Download Weather and Climate

Weather and Climate
 Weather = condition of the atmosphere at a
particular time and place
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 Climate = average weather conditions in an area over
a long period of time
 Two main factors that affect climate
 Temperature
 Precipitation
Weather and Climate
 These affected by…
 Latitude = position north or south of the equator,
represented by east west lines on a globe
 0˚ latitude = equator
 90˚ N = North Pole…90˚ S = South Pole
Weather and Climate
 Increase latitude; decrease temperature
 Less direct sunlight
 Seasons (w,sp,su,f) affected by the tilt of the earth
which causes more/less direct sunlight
Weather and Climate
 Ocean Currents
 Warm currents…warm air
 Cold currents…cool air
Weather and Climate
 Prevailing Winds = wind that blows in one direction
 From land = dry air
 From water = moist air
Weather and Climate
 Colder region = cool/dry
 Warmer region = warm/moist
 Air masses take on characteristics of what it is
located over
Weather and Climate
 Geography
 Increase elevation; decrease temperature
 Decrease elevation; increase temperature
Weather and Climate
 Mountains
 windward side = wet
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Air rises, cools, condenses and rains
 leeward side = dry…no moisture…deserts
 air sinks, warms up, absorbs moisture
Weather and Climate
 Three Major Climate Zones
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Arctic Circle…66.5˚ N
Tropic of Cancer…23.5˚ N
Equator…0˚
Tropic of Capricorn…23.5˚ S
Antarctic Circle…66.5˚ S
Weather and Climate
 Tropical Zone
 A. Tropical Rain Forest
 200 cm+ of rain
 70’s & 80’s temperature
 Monkeys, lemurs, parrots, snakes, tigers, leopards
Weather and Climate
 Tropical Savannah
 100 cm of rainfall
 80’s & 90’s temperature
 Grasses, small trees, giraffes, lichens, hyenas,
elephants
Weather and Climate
 Tropical Deserts
 0-25 cm of rainfall
 60’s to 120’s temperature
 Cacti, lizards, snakes, scorpions, kangaroo rats
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Weather and Climate
 Temperate Zone
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A. Temperate forests
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B. Temperate grasslands
 C. Chaparrals
 D. Temperate deserts
Weather and Climate
 Polar Zone
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A. Tundra
 Permafrost = permanently frozen soil
 Birds migrate in summer
 Caribou, reindeer, rabbits, fox, birds
Weather and Climate
 Taiga
 “spruce-moose” biome
 Conifers (evergreen), rabbits, moose, elk, wolves, bears