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Climate Weather v Climate • Weather • Climate • Conditions in the atmosphere of one place over a short period of time. • Weather patterns that an area experiences over a long period of time. Factors Affecting Climates • • • • • • • • Latitude Air Masses Continentality Elevation Mountain Barriers Ocean Currents Pressure Cells Storms Latitude • Most important control on climate – Lower Latitude = Higher Temperature – Middle Latitude = Seasonal Temperature – Higher Latitude = Lower Temperature Air Masses • Air takes on the characteristics of the land or water it passes over. – Southern Europe = Mediterranean Climate • Hot and Dry in the Summer (due to Sahara) • Cool and Wet In Winter (due to Northern Europe) – Sahara Desert = Hot Air – Himalayas = Cold Air Continentality • Distance from water – The farther away from water the greater change between winter and summer. • Land does not hold heat as well as water. – For example, two cities at same latitude • San Francisco – Jan. 57/ Jul. 69 • Kansas City – Jan. 22/ Jul. 89 Elevation • The higher the elevation the colder and drier the air is. – Air gets thin as it rises. • Cannot continue to hold heat or moisture. Mountain Barriers • Mountains block precipitation. – Windward: Side that air blows on that gets rain. – Leeward: Side without rain. – Example: Texas Panhandle is dry because Rocky Mountains block rain. Ocean Currents • Water of the oceans distribute heat. • Warm air from equator heads to poles, cold water from poles head to equator • Example: Marine West Coast Climate • Western Europe is much warmer (and wetter) than places of similar latitude because of warmer ocean currents. – Waters on the east coasts tend to be warm. – Waters on the west coasts tend to be cool. Pressure Cells • Lower Pressure Cells = Rising Warm Air • Higher Pressure Cells = Falling Cool Air – 0-30°= Low Pressure – 30-60°= High Pressure – 60-90°= Low Pressure Looking With LACEMOPS Storm Systems • Changes data but not long term patterns. – For example, hurricanes bring rain but not all year and not every year. Climate Zones: Polar *Ice Cap – Very Cold All Year *Tundra – Cold with little vegetation *Subarctic -Cold snowy winters, cool rainy summers Climate Zones: Temperate • Marine West Coast • Humid • Humid Subtropical – Warm summers, cool Continental winters, always wet – Warm rainy summers, snowy winters – Hot rainy summers, mild winters Climate Zones: Temperate to Arid *Mediterranean *Semi-Arid – Warm dry summers, cool short winters -Hot dry summer, cool dry winter *Arid – Hot and dry all year Climate Zones: Tropical • Tropical Wet and Dry – Hot all year, rainy/dry seasons • Tropical Wet – Hot and rainy all year Climate Zones: Special • Highlands – Varies with altitude Review • The lower the latitude the ____ the climates • Air that passes over a desert will spread _____ and ______ air. • If a place is far from water ____________. • The higher the elevation the ____ the air. • Moutains often block _____. LACEMOPS REVIEW • 1. Most important influence on climate • 2. Type of precipitation that occurs above the equator where hot air rises • 3. Mountains often block ______ leaving one side of a mountain a desert • 4. The position of the ____ causes earth’s seasons, climates, and day/night. • 5. Explains why climates in the center of a continent have more extreme changes in temperatures. • • • • • A. Continentality B. Precipitation C. Sun D. Latitude E. Convectional Climate and Ecosystems Climate: Average of temperatures and precipitation over a long period of time. Ecosystem: Interaction of plant, animal life, and the physical environment. Biomes: Major types of ecosystems in various regions of the world. Climate • Forests – Tropical Rainforest • Occur where wet and hot (Tropics) • Broadleaf Evergreens (Keep Leaves All Year) • Most diverse animals and plants – Mid-Latitude • Seasonal climates (Middle Latitudes) • Deciduous (Shed Their Leaves) – Coniferous • Occur in cold climates (Polar) • Needle Leaves and Cones to Protect Seeds • Grasslands (Center of Continents) – Tropical • Warm lands near equator • Have wet and dry seasons – Temperate • Occur in middle latitudes • Precipitation Varies • Deserts • Arid (Dry) • Specialized plants and animals • Tundra • Temperatures are always cool or cold • Small flowers, few plants, moss, lichen • Least diverse wildlife on earth
