Download Climate * describes the typical yearly weather for a location.

Climate – describes the typical
yearly weather for a location.
3 Main Climates (Koeppen Climates)
• Tropic Zone- Hottest. Located between
0 latitude (equator) & 23.5 N or S Latitude.
– 23.5 N Latitude = Tropic of Cancer (KNOW THIS!)
– 23.5 S Latitude = Tropic of Capricorn (THIS TOO!)
• Temperate – Warm. Located between 23.5
and 66.5
• Polar – Coldest. Located at north and South
Poles. (66. 5 and 90 Latitude)
Reasons for temperature difference:
• Areas close to equator
receive more of Sun’s
Energy (Heat/Light), so
warmer.
• Areas Further from
equator receive less of
Sun’s Energy, so colder.
SUN’S
RAYS 
FACTORS that AFFECT CLIMATE
• 1) Latitude –
– distance north or south
of equator.
– The further away from
the equator, the colder it
is
• 2) Elevation –
– The distance above the
surface.
– The higher you go, the
colder it is.
FACTORS that AFFECT CLIMATE
• 3) Proximity to water
– Close to water means precipitation (rain…)
– Warm water means warmer temps & rain
– Cold water means colder temps & snow, sleet,
freezing rain
– Far away from water means dryer weather.
FACTORS that AFFECT CLIMATE
AIR COOLS,
Condenses
• 4) Position to
mountains
– Windward side (where
wind is coming) is wet.
– Leeward side is dryer.
– In America, West side is
wetter than East side of
mountains.
• http://www.hillsrain.co
m/Rain_Shadow.shtml
Dry Air
descends
Warm air
rise
Desert
Windward
Side
LeeWard
side
Coriolis Effect- the spinning of the
Earth causes air and ocean
currents to deflect to the right.
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Corioliskrafta
nimation.gif
• http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/
terc/content/visualizations/es1905/es1905page0
1.cfm
• http://www.warrenwilson.edu/~physics/PhysPhotOfWeek/20040925
Coriolis/CoriolisEffect.html
Diagrams of Coriolis & Winds
Diagrams of Coriolis & Winds
In Northern Hemisphere:
Lo pressure moves counterclockwise,
Hi pressure moves clockwise.
Winds move opposite in the Southern
Hemisphere.
Primary Cause of Wind: Sun’s Energy
(Heat or Light) Warms Earth’s surface.
• Water cools slower than
land causing Sea Breeze
at night

SEA BREEZE
• Land heats faster than
water causing Land
Breeze During day 
LAND BREEZE
Seasons – caused by Earth’s tilt (23.5
degrees) as it revolves around sun.
Less Direct
Rays
More Direct
Rays
Seasons: Definitions
Equinox: daytime = night time
Solstice: Maximum Day or Night
21 , Autumnal Equinox(Fall)
SummerSolstice
21
Longest Day,
Shortest Night
21, Winter Solstice
21, Spring Equinox
Longest Night
Shortest Day
Diagram of Seasons
• Refer to diagram of seasons:
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.icelebrateholi
days.com/Images/800pxNorth_season.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.icelebrateholidays.com/h
eliocentric%2520view%2520of%2520the%2520seasons.htm&h=79
&w=143&sz=40&tbnid=0VzQmCf9AtkJ:&tbnh=79&tbnw=143&prev
=/images%3Fq%3Ddiagram%2Bof%2BEarth%2527s%2Bseasons&hl
=en&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=1&ct=image&cd=2
•
• http://fixedreference.org/2006-Wikipedia-CDSelection/wp/s/Season.htm
•
•
Climate Change- drastic changes in
climate that affects life on Earth.
• Studying climate change from:
1)Tree Rings – shows change in rain/nutrients
2) Pollen layers – in rock/soil. Thick layers mean
warm and wet. Too thin means too hot/cold.
3) Ice (glaciers, ice caps) – Layers of ice record past
air qualities, pollution, oxygen amount,..
Causes of Climate Change
• 1) Earth’s position to sun.
• Sometimes we are closer. Every 11,500 years, Earth is
closer in July or January alternating
• Earth’s axis WOBBLES. (tilt of 23.5 degrees) changes
over long periods of time.
• 2) Solar Energy varies.– The sun’s energy
varies in 11 year cycles, and other longer
cycles.
Causes of Climate Change
• 3)Volcanic Activity
– Too much volcanic activity blocks sun and leads to
ice ages.
• 4) Movement of Continents
– Position of continents move, changing type of
weather and climate by changing ocean/air
currents
• 5) Manmade Causes? Pollution, destruction of
environment, etc…
Global changes
• Short Term:
– El Nino (warmer winters),
– La Nina (colder winters):
– Pacific Ocean currents change direction, causing
huge changes in winter weather.
El Nino/La Nina
Global changes
1) Global warming:
1) Greenhouse Hypothesis- Human activities
add greenhouse gases to atmosphere,
trapping more heat
1) Green house gases: Gases that trap heat
from leaving Earth.
2) Ex: Carbon Dioxide, water vapor, methane,
and more
2) Ozone depletion by CFC’s (we’ve already
discussed this)
Greenhouse effect
Greenhouse & global warming