Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Climate Factors that Affect Climate Climate □ Average weather conditions over a long period of time □ Defined by Many Factors □ Temperature □ Precipitation □ Latitude □ Heat Absorption □ Topography Temperature and Precipitation □ Two Ways to Measure Temperature □ Average Monthly Temperature □ Yearly Temperature Range □ Two Ways to Measure Temperature □ Average Monthly Precipitation □ Yearly Precipitation Range Example – Mid Latitude Example - Tundra Latitude □ Different Latitudes Receive Different Amounts of Solar Energy □ Determines Temperature and Wind Patterns Latitude – Solar Energy Solar Energy □ Higher Latitudes Receive Smaller Amounts of Solar Energy □ Lower Latitudes Receive Larger Amounts of Solar Radiation Latitude – Global Wind Patterns Global Wind Patterns □ Results from the uneven heating of the Earth □ Warm Air Creates Low Pressure (Equator) □ Cold Air Creates High Pressure (Poles) □ Results in Wind Heat Absorption and Release □ Different areas differ in how they absorb and release heat □ Water Absorbs and Releases Heat at a Slow Rate □ Hence the reason for our late spring □ Land Absorbs and Releases Heat at a Faster Rate □ Influences the amount of heat available to heat the land Heat Absorption and Release Controlled by the Following □ Specific Heat of Water and Land □ Evaporation Rates □ Ocean Currents □ El Nino – Southern Oscillation □ Seasonal Winds Heat Absorption Specific Heat and Evaporation □ Water has a high Specific Heat □ The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of water one degree Celsius □ Evaporation □ Temperature Changes of Land and Sea vary because of Evaporation □ Evaporation affects Water more than it does Land Heat Absorption - Ocean Currents □ If wind from the water is blown towards shore it will greatly influence the weather on the land □ EX. Northwest Europe and Gulf Stream □ El Nino – Southern Oscillation □ El Nino – Warm Water Phase □ La Nina – Cool Water Phase □ Has Global Impact on Weather □ 3 – 10 Year Cycle Ocean Currents – Ocean Conveyor Belt El Nino – Southern Oscillation 1997-1999 Heat Absorption - Monsoons □ Caused by the Differentiated Heating of Land and Water □ Summer □ Land warms faster than water □ Warm air rises over land and is replaced by cool ocean air □ Rain □ Winter □ Land cools faster than water □ Cool air over land is flows away from land □ Drought It Just Started Raining and Raining… It Stopped. Topography □ Recall topography is the surface features of the land □ Such features like mountains can control climate □ Two Factors □ Elevation □ Rain Shadows Topography - Elevation □ As one rises in elevation, the average temperature decreases □ Even at the equator the peaks of mountains can be capped with snow Topography – Elevation vs. Latitude Topography – Mountains □ Mountains cause air masses to rise □ As air masses rise the cool and loose their moisture □ Results in lush vegetation on windward side of the mountain, and desert on leeward side of the mountain □ Examples □ Alps □ Himalayans □ Sierra Nevada Topography – Rain Shadow Topography – Rain Shadow Topography – Tibetan Plateau Types of Climates □ Three Distinct Climate Regions □ Tropical □ Mid - latitude □ Polar Factors that Affect Biomes Climates of the World Global Climate Change Potential Causes of Global Change □ Plate Tectonics □ Disrupt Ocean Currents □ Disrupt Wind Patterns □ Orbital Changes □ Milankovitch Theory □ 3 Motions on a 20,000 – 100,000 Year Cycles □ Human Activity □ Carbon Dioxide □ Volcanic Activity Milankovitch Theory Proof is in the Data? Proof is in the Data? Potential Impacts Potential Impacts of Climate Change □ Global Warming □ Sea – Level Changes