Weather and Climate LAME COWS

What’s the difference? Weather is the condition of the bottom layer of the earth’s atmosphere in one place over a short period of time Climate is the term for weather patterns that an area typically experiences over a long period of time

Weather vs Climate List 3 kinds of precipitation: What is the climate like in Yuma, Arizona?

Latitude Warmest weather near Equator BIGGEST EFFECT ON CLIMATE!!!

Why no polar Pineapples?

Air (Atmospheric) Pressure Is the weight of the atmosphere overhead Caused by unequal heating of earth’s surface Rising warm air=low pressure areas Falling cold air=high pressure areas Winds move from high pressure to low pressure areas

The Sun 93 million miles away Gives off energy and light essential for survival

The Sun

The Sun and Seasons Watch the Video and explain how the Sun causes the seasons on earth

Greenhouse Effect Small amount of solar radiation reaches earth Atmosphere is like a greenhouse-it keeps the warmth from escaping back into space too quickly

Solstices Days when sun is directly overhead Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer June 21- Longest amount of daylight December 21- Least amount of daylight Winter in the Northern Hemisphere is summer in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa

Winter in Fairbanks

Equinoxes March 21, September 23 Equal hours of day and night everywhere on earth At noon, the sun is directly over the Equator

Mountain Barriers

Elevation

Continental Location Oceans are solar energy collectors Because water heats & cools more slowly than land… Coastlines have a stable temperature Interior of the continent has extreme temperatures (hotter & colder)

Ocean Currents Movement of water is called current Ocean currents flow in circular paths Warm currents carry water from low high latitudes Cool currents return cooled water from high low latitudes

Wind Belts Movement of air is called wind Trade winds: high pressure to low pressure Westerlies: high pressure to low pressure, carry weather across US from west to east Polar winds: bring cold air from the poles

Storms Occur during low pressure conditions Storm front= where 2 air masses of different temperatures meet Thunderstorms Tornadoes hurricanes