Download Ch. 24.7: Climate

Climate: Average
Temperature & Precipitation of
a Region
Objective: Identify factors that affect
climate?
Climate = Long term weather of a region
Depends on temperature & precipitation
6 Climate Regions:
Tropical: Hot & wet or Hot w/ wet & dry seasons
Dry:
Desert
Temperate marine: humid w/ mild winters
Temperate continental: cold, snowy winters
Highlands: mt. regions, cool & wet
Polar: tundra & ice cap
Climate: Factors Affecting Temperature
1. Altitude: Cooler @ higher altitudes
2. Latitude:
– Cooler as you move away fr. equator.
– Same latitudes have similar temps (solar radiation)
3. Distance from bodies of water:
– Water moderates temps.  less variation
• Landlocked areas – more extreme temps. (Hotter
summers & colder winters)
4. Ocean currents can influence temps.
Warm current  milder winters (Gulf stream brings warmer temps
to UK)
Cold current  cooler summers (California current brings cooler
summer to San Francisco)
Climate: Factors Affecting Precipitation.
1. Latitude
Tropical air holds more moisture  rainy
2. Distribution of air pressure systems & global winds
a. High Pressure Areas  Dry sinking air (30 N& S
and poles)
b. Low Pressure Areas  Moist rising air (0 & 60
degrees)
c. Global Winds
Wind from sea: Carry moist air  Wet climate
Wind from land: Dry Climate
3. Mt. Barriers
Mts. Force warm moist air from sea up 
condenses & precips. on one side of Mt. Dry on
other side
Mt. Barriers (Orogenic Uplift)
WINDWARD SIDE
LEEWARD
•Warm air is pushed
up by mountain,
condenses, &
precipitaties
•Dry Air on opposite
side
•WET
•Desert - like
Mountain Barriers && Climate
Cascade Mts.
Mountain Barriers &
Climate (Orogenic
Uplift)
Note how the western side of the
Cascade Mts. (windward) are
green with vegetation. The
eastern side of the Cascades
(leeward) are brown – due to a
lack of vegetation (It’s dry on this
side of the mountain).
Global Pressure Systems & Climate
Low pressure latitudes: Rainy/snowy
High pressure latitudes: Dry
Global Ocean Currents
Warm currents (Gulf Stream): milder winters
Cold currents (California Current): cooler summers