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Climate vs. Weather • The main difference between weather and climate is the length of time over which both are measured. • Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular time. Weather temperatures vary from day to day and include temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, and visibility. • Climate is the average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time. Climate is mostly determined by two factors – temperature and precipitation. 5 Factors that determine Climates • Latitude • Wind patterns • Mountains • Large bodies of water • Ocean Currents Latitude • Latitude- Lines that run east and west around the globe and measure the distance north or south from the equator (measured in degrees) • The higher the latitude is, the colder the climate tends to be. • Solar Energy and Latitude The amount of direct solar energy a particular area receives is determined by latitude. • Areas at the equator are hot because the sun’s rays hit it directly. Latitude (cont’d) • Seasons and Latitude Seasons happen because the Earth is tilted on its axis. This tilt affects how much solar energy an area receives as Earth moves around the sun. Prevailing Winds • Prevailing Winds – winds that blow mainly from one direction. • Prevailing winds affect the amount of precipitation that a region receives – If prevailing winds form from warm air, they may carry moisture. – If prevailing winds form from cold air, they will probably be dry. Prevailing Winds (cont’d) • The amount of moisture in prevailing winds is also affected by whether the winds blow across land or across a large body of water. – Winds that travel across large bodies of water absorb moisture. – Winds that travel across land tend to be dry. Mountains • Mountains can influence an area’s climate by affecting both temperature and precipitation. • Example – Mt. Kilimanjaro – 3 degrees South of Equator, but still has snow on its mountain tops year-round. • As elevation increases, temperature decreases. Large Bodies of Water • Water vs. Land - Water absorbs and releases heat slower than land does. • Because of this fact, water helps to moderate the temperatures of the land around it. • So, sudden or extreme temperature changes rarely take place on land near large bodies of water. Ocean Currents • Surface Currents Surface currents are streamlike movements of water that occur at or near the surface of the ocean. • Surface Currents and Climate As surface currents move, they carry warm or cool water to different locations. Climates of the World • Plants and animals that have adapted to one climate may not be able to live in another climate. For example, frogs would not be able to survive at the North Pole. • The three major climate • • zones are determined by latitude. In each of these zones, there are several types of climates because of differences in the geography and the amount of precipitation. There are different biomes in each zone. A biome is a large region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain types of plant and animal communities.