Download S Climate and Seasons NOTES

Name_________________________________
Chapter 8 Climate and Seasons
Date________
Climate- atmospheric conditions measured over a ____________ time period.
1) ______________ climates are moderate with large seasonal changes in
temperature, just like NY.
2) ______________ climates have little or no precipitation or humidity.
Factors affecting Climate
1) Latitude- the further away from the ________________________, the lower
the average temperatures.
2) Precipitation- usually found around _____ºN and S of the equator and at the
equator.
a) Caused by the Earth’s __________________ acting on terrestrial
winds, which causes 3 convection cells per hemisphere (ESRT pg 14)
b) The pressure belts actually shift toward the ________________ in the
winter and towards the poles in the summer.
3) Altitude- the further up in altitude you go, the _____________________ the
average temperatures.
a) Caused by adiabatic cooling, where air rises, reducing air pressure,
which causes air to expand and become cooler. This process creates
clouds.
4) Mountain Ranges- _______________, ___________________ air builds on
the windward side of the mountain, causing adiabatic cooling, which causes
clouds and rain. On the leeward side, that air descends, losing moisture and
heating up.
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5) Oceans and Large bodies of water- places located near bodies of water and
on coastlines, have moderate temperatures, because of water and lands
specific heat, which causes less extreme heat or cold.
a) Ocean Currents- ____________________ water produces cool air
above it and vice versa (ESRT pg. 4)
6) Planetary Wind Belts- Prevailing winds effect ocean currents (ESRT pg 14)
a) Low pressure zones or _________________, ___________________
air currents are created near the equator and mid latitudes
b) High-pressure zones or ____________________, ________________
air currents are created near the poles and between 20-30N and S
latitude.
7) Vegetation- a lot of vegetation keeps temperatures ________________ by
holding cool air during the day and trapping the warmth at night.
a) Increased urbanization and ______________________ have caused
local climates to become drier and warmer.
8) Urban heat Islands- like in _____________, where buildings, heating and
cooking systems and all forms of transportation cause heat to be trapped and
increase temperatures.
9) Monsoons- Large continents, such as Asia cause masses of very cold and dry
air to build up during the winter, causing strong winds. The cool air warms as
it moves towards the sea and winds reverse causing summer monsoons.
10) Typical Storm Tracks- Weather moves from ____________to ___________
across the U.S.
11) The climate in NY-http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/national/
Insolation- INcoming SOLar RadiATION
The strength of the insolation depends on:
1) The angle of insolation, which is how ________________________________
is in the sky from the horizon.
a) The sun is always at its _____________________________________
and has its greatest intensity during the day, at noon.
b) In the Northern hemisphere the sun has its ______________________
angle of insolation during the winter solstice (Dec. 21) and its highest
angle during the summer solstice (June 21)
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c) Because the Earth is ______________________, each line of latitude
has a different angle of insolation. Throughout the year, one line of
latitude within the tropics (23.5N or S and 0) will receive vertical
rays. This accounts for the tropical/higher temperatures.
On ________________________, the Tropic of Cancer (23.5N) receives the most direct
rays along with all points north, which accounts for the warmer temperatures.
2) The duration of insolation, or ___________________________ the sun is out.
a) As the angle of insolation and the duration of insolation
______________________, the temperatures at Earth’s surface increase.
On the summer solstice the Northern Hemisphere has the greatest duration of insolation and the further
north you go, the longer the daylight hours. For example, at the end of June, the sun is in the sky for 24
hours at locations north of the Arctic Circle. At the equator, the sun is always out for 12 hours. At any
location on Earth, the sun is above the horizon for 6 months and below it for 6 months, which means that at
the poles there is 6 months of sunlight followed by 6 months of darkness.
3) The ___________________________ of insolation on the Earth’s surface.
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a) Most of the sun’s energy that reaches the Earth is _________________
energy, however the atmosphere blocks much of the sun’s light.
b) ___________________ reflect half the light back to space.
c) Short wavelengths or high-energy waves,
such as _______________ are absorbed by ozone
(O3) and longer wavelengths or low energy
waves, such as infrared (heat) are absorbed by
CO2 and H2O. This concept is much like the
greenhouse effect, where the shorter visible light
waves hit the Earth and are reflected back out as
longer infrared waves of heat.
d) At any latitude areas can absorb energy
________________________ based on the type
of materials. Thinking back to specific heat, the
water heats up slower than other materials, but
cools down slower as well.
4) Reflection of Insolation accounts for about ______% of all sunlight received
by the Earth.
a) ___________________, the atmosphere and the Earth’s surface reflect
solar energy.
b) Reflection occurs when land is ____________________ in color or
covered by snow or ice.
Insolation Temperature Lag- time it takes the Earth and atmosphere to _____________
either on a daily or yearly basis
1) Although June 21st is the first day of summer in the Northern hemisphere, the
warmest times are in July and August.
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Seasons
1) Circadian rhythm- an internal clock that allows humans and _______________
to know when they should be active and when they should rest.
2) Solar Noon- when the sun reaches its _________________ point in the sky,
which in the Northern Hemisphere is due south.
a) The only locations’ on the Earth where the sun is directly overhead is
23.5ºN and S of the equator and at the equator.
Name
Date
June 21
Position _____
Key points
North Pole is tilted towards the sun
Sun is highest in the sky in NY
Longest day, shortest night
Sun is directly over the Tropic of ____________________.
Fall (autumnal) Equinox
Position ____
September 23 Equal day and night
Sun is directly over the ________________________
Winter Solstice
Position A
December 21 North Pole is tilted away from the sun
Shortest day, longest night
Sun is directly over the Tropic of _____________________
Spring (vernal) Equinox
Position _____
Sun is directly over the ________________________
Equal day and night
**Note: the distance away from the sun does NOT cause the seasons. **
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3) During the winter and spring, the sun rises and sets more _________________
and in the summer and fall it rises and sets more southward.
a) In the spring, the Sun is at ______º from the horizon at solar noon.
The sun rises due east at around 6am and sets sue west at 6pm.
b) In the __________________, the Sun is at 71.5º from the horizon at
solar noon. The sun rises in the northeast around 4:30am and sets at
around 7:30pm.
c) In the ________________, the Sun is back at 48º from the horizon at
solar noon. The sun rises due east around 6am and sets at around 6pm.
d) In the winter, the Sun is at ______ º from the horizon at solar noon.
The sun rises in the northeast around 7:30am and sets at around
4:30pm.
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