Unit 8: Climate ( pg 165-171) Average conditions of temperature and precipitation over a long period of time

Do Now: What do you propose is the largest contributing factor to a locations climate?

#1: Your Latitude Determines average temperature based off amount of incoming insolation As distance from Equator , the temperature generally Recall our Insolation lab with the globes and thermometers at different latitudes! 

Assuming that Latitude is the #1 factor influencing a regions climate, could one expect the same temperatures for two locations with the same latitude in the U.S.?

Where are temperatures the coldest in January? *San Francisco Kansas City* *St. Louis *Richmond

Where are temperatures the warmest in July? *San Francisco Kansas City* *Richmond *St. Louis

Compounded Averages

How does the proximity to the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean influence winter temperatures in the U.S.?

1.) How could you tell which city was located in the southern hemisphere? 2.) Which city is located on the equator?

2.) Proximity to large bodies of water Climates near large bodies of water are more moderate in seasonal temp. changes (Cooler summers, warmer winters) ex: Coastal California, Long Island, NY Refered as:“Coastal” & “Marine” climates Continental climates have larger seasonal temperature variations (Upstate NY) Why? specific heat of H20 Much of solar energy is used for evaporation More mixing of heat energy because water is a better conductor

Main Factors that Affect a region’s climate: video 1.) Latitude 2.)Proximity to Bodies of Water 3.) Altitude 4.)Mountain Ranges/Orographic Effect 5.) Ocean Currents 6.)Wind Belts 7.) Storm Tracks *These things then affect the vegetation of an area!

3.)Altitude As altitude increases,temperature decreases Cayambe Volcano, Ecuador, 5,7980 (m) in elevation

4.) Orographic Effect: due to mountains Windward side :air cools due to expansion, if cooled below dewpoint clouds & rain Leeward Side (down-wind): air warms by compression and dries

Blue/Green: :heavy rainfall Orange:Dry Orographic Effect in Oregon

Ex: Seattle and Spokane, WA

5.)Ocean Currents (Pg 4 ESRT) -The surface temperature of an ocean current affects the air which lies above it (T &Humidity) cool water will cool the air warmer water will warm the air The N. Pacific & California Current brings cooler air to the West Coast The Gulf Stream warms the air On the edges of the east coast

Checkpoint Questions 1.) How would the coastal annual temperatures vary in South America on the East and Western regions? 2.) What two ocean currents are responsible for this?

Sea Surface Temperatures

Hw: #26-39

6.) Planetary Wind Belts- pg 14 High Pressure zones (air sinks): 90 and 30 degrees N/S latitudes. These are the worlds deserts Low Pressure Zones (Air Rises): Moist rising air occurs along the equator (0) & in mid-latitudes (60 N/S). Wet zones

Distribution of the World’s Deserts

7.) Storm Tracks Weather systems in U.S. move from westeast (weather in Chicago you can expect to see in NY) Hurricane Tracks: born in the S. Atlantic but move north-westward toward the Gulf of MX Moved north- eastward by the Westerlies once it reaches the states

Localized Climatic Effects Lake Effect Snow Where? -Around Great Lakes Areas -Occurs when: A colder mass of air (cP or cA) moves over a warmer body of water (great lakes)

June 2011 Regents Q On the map, dark-gray areas represent regions of lake-effect snow on a December day. Which New York State location appears to be experiencing a lake-effect snowstorm? (1) New York City   (3) Plattsburgh (2) Utica                (4) Watertown 2 Utica

Winds blow from NWSE from Canada, causing lake effect snow on SE shores of the Great Lakes

Oswego is particularly affected by this climatic factor!

Hw # 173 #40-49

Changes in our weather patterns El Nino Video Nat Geo

El Niño: referred to the warm ocean current that appears along pacific coast of South America *The easterly wind weakens and equatorial upwelling is suppressed warmer water moves East

Summary of El Nino events: 1.)Rise in pressure over the Indian Ocean, Indonesia, and Australia 2.) Causing: Fall in air pressure over the central and eastern Pacific Ocean 3.) Result:Trade winds in the south Pacific weaken, and now move east instead of west 4.) Due to above: Warm air rises off West Coast of S. America, causing rain in the northern Peruvian deserts 5.) Warm water spreads from the west Pacific and the Indian Ocean to the east Pacific. It takes the rain with it, causing extensive drought in the western Pacific and rainfall in the normally dry eastern Pacific.

Indian Monsoons How can climate change effect this phenomenon? Seasonal shifts in direction of the prevailing winds due to changes in temperature of Indian land mass

So what defines a dry or moist climate? Amount of incoming precipitation VS. outgoing Evapotranspiration Evapotranspiration= water evaporated from land/ocean surface + water that plants transpire to the atmosphere Potential Evapotranspiration (Ep)- Yearly averages for potential evap.

Temperature and Moisture classify a climate Arid (dry)/Semiarid: Ave Total Precipitation < Ave yearly Evapotranspiration “Wet” Climate/humid: Ave. Total Precipitation > Ave. yearly Evapotranspiration Temperature Zones: Tropical- very warm (Puerto Rico) Arctic- cold (N. Canada) Sub-Tropical-warm (Florida) Highland-cold (Rocky mnts) Temperate –warm and cold= ave. (NYS)

Data is shown in Climographs (monthly record of T and P)