climate. what is the difference between climate and weather? "climate is what you expect;...
TRANSCRIPT
Climate
What is the difference between Climate and Weather?
• "Climate is what you expect; weather is what you get"
• Weather- the current condition of the atmosphere in a given time or place
• Climate- weather conditions in a geographic region over a long period of time.
Climate characteristics
• Temperature
• Precipitation
• Wind
Factors Affecting Climate
• Elevation
• Latitude
• Wind
• Proximity to Water
Factors Affecting Climate: Elevation
Factors Affecting Climate: Elevation
Latitude Zones
• Places along the same degree of latitude often have similar climates.
• Richmond is at 37 degrees N. Find five cities around the world that are close to 37 degrees N.
• Low latitudes • Middle latitudes• High latitudes
Equator
Tropic of Cancer
Tropic of Capricorn
Antarctic Circle
Arctic Circle
Graphic created by EJoyce
Equator
Tropic of Cancer
Tropic of Capricorn
Antarctic Circle
Arctic CircleHIGH
LOW
HIGH
MIDDLE
MIDDLE
90
90
0
23 1/2
23 1/2
66 1/2
66 1/2
Graphic created by EJoyce
Equator
Tropic of Cancer
Tropic of Capricorn
Antarctic Circle
Arctic Circle
HIGH
HIGH
MIDDLE
MIDDLE
90 S
90 N
0
23 ½ N
23 ½ S
66 ½ N
66 ½ S
LOW
North Pole
South PoleGraphic created by EJoyce
Climate Zones
Low latitudes
Low latitudes
• Climate Zone extending from:
• Tropic of Cancer (23.5 N) through the Equator (0) to the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 S)
• Hot
• This area of the world receives the most direct sunlight
Climate zones in low latitudes: Tropical Wet
What are the characteristics of a Tropical Wet climate?
Climate zones in low latitudes: Tropical Wet and Dry
Climate zones in low latitudes: Arid
Climate zones in low latitudes: Semiarid
Middle Latitudes
• From Tropics to Arctic and Antarctic Circles
• Distinct seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)
• Climate varies depending on time of year
• United States, Europe, much of Asia
Climate zones in middle latitudes: Mediterranean
Climate zones in middle latitudes: Marine West Coast
Climate zones in middle latitudes: Humid Subtropical
Climate zones in middle latitudes: Highland
Climate zones in middle latitudes: Arid
• Can an arid climate contain a desert that is cold?
High Latitudes
• From the circles to the poles
• Least amount of direct sunlight
• Cold!
Climate Zones in high latitudes: Subartic
Climate zones in high latitudes: Tundra
Climate zones in high latitudes: Icecap
Factors Affecting Climate: Wind
Factors Affecting Climate: Wind
• Winds are created by unequal heating of the atmosphere.
• Because climate regions have different temperature patterns, their prevailing winds differ.
• Prevailing winds- the wind that blows most often in an area, usually identified by the direction from which it comes
Factors Affecting Climate: Wind
• What are westerlies?• What are trade winds?• What are the
doldrums?• What are horse
latitudes?
Factors Affecting Climate: Proximity to Water
• Places located near large bodies of water have a relatively mild climate.
• Water does not heat up or cool down as quickly as the air temperature.
• The warmer breezes blowing off the water help regulate the temperature.
Places located close to large bodies of warm water have a milder climate. Notice the warm ocean current off the coast of northwest Europe- the North Atlantic Drift.
North Atlantic Drift
Compare the climate of London, England with a city in Canada at the same latitude belt. Which region has
the mildest climate? Why?
Combining Climate Elements
High mountains located near large bodies of water block the moisture that blows in from the ocean and create a rain shadow on the leeward side of the mountain.
Windward side of the Mountain
Leeward side of the Mountain
Rain Shadow
Define the following:
• Windward
• Leeward
• Rain Shadow
• Windward- the side of the mountain that faces the ocean and receives precipitation
• Leeward- the arid side of the mountain
• Rain shadow- the leeward side of the mountain that receives little precipitation.
Mountains
Rain shadow
Rain is blocked by the mountains
Winds blow in from west to east and are blocked by the coastal mountains. The moisture never makes it across the mountains
http://gis.binghamton.edu/GIS%20Sites.htm
Helena, MT & Seattle, WA- Why the different climate?
• Helena & Seattle- Similar latitudes
• Helena- 43.9 average temperature/11.8 avg. rainfall
• Seattle- 52.5 avg. temperature/33.6 avg. rainfall