LAMECOWS

Factors Affecting Climate

LatitudeLatitude

The farther away from the Equator, The farther away from the Equator, the colder the climate becomes. the colder the climate becomes.

Low

Mid

Mid

Cold

Warm

Hot

Warm

Cold

High

High

Tropic of Cancer

Equator

Tropic of Capricorn

From which From which latitude zone were latitude zone were

these pictures these pictures taken?taken?

Rainforest

Tundra

Steppe

Air PressureAir Pressure

Air pressure is caused by the unequal Air pressure is caused by the unequal heating of earth’s surface.heating of earth’s surface.

1. Low pressure is warm, moist air. It 1. Low pressure is warm, moist air. It raises and forms clouds. raises and forms clouds.

2. High pressure is cold, dry air.2. High pressure is cold, dry air.

It sinks and creates clear skies.It sinks and creates clear skies.

Mountain BarriersMountain Barriers Mountain Barriers create a phenomenon Mountain Barriers create a phenomenon

called the Orographic Effect or called the Orographic Effect or Rainshadow.Rainshadow.

The rainshadow helps create deserts The rainshadow helps create deserts

Ex. Sierra Nevada mountains in CA Ex. Sierra Nevada mountains in CA receive nice amounts of precipitation, receive nice amounts of precipitation, Las Vegas, NV is in the rainshadow Las Vegas, NV is in the rainshadow creating a desert climate.creating a desert climate.

Rainshadow EffectRainshadow Effect

Windward Side Leeward side

‘Wet’ side ‘Dry’ side

This rainshadow region in India was createdby the presence of the Western Ghats mountain

range, which block the monsoon(seasonal) winds from the west.

ElevationElevation As elevation increases, temperature As elevation increases, temperature decreases. decreases.

1. For every thousand feet the 1. For every thousand feet the

temperature drops 3.6°F temperature drops 3.6°F In a highlands climate, lower elevation In a highlands climate, lower elevation

means more vegetationmeans more vegetation

Continental LocationContinental Location

Large bodies of water are slower to Large bodies of water are slower to heat and cool than land. heat and cool than land.

As a result, water temps. remain As a result, water temps. remain stable, and land temps. change stable, and land temps. change frequently .frequently .

Coastlines have Coastlines have stablestable temperatures. temperatures. Interior of continent has Interior of continent has extremeextreme

temperatures (hotter and colder)temperatures (hotter and colder)

Ocean CurrentsOcean Currents

Ocean currents are giant rivers of sea Ocean currents are giant rivers of sea water flowing within oceans.water flowing within oceans.

Ocean currents flow in circular paths:Ocean currents flow in circular paths:

1. Warm currents carry water from low to 1. Warm currents carry water from low to high latitudes. These make land nearby high latitudes. These make land nearby warmer.warmer.

2. Cool currents carry water from high to 2. Cool currents carry water from high to low latitudes. These make land nearby low latitudes. These make land nearby colder.colder.

Ocean Current MapOcean Current Map

Wind BeltsWind Belts

Wind is the movement of air from Wind is the movement of air from high pressure to low pressure (like high pressure to low pressure (like when you poke a hole in a tire.)when you poke a hole in a tire.)

1. Trade Winds1. Trade Winds

2. Westerlies2. Westerlies

3. Polar Winds3. Polar Winds

Wind Belt MapWind Belt Map

StormsStorms Occur during Occur during low pressurelow pressure

conditions.conditions. Storm fronts occurs when two air Storm fronts occurs when two air

masses with different temperatures masses with different temperatures meet. (cold meets warm)meet. (cold meets warm)

1. Thunderstorms 1. Thunderstorms

2. Tornadoes 2. Tornadoes

3. Hurricanes3. Hurricanes