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Download 5 Themes & 6 Essential Elements of Geography
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Weather and Climate Chapter 3 Factors Affecting Climate Section 1 The Sun and Latitude • Latitude/Climate Relationship – Middle and High: distinct seasons – Low: warm all year – Polar: cold all year • Sun’s Radiant Energy – ½ reflected or absorbed by atmosphere, ½ absorbed by Earth’s surface – Greenhouse effect • Earth’s air slows rate of heat escape into space The Sun and Latitude • Global warming: fossil fuel emissions? – Emissions from fossil fuels’ combustion produces carbon dioxide – Carbon dioxide absorbs and retains heat in Earth’s atmosphere – Scientists divided • Some argue that temp. increased due to human/environment interaction • Some argue that warming trend is a natural occurrence – Ample evidence on both sides of the argument…decide for yourself The Sun and Latitude The Sun and Latitude Atmospheric Pressure • Increase in altitude = decrease in pressure • Heating and cooling of air causes changes in atmospheric pressure – Warm air rises = low pressure – Cooled air drops = high pressure Atmospheric Pressure • Centers of low pressure, warm air rising (cyclones) = unstable, stormy weather • Centers of high pressure, cold air dropping = stable, clear, dry weather Atmospheric Pressure • Four major air pressure zones – – – – Equatorial low Subtropical highs Subpolar lows Polar highs Global Wind Belts Prevailing Winds Global Winds Animation Global Wind Belts • Prevailing Winds – Doldrums • Equatorial zone – little to no wind – NE Trade Winds – Westerlies • Middle latitudes – west-to-east flow – Polar Easterlies • Eastward flow from polar to middle latitudes • Fronts – Two air masses of widely different temp. or moisture level meet; precipitation results Global Wind Belts • Jet Stream –Prevailing winds in upper atmosphere •Up to 300 mph Oceans and Currents • Currents moderate the effects of latitude on climate –Water heats and cools more slowly than land –Landforms near currents experience the currents effects • Gulf Stream/North Atlantic Drift Oceans and Currents Oceans and Currents Oceans and Currents • Plymouth, England • http://www.worldclimate.com/cgi-bin/data.pl?ref=N50W004+1102+03827W • Kiev, Ukraine http://www.worldclimate.com/cgi-bin/data.pl?ref=N50E030+1102+33345W 1 Distributing the Sun’s Heat Weather Factors Section 2 Precipitation • Forms of precipitation – – – – Rain Snow Sleet Hail • Persistent in low-pressure zones • Lowest in high-pressure zones Elevation and Mountains Elevation 1,000 ft. increase = 3.5°F decrease or -1°C/100m increase Mountains Orographic effect Windward side – high precipitation Leeward side – rain shadow Elevation and Mountains Elevation and Mountains Frontal Precipitation Storms Storms Storms Storms Storms Climate and Vegetation Patterns Section 3 Climate and Vegetation • Dry (Arid) Climates –Arid • Found at about 30° N & S latitude, sometimes on W coasts of continents • Subtropical high-pressure zone • <10” of annual precip. –Semiarid • Transition zone between arid and humid regions • Grain-growing areas (American Great Arid & Semiarid Climate and Vegetation • Middle-Latitude Climates –Mediterranean • Found on coastal areas of S Europe or W coasts of continents w/cool ocean currents –Semiarid • Transition zone between arid and humid regions • Grain-growing areas (American Great Plains)
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