Earth-Sun Relations

Climate vs. Weather Weather: condition of atmosphere in 1 place during a limited time

Climate vs. weather Climate: weather patterns of an area over a long period of time

The most important factor of climate is Earth’s position in relation to the sun

Axis: imaginary line runs from pole to pole, through center Earth’s Tilt Axis: imaginary line runs from pole to pole, through center Tilted at 23 ½ º angle Places receive diff. amounts of light at diff. times

Areas with direct sunlight warmer temps. Earth’s Tilt Areas with direct sunlight warmer temps. Areas with indirect sunlight cooler temps.

Earth rotates on its axis Earth’s Rotation Earth rotates on its axis One complete rotation = 24 hours From west to east, one hemisphere at a time

As it rotates, Earth revolves around the sun (365 days) Earth’s Revolution As it rotates, Earth revolves around the sun (365 days) Tilt + revolution = seasons Δs in length of days and temp. Reversed for N & S hemispheres

Equinox: Spring and Fall Solstice: Summer and Winter Equinoxes & Solstices Equinox: Spring and Fall Equal days and nights Solstice: Summer and Winter Longer day or shorter day

Spring equinox March 21- rays hit Equator directly…equal day/night Equinoxes & Solstices Spring equinox March 21- rays hit Equator directly…equal day/night Summer solstice June 21- rays hit Tropic of Cancer (23 ½ ºN)…longest day

Fall equinox Sept. 23- rays hit Equator directly…equal day/night Equinoxes & Solstices Fall equinox Sept. 23- rays hit Equator directly…equal day/night Winter solstice December 22- rays hit Tropic of Capricorn (23 ½ ºS)…shortest day

So if it is summer in Houston, what season is it in South Africa? Equinoxes & Solstices So if it is summer in Houston, what season is it in South Africa? If we are wearing long sleeves and jackets, what are they wearing in China?

“lands of the midnight sun” The Poles For 6 months one pole is pointed toward sun  constant sunlight Other is pointed away little to no sunlight “lands of the midnight sun”

The perfect balance must be kept: The Greenhouse Effect The perfect balance must be kept: Too much heat escapes freeze Too much heat is trapped dry out

Greenhouse effect

More fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) are burned  Global warming More fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) are burned  Greenhouse gases (CO2, O3, water vapor) trap more heat

Global warming Water evaporation , get more rainfall Land dries out more quickly

Factors Affecting Climate

Factors Affecting Climate Divide your paper into 8 squares Label them the following: Low Latitudes 5. Wind Patterns High Latitudes 6. Ocean Currents Mid-Latitudes 7. El Niño Elevation 8. Landforms Use Ch. 3 Sec. 2 You will write at least 3 main points for each IN YOUR OWN WORDS! You will draw an illustration to visually explain the factor (Must be colored)

Low Latitudes High Latitudes Mid-Latitudes Elevation Wind Patterns Between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn (includes Equator); the “Tropics” Receive direct rays from Sun Warm to hot climates year round High Latitudes Polar areas= North of Arctic Circle and south of Antarctic Circle Receives constant indirect sunlight for 6 months when pole faces Sun March-Sept: North has constant daylight, South is in dark (switches for next 6 mos.) Mid-Latitudes Most variable weather on Earth Between Tropic of Cancer & Arctic Circle; between Tropic of Capricorn & Antarctic Circle Ranges from fairly hot to fairly cold (temperate), dramatic changes Summer gets warm air from tropics, winter gets cold air from high-latitudes Elevation At any latitude, anywhere on Earth, elevation influences climate As altitude increases, the air thins which absorbs less heat As elevation increases, temperature decreases Wind Patterns Move clockwise in N. Hem. and counterclockwise in S. Hem. Cool air flows in to replaces rising warm air (Polar front), distributing Sun’s heat Low latitudes have trade winds; mid-latitudes have westerlies; high latitudes have polar easterlies (named for direction they come from) Doldrums are a windless band at the Equator and Tropic lines Ocean Currents Cold water moves from poles to Equator and warms up (warm currents), or warm water moves from Equator to poles and cools (cold currents) Currents affect the climate on land: either cooling or warming (ex: North Atlantic Drift & W. Europe) El Nino Periodic change in currents & water temps. in mid-Pacific region, no known cause Reversal of atmospheric pressures  reduce or reverse wind patterns brings warm water from Asia to South America Domino effect: precipitation increases, flooding in S. America; also droughts and fires in SE Asia/Australia Landforms Landforms affect climates of places at the same latitude Bodies of water moderate temps. b/c they take long to change temp. Cool air releases moisture on windward side of mountain; then hot, dry air moves to leeward side creating deserts (rain shadow effect)

