WEATHER

WEATHER vs. CLIMATE Definition: the condition of the atmosphere at a certain location and time “What you get” Definition: conditions of atmosphere at a certain location over a long period of time “What you expect”

WEATHER vs. CLIMATE “Look out the window” “What is the weather usually like in winter?”

Pull out the Landforms Region map from last class period

Factors that Influence Weather 1. Amount of solar energy- air masses absorb energy 2. Water vapor- determines precipitation 3. Cloud cover- hold water vapor 4. Landforms/bodies of water 5. Elevation- higher air loses ability to hold moisture 6. Wind

WEATHER EXTREMES 1. Hurricane/typhoons: storms that form over warm, tropical ocean waters.

2. Tornadoes: (twisters) powerful funnel-shaped columns of spiraling air.

CLIMATE

Factors that Influence Climate 1. Wind Currents: Wind is the flow of a huge amount of air, usually from a high pressure area to a low pressure area. High= COLD Low= WARM

2. Ocean Currents: rivers flowing in the ocean If I live by the coast is it going to be a MODERATE or EXTREME climate? -Warm water flows from equator to the north pole -cold water comes from north pole to equator In Northern Hemisphere

Ocean Currents

3. Zones of Latitude: Where are you in the world and where is the sun?? COLD HOT WARM

4. Elevation: distance above sea level air temp. decreases as you go higher

Orographic Effect: mountains get in the way, warm air rises, making one side of the mountain green and the other dry.

Climate Change: True or False TRUE. It’s a fact that climates change over time. Climate change is both naturally occurring and human caused.

The Facts On average, air temperatures are increasing Since 1800’s the temp of earth has increased ONE degree Fahrenheit Scientists believe an increase of 3.2-7.2 is possible in this century (100 years) Greenhouse effect

The Greenhouse Effect Definition: gases in the atmosphere that trap heat, which causes higher temperatures on Earth Gases caused by burning coal, oil, methane, etc.