Climate & Climate Regions ©2012, TESCCC

Weather v. Climate Climate: The average temperature and precipitation in an area over a long period of time. Weather: Current temperature & precipitation in an area (Short period of time). ©2012, TESCCC

Terms to Know Low Latitude, Mid Latitude, High Latitude Seasons, Solstice, Equinox Revolution, Rotation, Tilt Climate, Weather Greenhouse Vegetation: Coniferous, Deciduous, Mixed Forest, Chaparral ©2012, TESCCC

Greenhouse Effect Natural way for Earth to retain its warmth and for plants and animals to survive. Global Climate Change –refers to the change in climate due to actions by man. Teachers should add a graphic to show the Greenhouse Effect. ©2012, TESCCC

Important Lines of Latitude 0 ° 23 1/2 ° S 66° S Arctic Circle Tropic of Cancer Equator Tropic of Capricorn Antarctic Circle Note that latitude plays a huge part in determining the climate of a place. ©2012, TESCCC

Solstice & Equinox Revolution Tilt: Rotation Movement of Earth around the sun 1 Revolution = 365 ¼ Days Seasons Marked by Solstice & Equinox N & S Hemisphere Difference 23 ½ ° Distribution of heat Longer growing seasons Tilt: Teachers may wish to find another graphic from the Internet that displays the revolution of the Earth with arrows and includes a more colorful display. Due to the angle of the Earth to the Sun, Northern and Southern Hemispheres experience opposite seasons (Winter in the Northern Hemisphere is summertime in the Southern Hemisphere.) Tilt of the Earth makes for the better distribution of the Sun’s heat, allowing sustained life, better growing seasons, etc. Rotation Spin of Earth on its Axis 1 Rotation = 1 Day ©2012, TESCCC

What Affects Climate? Latitude, Latitude, Latitude Landforms (location, size, etc.) Elevation Proximity to large bodies of water Water heats and cools slower than does land Milder climates near large bodies of water More extreme climates away from large bodies of water (continental climate). Wind and Currents With landforms teachers should discuss orographic effect. Students should understand this is not the only way that landforms affect climate, however. (Example: Valleys (better climate for growing, temperature inversion, etc.) Wind and currents discussions should include use of the term “Coriolis Effect.” ©2012, TESCCC

Latitude, latitude, latitude Latitude: The most influential factor that affects climate type. There are three latitude zones: Low Latitude- between 23 ½° N and 23 ½ ° S Mid Latitude- between 23 ½ °N and 66 ° N AND 23 ½ ° S and 66 ° S High Latitude- Poles; above 66 ° N AND below 66 ° S ©2012, TESCCC

Climate Zones Based on Latitude High Latitudes Arctic Circle Tropic of Cancer Equator Tropic of Capricorn Antarctic Circle 66 ½° N Middle Latitudes 23 ½ ° N Low Latitudes 0 ° Teachers may want to add a slide with a climate map that also illustrates water currents. Note: Online the Equator (Latitude) and the Prime Meridian (Longitude) are shown with solid lines. The Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, Antarctic Circle, and Arctic Circle are shown with dashed lines. The Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn are shown at 23 ½° N and S of the Equator (respectively) because that is the degree tilt of the Earth. The Antarctic Circle 66 ½° S and Arctic Circle 66 ½° N –the ½° is due to the tilt of the Earth. Latitude is mathematical measures of the distance from the Equator. So… if something is 30 degrees N of the Equator –you can actually measure the angled distance from the Equator to find it at 30 degrees. Longitude is measured in time and the distance between lines becomes closer together the closer you are to the poles –whereas latitude lines are parallel to one another. Low Latitude refers to the low latitudinal numbers –anything between 23 ½° N and 23 ½° S Middle Latitude refers to the middle range of lines of latitude. –anything between 23 ½° N and 66 ½° N AND 23 ½° N and 66 ½° S High Latitude refers to the higher range of lines of latitude. This is anything between 66 ½°N and 90°N AND 66 ½°S and 90°S 23 ½ ° S 66 ½° S ©2012, TESCCC

Low Latitude Climates Latitude Range World Location Vegetation Seasons Tropical Rainforest 10° S to 25 ° N Amazon basin, equatorial Africa, East Indies, from Sumatra to New Guinea A canopy of tall trees with layers of shorter trees and plants underneath Heavy rainfall in all months, no difference in seasons Tropical Grasslands 15° to 25° N and S India, Southeast Asia, West Africa, southern Africa, South America, north coast of Australia Grasses, short trees (Ex. Savanna in Africa) Warm year round, wet and dry seasons Desert 18° to 28° N and S, centered on Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn Western North America (southwest U.S. southwest South America (Chili) north central Mexico, north Africa, southwest Africa, central Australia, north Asia (China, Mongolia) Scattered vegetation; short grasses and shrubs, cacti Warm or Cold, little to no precipitation year round ©2012, TESCCC

Mid-Latitude Climates Range World Location Vegetation Seasons/ Rainfall Grasslands Central areas of continents between 35° and 50° N Western North America (Great Plains); Central South America, Central Africa (Sahel) (Patagonia) Eurasian interior (Kazakhstan) Grassland, few trees Steppe: Central Asia Llanos: Central South America Prairie: (North America) Savanna (Africa) Low precipitation year round, hot summers, cold winters Humid subtropical Southeast coast of continents between 20° and 40° N and S Southeastern North America, Southeastern Asia, Southeastern Australia Coniferous/Deciduous (Mixed) Forests and grassland Warm, humid summer, and mild winters precipitation year round Mediterranean 30° to 50° N and S The Mediterranean basin, west coasts of California, central Chile, South Africa, western/southern Australia Shrubs, grasses, and mixed trees (Chaparral) Long, hot, dry summers, and mild, rainy winters ©2012, TESCCC

Mid-Latitude Climates Range World Location Vegetation Seasons/ Rainfall Humid Continental 30 to 55 N and S, to 60 N in Europe North central North America; north central Asia (China); Korea; Japan; central and eastern Europe Mixed coniferous and deciduous forest Warm summer cold winters, moderate rainfall throughout the year Marine-West Coast 30 to 60 N and S West coast of N. America, west coast of southern Chile, and northwestern Europe Mixed coniferous and deciduous forests Cool summers, mild winters, high rainfall year round ©2012, TESCCC

High Latitude Climates Latitude Range World Location Vegetation Seasons/ Rainfall Subarctic 50° to 60° N Northern North America and Eurasia Coniferous forests - taiga Extremely cold winter, short, cool summer Arctic 60° to 70° N Short grasses, mosses, lichens, tundra Extremely cold and dry all year ©2012, TESCCC

Other Climates Highland Latitude Range World Location Vegetation Seasons/Rainfall Highland Found all over the world Mountain Ranges: Himalayas, Andes, Rockies, Alps, etc. Varies with elevation and location on mountain. Leeward side is drier with less vegetation. Windward side receives the most rainfall while leeward side remains dry. ©2012, TESCCC