WHAT CAUSES CLIMATE

 Weather refers to the condition of the atmosphere at a particular time and place.  Climate refers to the average, year to year conditions of temperature, precipitation, winds and clouds in an area.  Two main factors of a climate are temperature and precipitation.

FACTORS AFFECTING TEMPERATURE  Latitude: Based on latitude, Earth’s surface can be divided into three temperature zones; Tropical, temperate, and polar. Based on latitude, Earth’s surface can be divided into three temperature zones; Tropical, temperate, and polar.  Tropical receives direct sunlight all year round, making the climate warm.

 At the polar zones the sun’s rays hit at a lower angle producing a cold climate.  In the summer, the sun’ rays hit the temperate zone more directly producing a warm climate. In the winter, the sun’s rays strike at a lower angle producing a cold climate.

 Altitude: Highland areas everywhere have cool climates, no matter what their latitude. Highland areas everywhere have cool climates, no matter what their latitude.  Temperature decreases 6.5 Celsius degrees for every 1 kilometers.

DISTANCE FROM LARGE BODIES OF WATER  Water heats up and cools down more slowly, therefore, winds from the ocean keep coastal regions in relatively mild climates called Marine climates.  The centers of continents have more extreme temperatures. Cold in the winter and hot in the summer. This is called a Continental climate.

OCEAN CURRENTS  Warm currents bring warm water toward the poles and cold currents bring cold water to the equator.  Warm currents bring warm air to the land it touches and cold currents bring cool air to the land it touches

FACTORS AFFECTING PRECIPITATION  Main factors affecting precipitation are the prevailing winds and the presence of mountains.  Prevailing winds are the directional winds that usually blow in a region.  A mountain range in the path of a prevailing wind can influence where precipitation falls

 Windward is the side of the mountain that faces the oncoming wind.  Leeward is the downward side of the mountain. MICROCLIMATE:  A small area with specific climate conditions.

THE SEASONS  The seasons are caused by the tilt of Earth’s axis as Earth travels around the sun.  How much Earth tilts and how direct the sun’s rays are determines which season a hemisphere is having.