Climate TermsClimate Terms

Factors Affecting ClimateFactors Affecting ClimateA. Low Latitudes (30° S. to 30° N)

B. High Latitudes (60-90° N, 60-90° S.)

C. Arctic Circle (66° N)

D. Antarctic Circle (66° S)

E. Mid Latitudes (30-60°, N & S)

Factors Affecting ClimateFactors Affecting Climate

Latitude plays a major role in climate. The farther one gets from the Equator, the cooler the climate.

Latitude, Elevation, and Latitude, Elevation, and ClimateClimate

Latitude and elevation affect the Latitude and elevation affect the angle of the sunangle of the sun’’s rays and s rays and temperatures temperatures on Earthon Earth

Low latitudes include the Tropic of Low latitudes include the Tropic of Capricorn, the Equator, and the Tropic Capricorn, the Equator, and the Tropic of Cancer (30N-30S).of Cancer (30N-30S).

The EarthThe Earth’’s polar areas are s polar areas are considered the high latitudes.considered the high latitudes.

Latitude, Elevation, and Latitude, Elevation, and Climate (cont.)Climate (cont.)

Mid latitudes: Mid latitudes: (2)Between 30 degrees N- 60 degrees (2)Between 30 degrees N- 60 degrees

N in the N. Hemisphere, & between N in the N. Hemisphere, & between 30 degrees S - 60 degrees S in the 30 degrees S - 60 degrees S in the Southern Hemisphere, are considered Southern Hemisphere, are considered the mid latitudes.the mid latitudes.

(2)The most variable weather is (2)The most variable weather is found here.found here.

Elevation:Elevation:

At all latitudes, elevation influences At all latitudes, elevation influences climate because of the relationship climate because of the relationship between the elevation of a place and between the elevation of a place and its temperature.its temperature.

As elevation increases, temperature As elevation increases, temperature decreasesdecreases

High elevations are generally cooler than the surrounding landscape. (The “rule of thumb” is 3.5 degrees for every 1,000 feet.)

The Influence of Elevation on Temperature

Winds and Ocean CurrentsWinds and Ocean Currents

Wind and water combine with the Wind and water combine with the effects of the sun to influence Eartheffects of the sun to influence Earth’’s s weather and climate.weather and climate.

Wind Patterns:Wind Patterns:– Wind blows because of temperature Wind blows because of temperature

differences on Earthdifferences on Earth’’s surface, with s surface, with tropical air moving toward the Poles tropical air moving toward the Poles and polar air moving toward the and polar air moving toward the Equator.Equator.

Winds and Ocean CurrentsWinds and Ocean Currents

*Warm currents=moisture to coasts*Warm currents=moisture to coasts

*Cold currents=dry, cool air to coasts*Cold currents=dry, cool air to coasts

–Global winds blow in fairly constant Global winds blow in fairly constant patternspatterns called prevailing winds. called prevailing winds.–The Coriolis effect The Coriolis effect causes prevailing causes prevailing winds to blow diagonally rather than winds to blow diagonally rather than along strict n.-s. or e.-w. along strict n.-s. or e.-w. directions.directions.

DoldrumsDoldrums

A frequently windless area near the A frequently windless area near the EquatorEquator

Ocean CurrentOcean Current

Cold or warm stream of seawater that Cold or warm stream of seawater that flows in the oceans, generally in a flows in the oceans, generally in a circular patterncircular pattern

Ocean currents are Ocean currents are caused bycaused by factors such as:factors such as:

the the EarthEarth’’s rotations rotation changes in air pressurechanges in air pressure differences in water temperaturedifferences in water temperature The Coriolis effect is observed in The Coriolis effect is observed in

ocean currents as well.ocean currents as well. Ocean currents affect climate in the Ocean currents affect climate in the

coastal lands along which they flow.coastal lands along which they flow.

El NiñoEl Niño

A A periodic reversal of the pattern of periodic reversal of the pattern of ocean currents, water temperatures ocean currents, water temperatures and weather and weather and it can impact and it can impact different places throughout the world!different places throughout the world!

Rain Shadow

Rain ShadowRain Shadow Warm ocean air creates precipitation Warm ocean air creates precipitation

for windward (ocean)side of mtn, but for windward (ocean)side of mtn, but the leeward side remains dry, thus the leeward side remains dry, thus creating shadow.(draw)creating shadow.(draw)

Other Factors of ClimateOther Factors of Climate

ContinentalityContinentality--Smaller daily and Smaller daily and seasonal changes on coasts. seasonal changes on coasts. Coasts Coasts tend to be more humid and tend to be more humid and moderate, whereas inland areas tend moderate, whereas inland areas tend to be more dry & have more extreme to be more dry & have more extreme temps. temps.

LandformsLandforms-Mtns, large bodies water-Mtns, large bodies water

World Climate PatternsWorld Climate PatternsGeographers divide the world into major climate regions.

The major climate regions are tropical, dry, midlatitude, high latitude and highland climates. Each of these can be broken down into smaller categories.

Each climate region has its own characteristic natural vegetation.

Climate patterns change over time as a result of both natural processes and human activity.

Climate RegionsClimate Regions

Climates are organized into five Climates are organized into five regions:regions:

– Tropical climates—these are found in Tropical climates—these are found in or near the or near the low latitudes—the Tropics low latitudes—the Tropics and tend to have hot average temps.and tend to have hot average temps.

Tropical Tropical wet (summer)wet (summer) & dry (winter) & dry (winter) (2 seasons)

More about ClimatesMore about Climates

– Dry climates—there are two types of Dry climates—there are two types of dry climates—the dry climates—the desert and the desert and the steppe—which occur in low latitudes steppe—which occur in low latitudes or midlatitudes.or midlatitudes.

– Midlatitude climates—this climate Midlatitude climates—this climate experiences experiences variable weather variable weather patterns and season changespatterns and season changes that that give rise to a give rise to a variety of natural variety of natural vegetation.vegetation.

Terms associated with Midlatitude Climate

Coniferous Referring to Referring to

vegetation having vegetation having cones and needle-cones and needle-shaped leaves, shaped leaves, including many including many evergreens, that keep evergreens, that keep their foliage their foliage throughout the winterthroughout the winter

Deciduous Falling off or shed Falling off or shed

seasonally or seasonally or periodically; trees periodically; trees such as oak and such as oak and maple which lose their maple which lose their leaves in autumn leaves in autumn

2626

Mixed Forest

Forest with both coniferous and Forest with both coniferous and deciduous trees deciduous trees

2727

Temperate climate regionsTemperate climate regions

These are moderate & have 4 These are moderate & have 4 seasons!seasons!

There are four temperate climate There are four temperate climate regionsregionsMarine west coast climateMarine west coast climateMediterraneanMediterraneanHumid subtropicalHumid subtropicalHumid continentalHumid continental

High Latitude Climate RegionsHigh Latitude Climate Regions

High latitude climates—High latitude climates—freezing freezing temperatures are common temperatures are common throughout the year throughout the year because of the because of the lack of direct sunlight.lack of direct sunlight.

Three high altitude climate regions Three high altitude climate regions are:are:

Subarctic Subarctic Tundra Tundra Ice capIce cap

Permafrost

Permanently frozen layer of soil ermanently frozen layer of soil beneath the surface of the ground beneath the surface of the ground

3030