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III. Climate Regions • A. The Sun – 1. Earth’s climate is linked directly to the Sun. • a) Tropics more sun. • b) Poles less sun. • c) Movement of air and water helps distribute the Sun’s energy. • B. Winds – 1. Air in the tropics moves north and south toward the poles of the Earth. • a) Colder air moves to the equator which form wind. III. Climate Regions • b) These patterns of wind are called prevailing winds. – 2. Because the Earth rotates, winds curve across the Earth’s surface. • a) Winds from east to west are trade winds. • b) Westerlies from west to east between 60° and the tropics. • C. Storms – 1. When moist, warm air rises suddenly and meets dry, cold air, major storms can develop. • a) Summer thunderstorms and winter blizzards. III. Climate Regions • b) Hurricanes (E. Pacific & W. Atlantic) and typhoons (W. Pacific). • D. Ocean Currents – 1. The steadily flowing streams of water in the world’s seas are called currents. • a) Currents that carry warm water to higher latitudes can effect the climates in those latitudes. (Gulf Stream) • E. El Niño and La Niña – 1. Sometimes unusual weather patterns can occur. III. Climate Regions • a) In one of these events, weakened winds allow warmer waters to reach South America’s coast. • b) This change altars weather and beyond. • c) These conditions are known as El Niño. • d) La Niña causes unusually cool waters and low rainfall for the Eastern Pacific. • F. Landforms and Local Winds – 1. Some landforms cause local winds, or wind patterns that are typical only in small areas. • a) Day = cool sea breeze blows into land. • b) Night = cool sea breeze blows out to sea. III. Climate Regions • c) Local winds also occur near tall mountains. • G. Mountain, Temperature, and Rainfall – 1. The slopes of a mountain can heat more quickly than nearby land. • a) Air is thin at the peaks resulting in colder temperatures. – 2. Mountains have an effect on rainfall called a rain shadow that blocks rain from reaching interior regions. (Andes and Himalayas) • a) Mountains facing wind = windward III. Climate Regions • b) Mountains not facing wind = leeward. • H. Climate Zones – 1. Climate zones are areas of similar temperature and precipitation patterns. – 2. Biomes ex: rain forest, desert, grasslands, tundra, etc. • I. Major Climates – 1. Scientists have identified 5 major climate zones. • a) Tropical, dry, mid altitude, high altitude, highland. III. Climate Regions • J. Urban Climates – 1. Urban cities show significant climate differences from surrounding areas in their climate zone. • a) Urban climates are marked by higher temperatures and other differences. • b) Paved streets and stone buildings soak up and then release more of the sun’s energy than areas covered by plants.