Download Climate

Climate
Day 1
• Objective:
–I can describe climate and the
factors affecting it
What is Climate?
• Yearlong
average of
weather
patterns over
an area
Factors that Affect Climate
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•
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•
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Latitude
Elevation
Topography
Water Bodies
Global Winds
Vegetation
Factor #1: Latitude
• As latitude
increases, the
intensity of solar
energy decreases
• Three Zones
– Tropical
– Temperate
– Polar
The Zones
• Zone 1: Tropical Zone
– Region between the
Tropic of Cancer
(23.5ºN) and the Tropic
of Capricorn (23.5ºS)
– Warm Year Round
• Zone 2: Temperate
Zone
– Region between 23.5ºN/S
and 66.5ºN/s of the
equator
– Hot Summers
– Cold Winters
• Zone 3: Polar Zone
– Region from 66.5ºN/S of
the equator to the poles
– Very cold temperature
year round
Factor #2: Elevation
• Higher the
elevation is, the
colder the climate
• Elevation
determines amount
of precipitation it
receive
•Changing Climate Zones by USDA?
•Each zone is divided into smaller segments to
advise people what climates will best grow
different plants.
•Watch the newscast from 2007. What possible
consequences could there be for agriculture if
climate zones continue to change?
Factor #3: Topography
• Land features affect
amount of precipitation
that falls over an area
• Mountains cause a rain
shadow event
– One side has cool, wet
air
– One side has warm, dry
air
Factor #4: Water Bodies
• Large bodies of water
(lakes & oceans) have
an important effect on
the temperature of an
area.
• Temperature of the
water body influences
the temperature of the
air above.
•Elevation and Topography Video
Factor #5: Global Winds
• Winds distribute heat
and moisture around
the Earth
• Warm air moves to
the poles
• Cold air moves to the
equator
Factor #6: Vegetation
• Affects both temperature
and precipitation
• Temperature
– Influence how much of the
sun’s energy is absorbed and
how quickly it is released
• Precipitation
– When plants release water
vapor from its leaves into the
air (transpiration)
Day 2
• Objective:
–I can describe how climates are
classified using the Köppen
System.
Köppen Climate Classification System
• Most commonly used system
• Uses mean monthly and annual
values of temperature and
precipitation
• Five Principal Groups
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Humid Tropical
Humid Mid-Latitude
Dry
Highland
Polar
Humid Tropical Climate
• No Winters
• Monthly average
temperature above 18ºC
(64.4ºF)
• Precipitation can exceed
200-cm
• Two Types
– Wet Tropical
– Tropical Wet and Dry
• Wet Tropical
– High Temperature
– High annual
precipitation
• Tropical Wet &
Dry
– High Temperature
– High annual
precipitation
– Experiences distinct
periods of low
precipitation
Humid Mid-Latitude Climate with Mild
Winters
• Mild winters with an
average temperature in
the coldest month that is
below 18ºC (64.4ºF) but
above -3ºC (26.6ºF)
• Three Types
– Humid Subtropical
– Marine West Coast
– Dry Summer Subtropical
• Humid Subtropical
– Between 25º and 40º
latitude on the eastern side
of the continent
– Summer = hot, sultry
– Winter = wild
– NC climate
• Dry-Summer
Subtropical
– Between 30º & 45º latitude
– Strong winter rainfall
– Only found in California
• Marine West Coast
– Between 40º and 65º N/S
on the coastal area
– Summer = cool
– Winter = mild
– Northern California to
Southern Alaska
Humid Mid-Latitude with Severe
Winters
• Severe winters have
an average
temperature in the
coldest month that is
below -3ºC (26.6ºF)
• Two Types
– Humid Continental
– Subarctic
• Humid Continental
– Not in the Southern
Hemisphere
– Between 40º and 50º
N latitude
– Winters = Severe
– Summer = warm and
great precipitation
• Subarctic
– Winters are long and
bitterly cold
– Summers are warm
and very short
– The highest annual
temperature range on
Earth
Dry Climate
• Yearly precipitation is
not as great as the
potential loss of water
by evaporation
• Two Types
– Arid or Desert
– Semi-arid or Steppe
• Transition zone that
surrounds the desert and
separates it from humid
climates
Highland Climate
• Cooler and
wetter than
nearby areas
at lower
elevations
Polar Climate
• Average temperature of the
warmest month is below
10ºC (50ºF)
• Little precipitation falls
• Winters = extremely cold
• Summer = cool
• Two Types
– Tundra
– Ice Caps
• Tundra
– Treeless region found
almost exclusively in
the Northern
Hemisphere
– Plant life of mosses,
shrubs and flowering
herbs
• Ice Caps
– Monthly average
temperature below
0ºC (32ºF)
– Covered with
permanent ice and
snow
Coastal Area Climates
•The oceans heat up slowly but retain the heat for
a longer period of time.
•Sea Breezes blow inland bringing rain and cools
the land in the summer.
•In the winter, the coastal climates are warmer
and generally wet and mild.
Day 3
• Objective:
–I can explain the causes of changes
in climate locally and world wide
Natural Process that Change Climate
•
•
•
•
Volcanic Eruption
Ocean Circulation
Solar Activity
Earth’s Motions
Volcanic Eruption
• The presence of
volcanic ash, dust and
aerosols in the air
increase the amount of
solar radiation that is
reflected back into
space.
• Causes Earth’s lower
atmosphere to cool
Ocean Circulation
• EL NINO
– Causes parts of the eastern
tropical Pacific Ocean to
become warmer than usual
– Arid places receive large
amounts of rain
– Places that receive lots of
rain may experience dry
periods
– HERE? We have wet
summers
• LA NINA
– Surface temperatures
in the Eastern Pacific
are colder than
average
– Hurricanes damage
greater in La Nina
times
– HERE? We have dry
summers
Solar Activity
• Formation of
sunspots appear to
correspond with
warm periods in
Europe and North
America
• 11 year cycle
Earth’s Motion
• Orbit and Tilt
– Earth’s tilt causes the
seasons
– Change in the degree
of tilt or shape of
orbit could cause
global climate
changes
Natural Processes that Change Climate
CO2 Fluctuations
Changes in plant
growth rates
CO2 levels fall
during the growing
season and rise in
the winter
Natural Processes that Change Climate
•Ocean Acidification
–Decrease in the ocean’s pH levels in the
ocean. CO2 is absorbed by the ocean and
forms carbonic acid.
–Coral Reefs: High levels of CO2 negatively
affects corals making their shells.
–50% of coral reefs have been destroyed
–Ocean Acidification
Human Impact on Climate Change
• The Greenhouse Effect
– Is a natural warming of
both Earth’s lower
atmosphere and surface
– Makes life as we know it
possible
– Major Gases: Water Vapor
and Carbon Dioxide
– Humans have added more
greenhouse gases to the
atmosphere in the pass 200
years by burning fossil
fuels
Global Warming
• As a result of
increases in Carbon
Dioxide (CO2) as
well as other
greenhouse gases,
global temperatures
have increased
• Affects weather and
climates
Temperatures Rising due to Global
Warming
• Effects
– Glaciers melting
– Greenland—If all of the ice
melts, oceans will rise 23
feet
– Antarctic—major reduction
in ice coverage
– Permafrost in Tundra is
releasing CO2 that is stored
under the ice
Hottest Years
• Since 1980, the Earth has had 19 of its 20 hottest years on
record
1. 2010
2. 2005
3. 2009
4. 2007
5. 2006
6. 1998
7. 2002
8. 2003
9. 2001
10. 1997
Antarctica Melting
• If all of the ice
in the glaciers
of Antarctica
melts, the
oceans will rise