Download Questions for Today:

Questions for Today:
 What is Weather and Climate?
 What are four major factors that determine
Global Air Circulation?
 How do Ocean Currents affect Climate?
Weather and Climate
 Weather is an area’s temperature,
precipitation, humidity, wind speed, cloud
cover, and other physical conditions of the
lower atmosphere over hours or day.
“Climate is what we expect, weather is
what we get.”
Mark Twain
Weather and Climate
 Climate is a region’s general pattern of
atmospheric or weather conditions over
years or decades or centuries.
– Two main factors determine climate
 Average Temperature
 Average Precipitation
– Two Minor factors:
 Latitude (Distance from the equator)
 Elevation (Height above sea level)
Major Climates
 8 Major Climate Zones:
– Polar (ice)
– Subarctic (snow)
– Cool Temperate
– Highland
– Warm Temperate
– Dry
– Tropical
– Major Upwelling Zones
Major Climate Zones
Solar Energy and Global Air
Circulation
 The amount of solar energy reaching an
area can affect a local climate.
 The amount of solar energy and the way the
earth rotates caused a cyclical heating and
cooling of the earth’s atmosphere and air.
– Warm air rises, cool air falls.
 Global Air Circulation
Global Air Circulation

4 major factors determine Global Air
Circulation:
1. The Uneven heating of the earth’s surface
2. Seasonal Changes in temperature and
precipitation
3. Rotation of the earth on it’s axis
4. Properties of air, water, and land.
4 major factors explained
 “Uneven heating of the earth’s Surface”
– The energy and heat at the equator is more
concentrated than at the poles.
– Tropical Zones exist closer to the equator than the
Poles.
 “Seasonal changes in temperature and
precipitation”
– Due to earth’s tilt on its axis, season’s are created
dependent on the distance an area is from the equator
 Also creates opposite seasons in the northern and southern
hemispheres.
4 major factors explained
 “Rotation of the earth on its axis”
– Since earth rotates on its axis, the equator spins
faster than the polar regions.
 The Coriolis effect is created
– Creates cells and prevailing winds
 Major surface winds that blow almost continuously
and distribute air, moisture, and dust over the earth’s
surface.
4 major factors explained
 “Properties of air, water, and land”
– Heat from the sun evaporates ocean water and
transfers heat from the ocean to the
atmosphere.
 Creates cyclical convection cells that circulate air,
heat and mositure.
Coriolis Effect
Ocean Currents
 The major Ocean Currents also affect the
climates of regions.
 Ocean water absorb heat from the air
circulation.
 Ocean currents flow clockwise in the
Northern hemisphere, and clockwise in the
Southern Hemisphere.
Major Ocean Currents