Download Factors that Affect Climate Global wind circulation Global patterns of

Factors that Affect Climate
Global wind circulation
Global patterns of air movement are
initiated by unequal heating of the
Earth- Produces Convection Currents
Unequal Heating of Earth
As the Sun's energy passes through
the atmosphere and strikes land
and water, it warms the surface of
Earth. But this warming does not
occur evenly across the planet.
The % of incoming sunlight that is
reflected from a surface is called
its albedo.
– The variation in angle at which
the Sun's rays strike
– The amount of surface area
over which the Sun's rays are
distributed
– Some areas of Earth reflect
more solar energy than others.
(Albedos)
As Earth rotates, this causes a deflection of objects that are moving directly north or south.
Coriolis Effect- the deflection of an object's path due to Earth's rotation.
The prevailing winds of the world
are produced by a combination
of atmospheric convection
currents and the Coriolis Effect.
Prevailing winds regulate
climate.
Global ocean currents
Global ocean currents are mainly a result of global wind patterns and also show deflection due
to the Coriolis Effect. The circular pattern of major ocean currents are called gyres. Gyres that
cross latitudes, bring in warm or cold water into their new surroundings, and affect climate in
that region.
The Earth's axis of
rotation is tilted 23.5 ˚.
When the Northern
Hemisphere is tilted
toward the Sun, the
Southern Hemisphere is
tilted away from the
Sun, and vice versa.
There are changes in
Earths movement over
long periods of timeorbit around the sun
and tilt on its axis
Milankovitch Cycles
Topography, Mountains, and The Rain Shadow Effect
Leeward side
Windward side
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When air moving inland from the ocean that contains a large amount of water vapor
meets the windward side of a mountain range (the side facing the wind), it rises and
begins to experience adiabatic cooling.
Because water vapor condenses as air cools, clouds form and precipitation falls.
The presence of the mountain range causes large amounts of precipitin to fall on its
windward side.
The cold, dry air then travels to the other side of the mountain range (the leeward side),
where it descends and experiences higher pressures, which cause adiabatic heating.
This air is now war and dry and process arid conditions on the leeward side forming the
region called a rain shadow.
Proximity to large bodies of water
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Water has a high specific heat capacity.
The specific heat of a substance is the heat needed to change the temperature of one
gram of the substance by one degree Celsius.
Some substances (ex. air) change temperature with the addition of very little energy,
while others, like water, need greater amounts of energy to change.
So, the specific heat capacity of water helps regulate climate in coastal regions.
Coastal regions have narrower ranges in temperature compared to inland areas.
Earth’s tilt responsible for our seasons & the system shifts N/S with orbital position, pressure bands at
0, 30, 60, & 90 with winds in between cause wet/dry conditions, prevailing winds generate ocean
gyres & air flow over mountains that can cause condensation & precipitation, and proximity to large
bodies of water regulates climate of coastal areas. Increases in elevation shows similar climate
changes as see from the equator to the poles.