The average weather conditions of a region or the weather patterns that occur over many years. Climate is defined as:

1.Average annual temperature

2. Temperature distribution

3. Mean Annual Precipitation

4. Distribution of precipitation Throughout the year

(elevation) (windward vs. leeward)

Elevation: Mount Everest Generally, the temperature averages 3.5º F. colder for every 1000 feet of elevation

Latitude Low latitudes have a higher angle of the sun’s rays

Higher latitudes have a lower angle of the sun’s rays

High latitude

Middle latitude

Low latitude

Simple latitude based climate scheme

All other factors being equal, which city would have the highest average temperature?

(elevation) (windward vs. leeward)

Topography Windward side of Mountains: cool, wet Leeward side of Mountains: warm, dry

windward leeward desert Or 10ºC/km Or 5ºC/km

Ocean Currents Currents coming from the equator make for milder climates Currents coming from the poles make for colder climates

Warm currents in red Cold currents in blue

Reykjavik Iceland is almost on the artic circle, yet in the Winter is 2 degrees warmer than New York City from the warm Gulf Stream

The Galapagos Islands are right on the equator, yet penguins have been seen here A cold current brings water here from Antarctica

Prevailing Winds See ESRT for wind belts Warm rising air causes wet climates Cool sinking air causes dry climates

Cool sinking air = DRY (30) Horse Latitudes Rising air = WET (60) Sinking air = DRY( 90) Warm rising air = WET (0) Doldrums Rising air = WET (60) Sinking air = DRY (90) Cool sinking air = DRY (30) Horse Latitudes

Distance from large body of water Near large body of water = milder climate mild winters, cool summers Far from large body of water = extreme climate hot summers, cold winters

Humid subtropical Humid continental Marine West coast Desert Highland Steppe True Continental (taiga) Tundra North America Climates Ice cap

Tropical Savanna Places 10 to 20 degrees from the equator Have alternating wet and dry seasons from The shifting belts and are called Tropical Savanna

Sahara Desert, Egypt At around 28 to 33 degrees of latitude (the Horse latitudes) it is dry most of the year from the dry horse latitudes, also known as the subtropical high.

Steppe climate in Arizona Steppes are usually located on the edges of true deserts

Steppes or deserts may be located on the leeward side of tall mountain ranges

Tobacco Plantation in South Carolina The southeastern U.S. including most of Florida is called a humid subtropical climate because it catches the wet polar front in winter, and the summer storm tracks as you saw in the previous slide

San Diego, California Mediterranean Summers are hot and dry, winters are wet and mild

Hudson Valley Humid Continental This is our climate, summers are hot and humid, and winters cold and snowy

Oceanic It is characterized by cool moist summers and mild very wet winters

At higher latitudes, and towards the center of continents, the temperature range between winter and summer becomes huge. This is because land gets very hot during the high sun period of summer, and very cold during the low sun period of winter This climate is called true continental or taiga

True Continental (taiga) At higher latitudes, and towards the center of continents, the temperature range between winter and summer becomes huge.

Moosonee Canada Taiga climate

Alaska tundra At higher latitudes, and towards the center of continents, the temperature range between winter and summer becomes huge.

Weddell Sea, Antarctica Ice cap At the polar regions, especially Greenland and Antarctica, no months go above freezing and snow and ice persist all year round. These climates are called ice cap

In Quito, every month is 55 degrees F.

Which location on the map could this be?

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