to colder ocean
currents.