Walk in – Prior Knowledge Write your answer to each in your notebook. If you really don’t know yet, you may write “DK”.  What is the difference between weather and climate? What does latitude mean, and how does it affect climate? What does altitude or elevation mean, and how does it affect climate?

Factors that Affect Climate

Learning Goal By the end of this 2-day activity, you should be able to Identify the factors that affect a place’s climate Explain how each factor can have an effect on climate.

What You Need To Write… Any notes that are in YELLOW need to be copied down. Any headings in YELLOW need to be copied down.

Weather and Climate Weather refers to the daily conditions in a place, like the temperature, winds, and air pressure. The science that deals with atmosphere, including weather conditions is called meteorology. Climate refers to weather conditions over a long period of time.

Weather or Climate? Decide if each statement is talking about weather or climate. Talk with your neighbor. The temperature is 68 degrees Fahrenheit today. Weather (measured for ONE DAY). Phoenix area summer temperatures are over 100 degrees from June to August. Climate (measured over a long time period). The Phoenix area receives rainfall in July and August during the monsoon.

Continued On August 12, we received 1.25 inches of rain. Weather (one day) Low air pressure on December 16 caused a storm system to move into the Tucson area. High air pressure during the spring season brings pleasant days with warm temperatures. Climate (over a longer period of time).

Latitude In your notebook on the left side of the page, draw a large circle to represent the earth.

Now mark on the north and south poles.

Add the equator, as shown in the picture.

Discuss a definition of the equator, based on how it looks! The equator is an imaginary line that divides the earth into a top half and bottom half.

Write this definition. Latitude measures how far from the equator a location is. It is measured in degrees north or south of the equator..

Draw a large part of the sun to the far right.

What is the effect of latitude? How does the latitude of a place affect how much sun it gets? Predict how it will be different at the equator, and at the poles.

Now draw the sun’s rays as they approach at the equator.

Write about the rays at the equator.

Now draw rays approaching the north pole.

Make a general statement about latitude and climate. Copy this and fill in the blanks. As latitude gets ______________ from equator to the poles, the climate gets ______________, because the sun’s rays are hitting the earth at _________ of an angle.

Make a general statement about latitude and climate. Now check your answers and make corrections if you need to. As latitude gets ___bigger___________ from equator to poles, the climate gets _colder_____________, because the sun’s rays are hitting the earth at __more_______ of an angle.

Answer in your notebook. Which section of Earth has the hottest climate, and why? Which section(s) of Earth has the coldest climate, and why?

Check your answers by clicking! Write what you missed! Which section of Earth has the hottest climate, and why? At the equator is hottest since it has a low latitude and the sun’s radiation hits it directly. 2. Which section of Earth has the coldest climate, and why? At the poles is coldest since it has a high latitude (far from equator), and the sun’s radiation hits it at an angle, lowering the intensity.

Elevation The lowest level of ground is SEA LEVEL. Elevation, or altitude, refers to how high above sea level a location is. The higher the elevation is, the colder the climate

Sketch in your notebook: Draw and label the change in temperature based on elevation or altitude:

Concept Check Answer in your notebook: How does elevation affect climate? Click to check! The higher the elevation, the colder the air and therefore, the colder the climate.

Explain… Why do people go from Phoenix to Flagstaff in the summer? Note: Elevation of Phoenix is 1,086 feet Elevation of Flagstaff is 6,909 feet Since Flagstaff is at a much higher elevation, it has a cooler summer climate, and people can leave the heat of Phoenix behind!

Bodies of Water Large bodies of water such as lakes and oceans change the temperature of an area nearby.

Draw this diagram. The next slides have CLOSE UPS OF THE WRITING!

Concept Check How do large bodies of water affect climate? Places in the direction of a large body of water generally have milder, warmer seasons than places farther inland at the same latitude.

Wind Patterns Global winds influence climate because they distribute heat and moisture around the Earth. Winds are constantly moving warm air toward the poles and cool air toward the equator

Draw this diagram and label it!

Concept Check What effect do wind patterns have on climate? Wind patterns move heat and moisture around Earth, which can change the temperature and rainfall in a place.