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Geography 12 Weather and Climate Climate Controls Big Idea: What creates the climate of an area? We will do some work on climate controls, discuss weather, and then return to climate zones of the world Here is what you will learn today: •Climate is what you can expect the weather to be like over a lo •There are several things that determine what the climate will be: –How far is the place ? –What is it – is the area away from the sun? –Are there ocean currents nearby? –What is the (metres above sea level)? –Is it on or near , like the ocean? –Connected to this is – is it inland ( ) –What are the winds in the area? WALPOC •Water •Altitude •Latitude •Prevailing winds •Ocean Currents •Contintentality •Another way to remember this is to use the mnemonic, Idea to understand: What is the difference between weather and climate? Weather •Weather is •What is happening at any moment –Sun –Rain –Wind –Snow –Fog –cloud Climate •Climate is what is normally after year •What weather would you expect day after day in these two places and why? Climate and Seasons •In the pictures on the previous slide, we looked at two places where the weather is the same all year long – the desert, and the rainforest. Very little changes, month to month •In other places, like Fort St. James, we have a climate that changes with every season •Think about why we have seasons, while other places do not… more on this in a moment •What is interesting about all this is that there are many different in a place Idea: The difference between climate and weather What kinds of questions would we ask? •Climate! –How much precipitation do we usually get in a year – can we farm here? –How should we build this house – does it need a strong roof to carry a lot of snow? –Are there four seasons (spring, summer, winter and fall?) in this area? –Can our town have a ski hill? •Weather! –What should I wear today? –What will the roads be like today or tomorrow? –Is it going to rain when we go camping this weekend? –Do I need to wear my coat? The world has several climate zones or areas. This PowerPoint is about WHY that is. Why are there different climates in different parts of the world? •Water •Altitude •Latitude •Prevailing winds •Ocean Currents •Contintentality • 1. Climate Control: Latitude Look at this globe •You can see that the earth is titled (on its – which is an imaginary line through the middle of the planet) The Earth’s tilt on its axis •You can see that the northern part of the world - where we live - spends at the beginning of the clip (summer), but only gets a hours once it is tipped away from the sun (winter) •Notice that the equator gets about ROUND, so they don’t have seasons like ours Where on Earth are we? Length of time a place is exposed to the sun •The north and south of the planet are exposed the sun for fewer months of the year •The less sun, Climate Control: Latitude Less time in the sun, but also, in the sun Here’s another picture to show how important the idea of latitude is to climate •See that the of sun is coming in, but the sun is much more in the first example •MUCH WARMER!! Key term: at the earth’s surface 2. Climate Control: Altitude •Altitude – •This mountain is located in the Alps •Why is there snow here… •But not here? : amount of sun received the land is Answer: Usually, air cools as it rises •The higher the mountain, the cooler the temperature at the top •In general, for every , the temperature drops 1 degree Celsius – the air becomes heat •Sometimes, an inversion occurs and it is warmer on the mountain than in the valley – like happens at our ski hill once in a while http://staffwww.fullcoll.edu/tmorris/elements_of_ecology/chap ter_3.htm Glaciers at the equator? •This is a picture of a glacier located on Mount Kenya, in Kenya Africa •It is located just south of the equator •Why is it a surprise to find a glacier at the equator? • •What does it tell you about how altitude can change the climate of an area? •The glaciers on this mountain are disappearing. What would cause this? • 3. Climate Control: Ocean Currents •Think about the idea that some ocean currents are warm and some are cold. What climate would you expect on a coast with warm water? What climate would you expect with cold water currents? •Go to this link and look at ocean currents in the world. –Find Chapter 24: Examine Global Surface Currents and click on it to watch •http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/navigat ion/visualization.cfm –When you put your cursor over the map, it shows how the wind blows. Does the wind have anything to do with the direction of the ocean currents? Here’s another look Animation •On the previous map, locate the Gulf Stream Current and the Labrador Current •Follow this link to see them in action – When you get there, look for The Gulf Stream animation •http://homepages.ge.ucl.ac.uk/~awayne/polar/climate.html •Based on the information on this map and on the animation you watched, why is London, England a warmer place to live than St. John’s Newfoundland, Canada? • 4. Climate Control: Distance from the Sea •The climate of an area will be d , away from any large body of water •Think about what you know about the climate in Vancouver. What is it like there? •Think about what you know about the weather here in Fort St. James, which is pretty far from the ocean. How are they different? •Key Terms: climate and climate Climate Control: How close to the ocean? •Places that are near water usually have a lot more rain or snow than places inland – especially is warm •The warm moist air blows in off the ocean and drops its moisture on the land in the form of rain and snow The climate of places on the ocean than inland •Mild means cold! •Places like Vancouver or Victoria that are on or near water, will be WARMER in winter (NOT AS COLD), and COLDER(NOT AS HOT) in summer. •Hmmmmm???? •Why is that? Take a look at the next slide There are two ideas here that are important! •Water takes , but water cools down very slowly •Land , and also land cools quickly Use what you know: •Why would it be very hot in the Prairies (Alberta, Saskatchewan) in the summer? Prevailing Winds •Air pressure and winds (caused by air pressure) •We will take a longer look at this, and why it happens, but for now: •Winds off a warm ocean will bring rain •Winds coming from the Arctic will be dry and cold •Prevailing means the winds term, so they can impact the kind of climate you expect in a certain place •Prevailing winds of the earth – more on this to come To sum up, or review: •Climate is what you can expect the weather to be like over a long period of time •There are several things that determine what the climate will be: –How the equator? –What is it – is the area tilted away from the sun? –Are there currents nearby? –What is the (metres above sea level)? –Is it on or near a , like the ocean? –What are the winds?