Low Latitudes Between the “Tropics” Receive direct rays from Sun Low numbers in latitude value Receive direct rays from Sun Equator: 6 mos. a yr. Each Tropic: 3 mos. a yr. Receive indirect rays from Sun Each Tropic: 6 mos. a yr. Warm to hot climates year round

High Latitudes Polar areas= N of Arctic Circle and S of Antarctic Circle (high numbers in latitude value) Receives constant sunlight for 6 months when pole faces Sun March-Sept: North has constant daylight, South is in dark (switches for next 6 mos.) Arctic & Antarctic Circles are last point to receive indirect rays (during summer or winter)

Mid Latitudes Most variable weather on Earth Between Trop. of Cancer & Arctic Circle; between Trop. of Capricorn & Antarctic Circle (~30°- 60°) Ranges from fairly hot to fairly cold (temperate), dramatic changes, but no extremes Summer gets warm air from low-lats, winter gets cold air from high-lats

Elevation At any latitude, anywhere on Earth, elevation influences climate If high enough in elevation, can have snow on the Equator! -Quito, Ecuador As altitude increases, the air thins which absorbs less heat As elevation increases, temperature decreases (3.5° per 1,000 ft)

*(named for direction they come FROM) Wind Patterns Move clockwise in N. Hem. and counterclockwise in S. Hem. (Coriolis Effect) Cool air flows in to replace rising warm air (Polar front), distributing Sun’s heat Switches direction in each latitude zone Low latitudes have trade winds (northeasterly/southeasterly) Mid-latitudes have westerlies High latitudes have polar easterlies *(named for direction they come FROM) Windless bands Doldrums @ Equator Horse Latitudes @ Tropics

Coriolis Effect

Doldrums: windless area near the equator Horse Latitudes: Historically, ships would lighten their loads in order to take advantage of the slightest wind such as cargo, excess supplies and livestock…this also included horses.

Ocean Currents Flow same directions as wind…which is?? Cold water moves from poles to Equator and warms up (cold currents), or warm water moves from Equator to poles and cools (warm currents) Currents affect the climate on land: either cooling or warming (ex: North Atlantic Drift & W. Europe)

El Niño Periodic change in currents & water temps. in mid-Pacific region No known cause Reversal of atmospheric pressures  reduce or reverse wind patterns brings warm water from Asia to South America Domino effect: Precipitation increases, flooding in S. America Or droughts and fires in SE Asia/Australia

El Nino http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/ess05.sci.ess.watcyc.eselnino/

Landforms Landforms affect climates of places @ the same latitude Bodies of water moderate temps. b/c they take a long time to change temp. Gulf of MX is warm water keeps Houston warmer Continentality– absence of lg. body of water means more drastic weather changes Nebraska can have hot summers and receive snow in the winters Rainshadow effect Cool air releases moisture on windward side of mountain; then hot, dry air moves to leeward side creating deserts

Ganges Plain in India Himalaya Arid Tibetan Plateau

Current Event Search Find two articles, one from each “side” of the global climate change debate Global Warming vs. Global Cooling OR Human-caused Climate Change vs. Cyclical Climate Change Staple/Tape RELIABLE articles into your spiral Make t-chart of comparison points. Write a ½-1 page reflection on YOUR opinion

Climographs

Climographs World Climographs webpage