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Student Study Guide
for
Weather and Climate –Concept 2
Concept 2 study guide will address the following:
Determine how the following are affected by predictable patterns of weather
 Temperature
 Wind direction and speed
How we use weather data to establish a climate record and reveal any trends
Determine the influence of geography on weather and climate
 Mountains
 Sea breezes
 Water Bodies
Concept 2 – The Sun and the rotational pattern of the
Earth’s movement around the Sun provide the energy
to drive the weather.
Concept 2 – You should be able to show your understanding of the roles that the sun
and earth’s properties (landforms and latitude) play in determining weather and climate.
What does the angle of the sun have to do with climate?
The Sun is the source of energy that creates our weather. Sunlight is the energy that hits the
earth’s surface and warms it up. The heat from the warm land and water goes back up into
the atmosphere and warms up the air around the earth. But, the Earth’s surface is curved. So
the angle of the Sun’s rays hitting the earth is not the same at all locations on the Earth. The
areas around the equator get the most direct sunlight. Direct sunlight means that the Sun is
shining directly on a particular part of the Earth. Direct sunlight is the strongest and creates
more heat.
So areas around the equator have the warmest climates. We call these tropical climates.
Areas around the North Pole and South Pole get indirect sunlight. Indirect sunlight means
that the Sun is shining at a low angle and these areas. So indirect sunlight provides less heat
and therefore has the coldest climates. We call these the polar climates. North Carolina can
be found in between the North Pole and the equator so we have a temperate climate.
Temperate climates have moderate temperatures that change with the seasons, warm in the
summer and cool in the winter. Sunlight hits the temperate regions more directly in summer
and less directly in winter.
How can North Carolina get both direct and indirect sunlight?
There are two other ways that the area you live in receives direct and indirect sunlight. The
first is by the Sun’s pattern every day. The Sun rises in the east in the morning and the Sun is
close to the horizon. When the angle of the Sun is lower in the horizon, the energy from the
Sun is weaker. This causes a lower temperature than when the Sun is directly overhead and
providing direct sunlight. The same thing happens when the Sun sets in the evening. Again
the Sun is at a lower angle resulting in lower temperatures.
Another way that North Carolina receives direct and indirect light is by the tilt of the Earth on
its axis. The Earth is slightly tilted as it rotates around the Sun every 365 days (one year).
The Earth has that imaginary line around the middle of it called the equator. The area above
or north of the equator is called the Northern Hemisphere. The area below or south is called
the Southern Hemisphere. North Carolina is located in the Northern Hemisphere. As the
Earth rotates around the Sun, sometimes the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun.
When this happens the sunlight hitting North Carolina is more direct and we have summer.
When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, North Carolina experiences
indirect sunlight and winter weather. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun,
the Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun. So when North Carolina is having
summer weather, Sidney, Australia is having winter weather.
What are the other factors that can affect climate?
A region’s climate is affected by many other things. These things include the region’s latitude,
elevation, and their nearness to large bodies of water and nearby ocean currents. Latitude is
the distance from the equator. Remember the Northern and Southern Hemispheres? In
general, the farther away from the equator you are, the cooler its climate is. The North Pole is
at 90˚N and the equator is at 0˚. Where do you think the South Pole is located? Remember
the polar, temperate and tropical climates? In general, the farther away from the equator a
region is, the cooler the climate.
Elevation is the height above sea level. The higher a place is above sea level, the cooler its
climate is. A really high mountain can have different climates. At the base of the mountain
you could find tropical plants. Half way up the mountain there could be pine forests like the
ones found in a temperate climate. At the mountain peak you could find permanent snow and
frost. In general, the higher a region’s elevation, the cooler its climate is.
Bodies of water and ocean currents can also affect the climate of a region. Land and water
heat and cool at different rates. Land heats up faster in sunlight than water does. Land also
cools off faster than water. As a result, air temperatures over land are warmer in the summer
and cooler in the winter. But if the land is close to a large body of water, the climate can be
milder and wetter as the warm moist air from the water blows inland.
Winds move water across the surface of the ocean. As this water moves, it moves warm or
cool air with it. A warm current, the Gulf Stream, flows up along the east coast giving the
Coastal region of North Carolina milder temperatures than the Piedmont area. The California
Current, a cool current, moves down along the west coast of the United States. So, cold
currents make nearby land cooler and warm currents make nearby land warmer.
Now It’s Your Turn
What causes the weather?
How does the angle of the Sun’s rays affect climate?
What other factors affect climate on the Earth?
Explain the relationship between the tilt of the Earth and the seasons?
Why do you think that land heats up faster than water?
Compare and contrast direct and indirect sunlight.
Explain why the morning usually begins with lower temperatures that rise during the day and fall again
at night.
If there were no winds, how would this affect the climate of Coastal North Carolina?
Explain why the Mountain regions of North Carolina have cooler temperatures than the Piedmont
region.