Download What is the climate? There are three major climate zones on Earth.

Name:___________________________________Class:___________
________ Date:_________________
What is the climate?
´__________is a pattern of weather in a certain area over a
LONG period of time.
´To determine the climate of an area, scientists study the
range of __________________
´Scientists study the average amount of
______________________
2. The next one is the _____________zone.
´ This zone lies near the _______________ It stretches
from the Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees North Latitude)
to the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 degrees South Latitude).
~There are tropical wet regions
(_______________________)
´They also study _____________
~HOT/Humid
´Scientists study humidity: the amount of water vapor in the
air.
~Very little temperature ________________.
´Lastly, they study air pressure.
´There are also _________and semi-arid regions (arid=dry)
There are three major climate zones on Earth.
1. The first one is the _____________ zone. There are
actually two areas with temperate climates.
´The temperate zone is where we live.
´It contains most of Earth’s landmasses, and has rainfall year
round.
´Warm to hot _________ and cool ____________.
3. The last climate zone is the __________ zone.
~The polar zones have a short, cool __________.
~They have a LONG and _____________________.
~Frequent snowfall.
~Northern Canada, Europe, and Russia are located in the
________________.
~Antarctica is also a polar zone.
Factors that affect Climate
1. Latitude-As latitude ________________, the average
yearly temperature decreases.
3. Oceans-Since oceans heat up and cool down slower than
land, coastal locations tend to be _________________ and
slightly warmer in winter than inland areas nearby.
4. Currents: ____________ warm water or cold water up
the coast, affecting the climate.
5. Prevailing Winds: ______________________ an area
experiences.
Earth’s Major Climate Zones
2. Altitude/Elevation-As altitude ___________, the average
yearly temperature decreases.