Weather and Climate

Weather and ClimateWeather = condition of the atmosphere at a

particular time and place Climate = average weather conditions in an

area over a long period of timeTwo main factors that affect climate

TemperaturePrecipitation

Weather and ClimateThese affected by…

Latitude = position north or south of the equator, represented by east west lines on a globe

0˚ latitude = equator

90˚ N = North Pole…90˚ S = South Pole

Weather and ClimateIncrease latitude; decrease temperature

Less direct sunlight

Seasons (w,sp,su,f) affected by the tilt of the earth which causes more/less direct sunlight

Weather and ClimateOcean Currents

Warm currents…warm air

Cold currents…cool air

Weather and ClimatePrevailing Winds = wind that blows in one

direction

From land = dry air

From water = moist air

Weather and ClimateColder region = cool/dry

Warmer region = warm/moist

Air masses take on characteristics of what it is located over

Weather and Climate Geography

Increase elevation; decrease temperature

Decrease elevation; increase temperature

Weather and ClimateMountains

windward side = wet

Air rises, cools, condenses and rains

leeward side = dry…no moisture…deserts

air sinks, warms up, absorbs moisture

Weather and ClimateThree Major Climate Zones 

Arctic Circle…66.5˚ N Tropic of Cancer…

23.5˚ N Equator…0˚ Tropic of Capricorn…

23.5˚ S Antarctic Circle…66.5˚

S

Weather and ClimateTropical Zone

A. Tropical Rain Forest

200 cm+ of rain

70’s & 80’s temperature

Monkeys, lemurs, parrots, snakes, tigers, leopards

Weather and ClimateTropical Savannah

100 cm of rainfall

80’s & 90’s temperature

Grasses, small trees, giraffes, lichens, hyenas, elephants

Weather and ClimateTropical Deserts

0-25 cm of rainfall

60’s to 120’s temperature

Cacti, lizards, snakes, scorpions, kangaroo rats

 

Weather and ClimateTemperate Zone

A. Temperate forests

B. Temperate grasslands

C. Chaparrals

D. Temperate deserts

Weather and ClimatePolar Zone

A. Tundra

Permafrost = permanently frozen soil

Birds migrate in summer

Caribou, reindeer, rabbits, fox, birds

Weather and ClimateTaiga

“spruce-moose” biome

Conifers (evergreen), rabbits, moose, elk, wolves, bears