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TRANSCRIPT
Climate
Agree or Disagree?
1. ____ Climate is the average weather pattern of an area.
2. ____ There are three latitude zones: tropical, temperate and polar.
What is CLIMATE
Climate is a yearlong average of weather patterns over an area.
Factors That Affect Climate
LatitudeElevationTopographyWater bodiesGlobal WindsVegetation
Latitude
As latitude increases, the intensity of solar energy decreases.
Three zonesTropicalTemperatePolar
The Zones
Tropical ZoneThe region
between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5ºN) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5ºS)
WARM YEAR ROUND
The Zones
Temperate ZoneThe region
between 23.5º and 66.5º North or South of the equator.
HOT summersCOLD winters
The Zones
Polar Zone The region from
66.5º north and south of the equator to the poles.
Very cold temperature year round.
Factors That Affect Climate
ElevationThe higher the
elevation is, the colder the climate.
The elevation of an area also determines the amount of precipitation it receives.
Factors that Affect Climate
Topography Topography features
such as mountains play an important role in the amount of precipitation that falls over an areas. Mountain can cause a
rain shadow event
Factors—Water Bodies
Large bodies of water such as lakes and oceans have an important effect on the temperature of an area because the temperature of the water body influences the temperature of the air above.
Factors
Atmospheric Circulation Global winds distribute heat
and moisture around Earth. Warm air moves to the
poles and cold air moves to the equator
Vegetation Affect both
temperature and the precipitation patterns in an area.
Agree or Disagree?
3. ____ Climate is the average weather pattern of an area.
4. ____ There are three latitude zones: tropical, temperate and polar.
Climatographs
Climatographs
Climatographs
Climatographs
Climatographs
Climatographs
Agree or Disagree?
5. ____ There are no processes that can change climate.
6. ____The Greenhouse effect is the natural warming of Earth’s lower atmosphere and surface.
7. ____ Global warming is the result of increased greenhouse gases, like CO2, being released by humans.
Worlds Climates
Most commonly used system for classification of climates Köppen Climate Classification Systems
Uses mean monthly and annual values of temperature and precipitation to classify climates.
Five principal groups Humid Tropical Dry Humid mid-latitude Polar Highland
Climates 101
Humid Tropical Climates
Climates without winters. Every month there is a mean
temperature above 18ºC.Amount of Precipitation can exceed 200
cm.Two Types
Wet TropicalTropical Wet and Dry
Humid Tropical Climates
Wet Tropical High temperatures High annual
precipitation
Tropical Wet and Dry High Temperatures High annual
precipitation Experience distinct
periods of low precipitation. Ex: Savannas
Humid Mid-Latitude Climates
Mild winters with an average temperature in the coldest month that is below 18ºC but above -3ºC
Severe winters have an average temperature in the coldest month that is below -3ºC.
Types Humid Mid-latitude With Mild Winters (3 types) Humid Mid-latitude With Severe Winters (2 types)
Humid Mid-Latitude With Mild Winters
Humid Subtropical Climates Between 25º and 40º
latitude on the eastern side of the continent.
Summer= hot, sultry Winter= mild
Marine West Coast Climates Between 40º and 65º N
or S on the coastal areaSummer= coolWinter= mildNorthern California to
southern Alaska
Humid Mid-Latitude With Mild Winters
Dry-Summer Subtropical ClimatesBetween 30º and 45º latitudeStrong winter rainfall Only found in California
Humid Mid-Latitude With Severe Winters
Humid Continental Climates Absent in Southern
Hemisphere Between 40º and 50º N
latitude Winters: severe Summers: warm and
greater precipitation
Subarctic Climates Winters are long
and bitterly cold Summers are warm
and very short. The highest annual
temperature range on Earth
Dry Climates
A dry climate is one in which the yearly precipitation is not as great as the potential loss of water by evaporation.
Two Types Arid or desert Semi arid or steppe—transition
zone that surrounds the desert and separates if from humid climates
Polar Climate
Polar climates are those in which the mean temperature of the warmest month is below 10ºC
Little precipitation falls Winters=extremely cold Summer=cool Two types
Tundra Ice Cap
Polar Climates
Tundra Treeless region found almost
exclusively in the Northern Hemisphere.
Plant life of mosses, shrubs and flowering herbs grow.
Ice Cap Monthly mean temps. below 0ºC Covered with permanent ice and
snow
Highland Climate
Highland climates are cooler and wetter than nearby areas at lower elevations
The oceans heat up slowly but retain the heat for a longer period of time.
Sea Breezes blow inland bringing rain and cools the land in the summer.
In the winter, the coastal climates are warmer and generally wet and mild.
Coastal Area Climates
Agree or Disagree?
8. ____ There are no processes that can change climate.
9. ____The Greenhouse effect is the natural warming of Earth’s lower atmosphere and surface.
10. ____ Global warming is the result of increased greenhouse gases, like CO2, being released by humans.
Natural Processes that Change Climate
Volcanic Eruption Ocean Circulation Solar Activity Earth Motions CO2 fluctuations
Ocean acidification
Natural Processes that Change Climate
Volcanic Eruptions The presence of volcanic
ash, dust, and aerosols in the air increase the amount of solar radiation that is reflected back into space. This causes Earth’s lower
atmosphere to cool.
Ocean Circulations Changes in ocean
circulation also can result in short-term climate fluctuation EX: El Niño
Natural Processes that Change Climate
Solar Activity The formation of
sunspots appears to correspond with warm periods in Europe and North America
Sunspot link
Earth Motions Geographic changes
in Earth’s land and water bodies cause changes in climate
Changes in the shape of Earth’s orbit and the tilt of Earth’s axis affect global climates.
Natural Processes that Change Climate
CO2 FluctuationsChanges in plant
growth ratesCO2 levels fall
during the growing season and rise in the winter
Natural Processes that Change Climate
Ocean AcidificationDecrease in the ocean’s pH levels in the
ocean. CO2 is absorbed by the ocean and forms carbonic acid.
Coral Reefs: High levels of CO2 negatively affects corals making their shells.
50% of coral reefs have been destroyedOcean Acidification
Human Impact on Climate Changes
The Greenhouse Effect Is a natural warming of both Earth’s lower
atmosphere and Earth’s Surface. Major Gases: Water vapor and Carbon
dioxide Makes life as we know it possible on Earth Humans have added more greenhouse
gases to the atmosphere in the past 200 years.
Greenhouse Effect clip NASA's link
Human Impact on Climate Changes
Global WarmingAs a result of increases in
CO2 as well as other greenhouse gases, global temperatures have increased.
Affects multiple natural events like the weather and melting the polar ice caps.
Global Warming clip NASA Global Warming Facts
El Nino verses La Nina
El Niño Trade winds weaken Warm ocean water
replaces offshore cold water near South America
Irregular intervals of three to seven years
Wetter than average winters in NC
Explanation of El Nino Another look at El Nino
La Niña Normal conditions between El Nino eventsWhen surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific are colder than averageThe southern US is usually warmer and dryer in climate
Occurs: three to seven years
El Nino Southern Oscillation: ENSO
World Climate Poster• Each group will need a
– Researcher, Presenter, Artist
• Your group will need to research about the characteristics of your assigned climate region.
– Average temperature and precipitation– Location on the Earth, latitude range and countries– If possible describe the seasons in this climate region– Examples of your region
• Information should be organized on a poster, in the following format:– Large title (name of climate region)– Pictures of the environment (scenes, animals, plants, maps, drawings, etc.)– Everything in color