Climate Integrated Science 1

Climate and Weather Climate: Average, year-after-year conditions of temperature and precipitation in a region i.e the Bay Area Weather is the day-to-day conditions of the Earth’s atmosphere at a particular place and time i.e Mill Valley Both are measured in terms of temperature, wind speed, humidity( % H2O in the air), cloudiness, precipitation(rain, sleet, snow)

Climate What things impact climate? LAPTOP V acronym Latitude Altitude Proximity(closeness) to H2O Topography (the physical or natural features of an object or entity and their structural relationships) Ocean Currents Prevailing Winds Vegetation

Latitude The tilting of the Earth causes the Sun’s rays to strike the Earth at different angles. Steep Angle in summer means more heat (NYC=73° in summer) Shallow Angle in the winter means less heat (NYC=27° in winter) Because of the tilting of the Earth different parts of the Earth receive different amount of sunlight which can be transferred into heat. Seasonal changes occur because of the Earth’s relative position to the Sun

http://www. cbs3springfield http://www.cbs3springfield.com/weather/classroom/guidetometerology/6552032.html

Latitude The Tropics (23.5 °North to 23.5° South) receive the most sunlight as they are closest to the Equator and receive sunlight at almost right angles The temperatures are warm all year The temperate zones have moderate climate with colder winters than summers The polar zones receive the least amount of sunlight as the angle is smaller and are cold almost all of the time

Latitude www.larc.nasa.gov/erbe/components2.gif

Altitude Altitude is the height above a reference source such as sea level For every 1000 meters in altitude the temperature drops by 3°C or 6.5°F for every 1000 feet Therefore the higher you go, the lower the temperature on average

Altitude Why does this happen? Hints Answer Heating of the Earth Air Pressure Answer Earth is heated by the Sun Heat is radiated into the atmosphere Less air because of lower pressure lets more heat escape

The Sun’s Heat http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/3720/90245752io4.jpg

Proximity to Water Land is easier to heat and loses heat easier than water Because of this coastal areas or areas close to large bodies of water have a constant or consistent yearly temperature range Areas away from water have a variable yearly temperature ranges

FOG 101 Fog is a meteorological phenomenon caused by a supersaturation of the air, so that it can no longer hold water vapor. The water vapor precipitates out into small droplets of condensation, or fog Radiation fog usually occurs after dark, when the Earth radiates heat outwards. As the heat rises, it is cooled, causing saturation conditions and fog. Advection fog happens most frequently around the ocean because the salt increases the humidity, and condensation can form at a much lower humidity level around salt

Bay Area Fog Why does the fog move in and out of the Bay during the summer? Cold always flows to Hot Ground is heated easier than water Heat pulls cool air in

Topography Climates differ on the windward (facing the prevailing wind) and leeward (away from the wind) sides Air on the windward side cools as it rises and condenses forming clouds Clouds need to reduce weight to get over the mountains, so they release rain The dry air warms as it descends and produces arid environments

Topography http://www.earthkam.ucsd.edu/public/images/investigations/atacama/rain_shadow_diagram.png

Ocean Currents Depending on the current, the air temperature above can increase or decrease This depends on the flow of water and the depth of the current Currents from low latitudes more warm water to areas of higher latitude i.e. Gulf Stream Currents from higher latitudes help moderate warmer climates i.e the California Current

Ocean Currents http://cubanology.com/Screen%20Shots%20and%20Thumbnails/Screenshots%20only/ocean_currents.jpg

Prevailing Winds The three basic wind systems in each hemisphere are polar easterlies, prevailing westerlies and trade winds They are have distinct areas of origin. The volume and speed of the air masses impact climate.

Prevailing Winds http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Sect14/FIG07_007.jpg

Vegetation Vegetation can impact both temperature and precipitation patterns in an area Plants influence the amount of the sun’s energy absorption and the speed of the energy’s release Transpiration causes the release of water vapor

http://api.ning.com/files/exGvmmBIVKJpZFSwmqQAL3GHWH4JCk6HpWUXOqkPjxJVCNCol5Fznx4QP-B-Z*SuFWIeqBlpAH9Ov-7B*OoQnuB1LolyktuK/rain_forest11024x768.jpg