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Climate and Climate Change Table of Contents What Causes Climate? Climate Regions Long-Term Changes in Climate Global Changes in the Atmosphere Climate and Climate Change - What Causes Climate? World Temperature Zones Based on latitude, Earth’s surface can be divided into a tropical zone, two temperate zones, and two polar zones. Climate and Climate Change - What Causes Climate? Ocean Currents Ocean currents have a significant effect on marine climates around the world. Climate and Climate Change - What Causes Climate? Rain Shadow A mountain range can form a barrier to the movement of air masses and influence where precipitation falls. Climate and Climate Change - What Causes Climate? Monsoons In a summer monsoon, wind blows from the ocean onto land. In the winter, the monsoon reverses and blows from land to the ocean. Climate and Climate Change - What Causes Climate? Percentages Light from the sun strikes Earth’s surface at different angles. An angle is made up of two lines that meet at a point. Angles are measured in degrees. A full circle has 360 degrees. When the sun is directly overhead near the equator, it is at an angle of 90º to Earth’s surface. A 90º angle is called a right angle. What percentage of a circle is it? A 90º angle is 25% of a full circle. Climate and Climate Change - What Causes Climate? Percentages Practice Problem Earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of 23.5º. About what percentage of a right angle is this? It is about 26.1 percent of a right angle. Climate and Climate Change - What Causes Climate? The Seasons The seasons are caused by the tilt of Earth’s axis as Earth travels around the sun. Climate and Climate Change - What Causes Climate? Seasons Activity Click the Active Art button to open a browser window and access Active Art about the seasons. Climate and Climate Change - What Causes Climate? Building Vocabulary After you read the section, reread the paragraphs that contain definitions of Key Terms. Use what you have learned to write a meaningful sentence using each Key Term. Key Terms: climate temperate leeward zone marine climate monsoon microclimate continental climate tropical zone windward polar zone Examples: The landrefers Climate Between on thethe tropical toleeward the zones average, side and ofyear-after-year the the polar mountains— zones are conditions the downwind—is temperate of temperature, inzones. a rain shadow. precipitation, winds, and clouds in land an area. Northand America, South America, andregion Europe have mild Sea breezes over a large that change marine climates, with relatively mildthat winters cool direction withwith the seasons are called monsoons. A small area climate conditions differand from summers. those around it may have its own microclimate. Continental have more The tropical climates zone is the area nearextreme the equator, temperatures marine between aboutthan 23.5º north climates. latitude and 23.5º south latitude. Rain or snow falls on the windward side of the These polarthe zones mountains, side extend the windfrom hits.about 66.5º to 90º north and 66.5º to 90º south latitudes. Climate and Climate Change End of Section: What Causes Climate? Climate and Climate Change - Climate Regions Climate Graphs A graph of average temperature (left) can be combined with a graph of average precipitation (middle) to form a climate graph. These graphs are for a tropical wet-and-dry region. Climate and Climate Change - Climate Regions Climate Regions Climate regions are classified according to a combination of temperature and precipitation. Climates in highland regions change rapidly as altitude changes. Climate and Climate Change - Climate Regions Climate Regions Climate regions are classified according to a combination of temperature and precipitation. Climates in highland regions change rapidly as altitude changes. Climate and Climate Change - Climate Regions Dry Climates Dry climates include arid and semiarid climates. Albuquerque, New Mexico, has an arid climate. Climate and Climate Change - Climate Regions Temperate Marine Climates There are three types of temperate marine climates: marine west coast, humid subtropical, and Mediterranean. Eugene, Oregon, has a marine west coast climate. Climate and Climate Change - Climate Regions Temperate Marine Climates Santa Barbara, on the coast of southern California, has a Mediterranean climate. Mild temperatures throughout the year make the area ideal for growing olives and citrus fruits. Climate and Climate Change - Climate Regions Temperate Continental Climates Temperate continental climates include humid continental and subarctic climates. Subarctic climates have cool summers and cold winters. Anchorage, Alaska, has a subarctic climate. Climate and Climate Change - Climate Regions Polar Climates Polar climates include ice cap and tundra climates. The tundra climate region stretches across northern