A) Climate vs. WeatherClimate is the weather

pattern in one place over a long period of time

Weather is the current atmospheric conditions, including temperature, rainfall, wind, and humidity at a given place

B) Earth

’s Tilt

& Rotation

Tilt affects the temperature of places.

Earth makes one rotation on its axis to cause day & night.

Earth takes 365 ¼ days to revolve around the sun.

C) The Seasons• Earth’s revolution & the tilt

create seasons

• March 21st

• Sun’s rays fall directly on equator

• Equinox (equal night)

• Tropic of Capricorn – 23 ½o S• December 22nd – Winter

Solstice• Shortest day of sunlight in

northern hemisphere

• Tropic of Cancer – 23 ½o N• June 21st – Summer Solstice• Earth moves so sun falls on

this latitude. • Longest day of sunlight in

northern hemisphere

Let's see this process in action!

Add notes to your diagram as well as the space around it.

D) The Greenhouse EffectEarth’s atmosphere acts as a

like in a greenhouse- it traps sun’s energy.

Greenhouse EffectAtmosphere provides just

the right amount of insulation to promote life.

Sun’s radiation turns into heat.

Global warmingSome scientists believe

there is a rise in CO 2 levels (carbon dioxide). More heat is trapped.

Why Global Warming?Human

activitiesBurning of

coal, oil, and natural gas

releases CO2

Or is this phenomenon a natural occurrence?

E) Factors Affecting Climate

LEMPOS!!!

Factors Affecting Climate• L :Latitude • rays of sun & how it strikes the earth • low latitudes get sun year-round (hot all year)• Middle latitudes (tropics to poles) are temperate• Great temperature shifts• True seasonal changes

• High latitudes (Arctic & Antarctic Circles) – Cold all year

Factors Affecting Climate

• E: Elevation• atmosphere gets thinner • thinner air retains less heat…not as dense as

altitude increases

Factors Affecting Climate• M: Mountain Barriers • Orographic effect (Rain shadow)• Winds with moisture cool as they move up the mountain

and dry out – windward side• Weather patterns weaken or are even stopped as they

move across the mountains – leeward side

Factors Affecting Climate• P: Proximity (closeness) to water• Water slower to heat than land, so land near water has

consistent temperature• Affected by landforms• Tilt of the Earth on its access also play a part

Factors Affecting Climate• O: Ocean currents• Rivers flowing in the ocean - Cold and warm streams of water

move through oceans (based on earth’s rotation, differences in water temperature, and change in air pressure).

• Warm waters flow away from the Equator toward the poles; cold water back toward the Equator

• Wind and ocean currents distribute the sun’s heat through CONVECTION (heat rises…)

• Global wind patterns work the same way• Direct influence on precipitation

Doldrums

Trade Winds

Trade Winds

Prevailing Westerlies

Prevailing Westerlies

Factors Affecting Climate• S: Storms• El Nino (boy with the warm

heart)• Weather pattern• Seasonal rains in the Americas• Drought in Australia/Asia• Every 2-7 years

• La Nina (girl with the cold heart)• Weather pattern• Reverse of El Nino• Flooding around and toward India• Drier on the coasts• Certain geographical areas

receive more storms than others• Hurricane vs. typhoon• Tornado Alley

F) Types of Climates: Low Latitude – Tropical

Hot and muggy all year round.

Rain forests – Average annual rainfall varies from about 70 to 100 inches; Average 80o F for high temperatures

Deciduous forests

F) Types of Climates:Low to Mid-Latitudes

Little precipitation.

Savanna: broad grassland in the tropics with few trees.

Steppe climate usually borders desert climates.

Desert rainfall is 10 inches (Steppe b/t 10 and 20 inches)

Covers 24% of land

F) Types of Climates:Mid-latitude- Mediterranean

Warm to hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters.

On the west side of continents (marine west coast)

Between 30 degrees and 45 degrees latitude.

Southern California and near Mediterranean Sea

F) Types of Climates:Highland

In mountainous regions.

Humid continental

Varies with elevation.

Evergreen & Deciduous trees grow at base of mountains.

F) Types of Climates:High-Latitude to Subarctic

Short, cool summers and long, bitterly cold winters.

Permafrost: permanently frozen lower layers of soil in the tundra and subarctic regions

Needle-leaved evergreen trees (coniferous forests)

Most precipitation falls in the summer.

F) Types of Climates:High Latitudes to

Icecap

Coldest on earth.

Summer temperatures rarely rise above the freezing point.

Supports no vegetation.

Precipitation is meager and is almost always in the form of snow.