Climate

Long-term average weather conditions that occur in a particular region Climate Long-term average weather conditions that occur in a particular region

Atmospheric conditions of a certain place at a certain time Weather Atmospheric conditions of a certain place at a certain time

Climate Types

Climate Types Continental Climate Polar Climate Includes subarctic Includes tundra, ice caps, highland Cold year round Minimal precipitation Continental Climate Includes subarctic Warm to cool summers Cold winters Moderate precipitation

Climate Types Tropical Climate Dry Climate Includes arid or semiarid Hot summers Cold winters Low precipitation Tropical Climate Includes tropical wet or tropical wet/dry Warm year-round High precipitation

Climate Types Mild Climate Includes humid subtropical, Mediterranean, marine west coast Mild winters High precipitation Humid

Factors That Affect Climate Latitude Near the poles, receive less solar energy and have lower average temperatures Near the equator, receive more solar energy, have higher average temperatures

Factors That Affect Climate altitude As altitude increases, temperature decreases

Factors That Affect Climate Rain Shadow Upwind side: much rain, abundant vegetation Downwind side: low rain, little vegetation

Tells whether a material will be a good conductor or insulator Specific Heat Amount of thermal energy it takes for a material to increase temperature Tells whether a material will be a good conductor or insulator Thermal conductor=low specific heat Thermal insulator=high specific heat

Factors That Affect Climate Large Bodies Of Water Specific heat of water is 6 times higher than land Climates on the coasts are more constant Open currents modify climate

Factors That Affect Climate Microclimate Localized climate that is different from the climate of the larger area surrounding it

Long Term Climate Cycles Ice Ages Cold periods lasting from hundreds to millions of years when glaciers covered much of the Earth

Long Term Climate Cycles Interglacials Warm periods that occur between Ice Ages Current interglacial, Holocene Epoch, began 10,000 years ago

Long Term Climate Cycles Causes of Long term Climate cycles Amount solar energy reaching the Earth Shape of Earth’s orbit Circular=below average temps Elliptical=higher temps

Long Term Climate Cycles Causes of Long term Climate cycles Tilt of the axis Changes in 41,000 year cycles Decrease in tilt may cause decrease in temp

Long Term Climate Cycles Causes of Long term Climate cycles Slow movement of Earth’s continents Changes in ocean circulation

Short Term Climate Cycles Seasons Changes in amounts of solar energy received at different latitudes at different times of year Tilt of Earth’s axis Solstices and equinoxes

Short Term Climate Cycles El Nino Southern Oscillation cOmbined ocean and atmospheric cycle Weakens trade winds

Short Term Climate Cycles North Atlantic Oscillation Changes position of the jet stream

Short Term Climate Cycles Monsoons A wind circulation pattern that changes direction with the seasons Caused by temperature differences between ocean and land Summer Warm air over land rises, creates low pressure Cool air sinks over water, creating high pressure Wind blows from water to land bringing heavy rain Winter Pattern reverses, wind blows from land to water

Short Term Climate Cycles Drought Period with below average precipitation Often accompanied by heat waves (periods of unusually high temperature)

Short Term Climate Cycles Cold Wave Long periods of unusually cold temperatures Caused by a continental polar air mass staying over a region

Human Impact on Climate Change Carbon Cycle Series of processes that continuously move carbon on earth

Human Impact on Climate Change Carbon Cycle Sources of carbon Cellular respiration by humans and animals Volcanoes Forest fires and deforestation Decomposition Burning fossil fuels Uses of carbon Stored in fossil fuels Photosynthesis Absorbed by water

Human Impact on Climate Change Global Warming The rise in Earths average surface temperature during the past 100 years

Human Impact on Climate Change Increasing Greenhouse gases Gases in atmosphere that absorb Earth’s outgoing infrared radiation (CO2, methane) Human Causes Increasing population Burning fossil fuels Deforestation Cutting down trees Less CO2 is removed from Earth

Human Impact on Climate Change Aerosols Released when fossil fuels are burned Reflect sun’s energy back into space

Human Impact on Climate Change Increasing Greenhouse gases Natural Causes Volcanic eruptions Forest fires Cellular respiration in organisms (releases CO2)

Human Impact on Climate Change Environmental Impact Warmer temperatures More water evaporates causing more precipitation in some areas Coastal flooding caused by melting glaciers Extreme weather events Ecosystem changes

Human Impact on Climate Change