Download Effect of Continental Position on Climate

Effect of Continental Position
on Climate
Dana Desonie, Ph.D.
Say Thanks to the Authors
Click http://www.ck12.org/saythanks
(No sign in required)
To access a customizable version of this book, as well as other
interactive content, visit www.ck12.org
CK-12 Foundation is a non-profit organization with a mission to
reduce the cost of textbook materials for the K-12 market both
in the U.S. and worldwide. Using an open-content, web-based
collaborative model termed the FlexBook®, CK-12 intends to
pioneer the generation and distribution of high-quality educational
content that will serve both as core text as well as provide an
adaptive environment for learning, powered through the FlexBook
Platform®.
Copyright © 2014 CK-12 Foundation, www.ck12.org
The names “CK-12” and “CK12” and associated logos and the
terms “FlexBook®” and “FlexBook Platform®” (collectively
“CK-12 Marks”) are trademarks and service marks of CK-12
Foundation and are protected by federal, state, and international
laws.
Any form of reproduction of this book in any format or medium,
in whole or in sections must include the referral attribution link
http://www.ck12.org/saythanks (placed in a visible location) in
addition to the following terms.
Except as otherwise noted, all CK-12 Content (including CK-12
Curriculum Material) is made available to Users in accordance
with the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 3.0
Unported (CC BY-NC 3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by-nc/3.0/), as amended and updated by Creative Commons from time to time (the “CC License”), which is incorporated
herein by this reference.
Complete terms can be found at http://www.ck12.org/terms.
Printed: October 10, 2014
AUTHOR
Dana Desonie, Ph.D.
www.ck12.org
C HAPTER
Chapter 1. Effect of Continental Position on Climate
1
Effect of Continental
Position on Climate
• Define maritime and continental climates.
• Explain how continental position and ocean currents affect climate.
Is latitude making the difference in weather in these three cities?
No. These three cities are at the same latitude. They are San Francisco, California; Wichita, Kansas; and Virginia
Beach, Virginia. Proximity to the ocean is important. Also important is the direction the winds are blowing at this
location.
Oceans and Climate
When a place is near an ocean, the water can have a big effect on the climate.
Coastal and Inland Climates
Places at the same latitude may have very different climates if one is on a coast and one is inland.
• On the coast, the climate is influenced by warm moist air from the ocean. A coastal climate is usually mild.
Summers aren’t too hot, and winters aren’t too cold. Precipitation can be high due to the moisture in the air.
This is a maritime climate.
• Farther inland, the climate is influenced by cold or hot air from the land. This air may be dry, because it comes
from over land. An inland climate is usually more extreme. Winters may be very cold, and summers may be
very hot. Precipitation can be low. This is a continental climate.
The Influence of the Ocean
The ocean has a big effect on climate. This is obvious when you compare the temperatures of these three cities.
Each of these cities is located at 37°N latitude, within the westerly winds ( Figure 1.1).
The climate of San Francisco is influenced by the Pacific Ocean. The cool California current comes from the north.
Upwelling brings cold water from the deep. So the water offshore is cold. Virginia Beach is near the Atlantic Ocean.
But its temperatures are more like Wichita than San Francisco. Why is the climate in Virginia Beach less influenced
by the ocean than San Francisco? Hint: Think about the direction the winds are going at that latitude. The weather
in San Francisco comes from over the Pacific Ocean. Much of the weather in Virginia comes from the continent.
1
www.ck12.org
FIGURE 1.1
How does the ocean influence the climate
of these three cities?
Ocean Currents and Climate
Ocean currents carry warm or cold water throughout the world’s oceans. They help to even out the temperatures in
the oceans. This also affects the temperature of the atmosphere and the climate around the world. Currents that are
near shore have a direct impact on climate. They may make the climate much colder or warmer. Examples of this
are pictured below ( Figure 1.2).
FIGURE 1.2
The Gulf Stream moves warm equatorial water up the western Pacific and
into northern Europe. The warm water raises temperatures in the British
Isles.
Vocabulary
• continental climate: More variable climate dominated by a vast expanse of land.
• maritime climate: Moderate climate dominated by a nearby ocean.
Summary
• A maritime climate is influenced by a nearby ocean. A continental climate is influenced by nearby land.
• The temperature of offshore currents affect nearby land areas.
• A maritime climate is less extreme than a continental climate, because the ocean moderates temperatures.
2
www.ck12.org
Chapter 1. Effect of Continental Position on Climate
Practice
Use the resource below to answer the questions that follow.
• California Weather and Climate Guide at http://www.watchmojo.com/video/id/6521 (0:59)
MEDIA
Click image to the left for use the URL below.
URL: http://www.ck12.org/flx/render/embeddedobject/5717
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What does the temperature depend on?
What influences the weather in California?
What is the temperature variation between the coast and inland in the summer? How about in the winter?
How much rainfall does the redwood forest receive?
Where and when in California do people ski?
Why is California a great vacation destination?
Review
1. Describe a maritime climate. What location has a maritime climate?
2. Describe a continental climate. What location has a continental climate?
3. San Francisco and Virginia Beach are both near an ocean. Why are their climates so different?
References
1. Laura Guerin. Difference in climate between San Francisco, Wichita, and Virginia Beach. CC BY-NC 3.0
2. Courtesy of NASA. Satellite image of the Gulf Stream. Public Domain
3