Download Climate - Kaufman ISD

CLIMATE
5.8A
Climate
In winter, do you wear a thick coat
and gloves? Or do you wear a tshirt and shorts? What you wear in
winter depends on where you live.
Some places are very cold in winter
while others are warm, or even hot.
Different places on Earth have
different climates.
Climate on Earth
Every place on Earth has a climate. Climate is
the weather patterns in an area over a long
period of time.
Look at the pictures. What do you think the
climate is like in each place?
Hawaii
Chihuahua Desert, Texas
Alaska
Is it climate or is it weather?
If you want to go outside and play, you will
probably think about the weather. Is it warm
or cold? Is it cloudy or sunny? Is it raining or
snowing?
Weather is the condition of the atmosphere
outside at any given time. The weather is
constantly changing.
Weather
Weather includes:
• The temperature of the air
• The speed of the wind
• The amount of moisture in the air
(humidity)
• Precipitation such as rain, snow, sleet,
or hail
Tropical Rainforest
Think of a tropical rainforest.
The climate in a tropical
rainforest is warm and wet all
year long. Many different plants
and animals live in this
environment. Why do you think
this is so?
Desert
Now think about the climate in a
desert. It is very dry and,
sometimes, very hot. Not much
precipitation falls in a desert.
Different Places—Different Climates
A tropical forest in Brazil has
a wet, warm climate.
The Chihuahuan Desert in
Texas has a hot, dry
climate.
Climate Zones on Earth
There are three basic climate zones on
Earth. These climate zones are caused by
the amount of sunlight they receive.
Polar Zone
Temperate
Zone
Tropical
Zone
Polar Zone
Temperate
Zone
The polar zones are cold and
dark.
The tropical zone surrounds the
equator and has a warm to hot
climate with a lot of sunshine.
The temperate zones have a
more moderate climate than the
polar zones and the tropical
zones.
Oceans and Climates
Oceans also affect climate. Water holds heat
for a longer time than land. Long after the land
has cooled, water stays warm. So places near
the ocean can have warmer climates than
places farther from the ocean.
High and Low Land
The height of a place can also affect its climate.
Sea level is used to measure the height of places
on Earth. Places that are far above sea level are
high in the air. These places often have colder
climates. Low-lying land is closer to sea level.
This land usually has a warmer climate.
Mountains affect climate in other ways. Tall mountains
can block clouds from moving through the sky. The
clouds will drop the rain on one side of the mountain.
Not as much rain falls on the other side of the mountain.
The dry side is said to be in a rain shadow. The area in
a rain shadow has a drier climate than the other side of
the mountain.
Comparing Climate and Weather
Weather is different
from climate.
Weather can change
from day to day.
Climate does not change
from day to day. Climate is
an area’s weather pattern
over a long period of time.
Weather includes:
Climate includes:
• Temperature each day
• Usual temperatures during the year
• Wind each day
• Usual winds during the year
• Clouds each day
• Usual clouds during the year
• Precipitation each day
• Usual precipitation during the year
• Humidity each day
• Usual humidity during the year