Download Atmosphere characteristics - Sonoma Valley High School

EARTH’S CLIMATE
What Factors Affect Climate?
• Latitude – distance north or
•
•
•
•
•
south of equator
Elevation – height above sea
level
Topography – features on land
Water Bodies – lakes and
oceans
Atmospheric Circulation –
global winds
Vegetation – type and amount
of plants
LATITUDE
Sun strikes Earth’s surface at different angles
creates variations in climate
Climate Zones
Differences in solar energy create climate zones
Tropical zones
Warm all year, 23.5o north to
23.5o south of equator
Temperate zones
Hot summers and cold
winters, 23.5o to 66.5o
north and south of equator
Polar zones
Cold all year, 66.5o north
and south to the poles
Energy Transfer
• Less solar energy is transferred into atmosphere in polar
•
•
regions than in tropics
Differences in energy affects weather and climate
Pressure differences produce winds
– Affects evaporation rates, cloud formation, air masses,
and storms
ELEVATION
• Elevation increases,
temperature decreases
• approximately -6.5oC
every 1000 meters or
-44oF every 3,281 feet
• Elevation also
determines the amount
of precipitation
Mt. Whitney and the Owens Valley, Eastern California
Pair share: How does
elevation affect temperatures
and precipitation?
Pair share: Why?
TOPOGRAPHY
Can create a Rain Shadow Effect
• Humid air moves
•
up a mountain:
cools, forms
clouds, then
precipitates
Moisture is lost,
very dry on
other side
Pair share: Can you
name a mountain range
with a Rain Shadow
Effect ?
WATER BODIES AND
ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION
Temperature of water
influences atmosphere
above it
Global winds distribute
heat and moisture
around Earth
VEGETATION
• Temperature – vegetation influences how much of sun’s energy
is absorbed and released
• Precipitation - plants release water vapor and particles into the
air creating clouds (the more plants the more humid it is).
Pair share: how do you think cutting down the rain forest in Brazil
has affected the climate there?
White Board Review
1. How does latitude
affect climate?
2. How does
elevation affect
climate?
3. What effect does a
mountain range
have on climate?
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/global/climate.htm