Factors That Affect Climate

Identify five factors that affect climate and explain how each affects climate.

1. Latitude – Most important Latitude - higher the latitude, lower the angle of the sun and therefore, lower the intensity of insolation so temperatures are cooler/lower

Latitude and Temperature As latitude increases, average yearly temperatures ____________ latitude 0o0o 90 o temp low high Warmer at the equator Colder at the poles decreases

Yearly Temperature Range based on Latitude low mid high Equator to tropics Tropics to arctic/antarctic circle Above the arctic/ antarctic circles to North or South Pole

As latitude _________, yearly temp range __________ Temperatures do not vary much throughout the year at the ________. There is a bigger variation in temperatures throughout the year as you go farther from the equator 090 latitude Yearly Temp Range increases small big equator

2. Mountains and Elevation Higher the elevation, lower the temps because air cools as you going higher in the atmosphere Lapse rate – for every 160 meters up, the temperature drops about 1 o C

High Temp Low Temp

As elevation/altitude __________, average yearly temperature ___________ low high Elevation Average Yearly Temps increases decreases Indirect relationship cold hot

Mountains and Moisture rises expands cools condenses precipitation sinks compresses warms WETDRY WINDWARDLEEWARD WIND

3. Closeness to large bodies of water Water warms and cools much more ________ than land does. What property of water causes the slow heating and cooling? ___________ slower Specific heat

Sea or land locations affect temperature ranges. Since land gains and loses heat much more quickly than water, land areas tend to have _______ summers and ______ winters. Coastal areas near the ocean have ______ summers and ___________ winters. (The climate is more moderate – smaller temp ranges throughout the year) warmercooler Warmer/milder

Marine or coastal climates - ______ yearly temperature range Continental or inland climates - ______ yearly temperature range large small

Location A: ___________ climate; ________ yearly temperature range Location B: ________ climate; ________ yearly temperature range Continental large Marine smaller

4. Ocean Currents A stream of water that circulates through an ocean basin A current will ____________________ Warm current will warm the air above it Cold current will cool the air above it i.ess.watcyc.currents/the-role-of-ocean-currents- in-climate/ Exchange heat with the air it contacts

Ocean Currents Are driven by _________ Are driven by ___________ Cold water is _______ dense than warm Salt water is ______ dense than fresh Prevailing winds Density differences more

Ocean currents can make the climate of a coastal region warmer or colder than normal for its latitude ESRT Page ____ Cold currents originate from high latitudes, warm currents originate from low latitudes 4

Warmer or Colder Due to the ocean currents, the East coast of North America is _________ than normal West Coast of North America is ______ than normal What current warms the coast of England? What current cools the coast of South America? warmer cooler North Atlantic Current Peru Current

urface/currents/orthographic

5. Winds esrt p14 A. Global Winds Two major influences - 1. Unequal heating of Earth’s surface 2. Coriolis Effect &feature=youtu.behttp:// &feature=youtu.be

Describe the unequal heating of Earth’s surface Cause: more direct rays at equator, less direct at poles Effect: low pressure at equator, high pressure at poles

Describe the Coriolis Effect Cause: Earth’s rotation Effect: Winds are deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere; left in the Southern Hemisphere

Where might you find rising air? _________ Why? ______________ Rising Air = Low Pressure and a ____ Climate Wet Equator, 60 o N and S Air converges = low pressure

Where might you find sinking air? _________ Why? ______________ Sinking Air = High Pressure and a ____ Climate Dry 30 o N and S, Poles Air is diverging = high pressure

ESRT Page 14 In what direction do storms move at Norwich’s latitude, 42 o N? storms move from SW to NE

b. Regional Winds Monsoon -Seasonal shift in wind direction Rainy Season Dry Season Winds are coming off the ocean Winds are coming off the land

Annual Climatology: Albany, NY (ALB) Elev: 275 ft Lat: 42o 45'N Long: 73o 48'W