Alaska, Canada, and Russia. Climate and Climate Change - Climate Regions Comparing and Contrasting As you read, compare and contrast the six main climate regions by completing a table like the one below. Climate Region Precipitation Temperature Tropical rainy Heavy precipitation Hot Dry Little rainfall Hot or Cold Temperate marine Dry to rainy, depending on season and location Cool to hot, depending on season and location Temperate continental Light to moderate rainfall Cold to hot, depending on season and location Polar Dry Cold Highlands Wetter than nearby lowlands Cooler than nearby lowlands Climate and Climate Change - Climate Regions Climate Regions Click the Video button to watch a movie about climate regions. Climate and Climate Change - Climate Regions Links on Climates of the World Click the SciLinks button for links on climates of the world. Climate and Climate Change End of Section: Climate Regions Climate and Climate Change - Long-Term Changes in Climate Ice Ages The map shows the parts of North America that were covered by glaciers 18,000 years ago. On the steppe near the glaciers lived many mammals that are now extinct, including woolly mammoths. Climate and Climate Change - Long-Term Changes in Climate Ice Ages and Temperature The graph shows the estimated average worldwide temperature over the last 350,000 years. During this time, cold glacial periods (blue) alternated with warmer interglacial periods (pink). Climate and Climate Change - Long-Term Changes in Climate Ice Ages and Temperature Reading Graphs: What does the x-axis of the graph represent? What does the y-axis represent? Number of years ago, estimated average global temperature in degrees Celsius Climate and Climate Change - Long-Term Changes in Climate Ice Ages and Temperature Interpreting Data: What pattern do you see in these data? How would you explain this pattern? Periodic ups and down in average global temperature; the temperature changes represent ice ages and warmer times in between. These changes may have been caused by changes in Earth’s position in space. Climate and Climate Change - Long-Term Changes in Climate Ice Ages and Temperature Predicting: Based on the pattern over the last 350,000 years, predict how global temperature will change in the future. The pattern probably will continue. Global temperatures are relatively high now, so they may decrease in the future, all else equal. Earth eventually will have another ice age. Climate and Climate Change - Long-Term Changes in Climate Moving Continents The continents have moved over millions of years. These movements have resulted in climate changes. Climate and Climate Change - Long-Term Changes in Climate Continental Drift Activity Click the Active Art button to open a browser window and access Active Art about continental drift. Climate and Climate Change - Long-Term Changes in Climate Identifying Supporting Evidence As you read, identify the evidence that is used to show that climates change. Evidence Tree rings Hypothesis Climate change Pollen Evidence of past glaciers Climate and Climate Change End of Section: Long-Term Changes in Climate Climate and Climate Change - Global Changes in the Atmosphere Greenhouse Effect Sunlight enters a greenhouse and is absorbed. The interior of the greenhouse radiates back energy in the form of infrared radiation, or heat. Much of the heat is trapped and held inside the greenhouse, warming it. Climate and Climate Change - Global Changes in the Atmosphere Global Warming Scientists think that an increase in carbon dioxide in the air is a major factor in global warming. Climate and Climate Change - Global Changes in the Atmosphere The Ozone Hole Chemicals produced by humans have damaged the ozone layer. A large are of reduced ozone, or ozone hole, has been created over Antarctica. Climate and Climate Change - Global Changes in the Atmosphere Asking Questions Before you read, preview the red headings. Ask a what or how question for each heading. As you read, write answers to your questions. Questions What is the greenhouse effect? Answers The process by which gases in Earth’s atmosphere trap solar energy Why is ozone depletion a concern? A decrease in ozone in the stratosphere causes more ultraviolet light, which is harmful, to reach Earth’s surface. Climate and Climate Change - Global Changes in the Atmosphere The Greenhouse Effect Click the Video button to watch a movie about the greenhouse effect. Climate and Climate Change - Global Changes in the Atmosphere More on the Greenhouse Effect Click the Planet Diary button for an activity about the greenhouse effect. Climate and Climate Change End of Section: Global Changes in the Atmosphere Climate and Climate Change Graphic Organizer Climate is determined by Temperature Precipitation is affected by is affected by Altitude Latitude Distance from water Ocean currents Prevailing winds Mountain ranges Climate and Climate Change End of Section: Graphic Organizer