Download Factors that Affect climate

Aim: What factors affect the
climate of an area?
Do Now:
In your notebooks, describe what
factors cause one place to have a dry
climate and another to have a wet
climate? Does it only have to do
with getting rain or not?
I. Factors that affect climate
1. Latitude
- As latitude increases,
insolation decreases,
(which lowers the
average temperature)
- Poles receive less
direct insolation
from the sun
- The Equator receives
more direct
insolation from the
sun.
(incoming solar
radiation = sunlight)
This is why it is hotter at
the Equator than at the
poles
900
45 degree angle = weak insolation
90 degree angle =
intense insolation
900
2. Land vs. Water (bodies of water)
- bodies of water moderate (even out) the
temperature of the land (due to it’s specific heat)
- areas that near water have cooler
summers and warmer winters (seabreeze).
- land- locked areas
tend to have more
extreme temperature
changes.
Sea Breeze
3. Elevation (altitude)
- the higher the
elevation, the
colder the climate.
4. Topography
Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa
- mountains play an important role in
the amount of precipitation that falls and
the type of air that occurs in the area.
(orographic lifting)
5. Atmospheric
Circulation
- Global winds distribute
warm moist air and cool
dry air around Earth.
- Winds move warm air
towards the poles and
cool air towards the
equator.
- Your distance from the Equator helps determine
the climate of your area.
6. Atmospheric Transparency (Clouds)
- An Albedo effect is created when a surface
reflects radiation from the sun or radiating body.
- Clouds in the atmosphere and ice/snow on the
ground cause an Albedo effect.
7. Vegetation
- Keeps land cool by blocking insolation.
- Creates more transpiration which adds more
moisture to the air causing more precipitation.
Closure:
Using your notes, complete the
worksheet in the top bin.
Look for Factors that Affect Climate fact organizer
sheet in the Practice worksheets tray and on E-back
with answers