EARTH’S CLIMATE
Latitude – distance north or south of equator Elevation – height above sea level Topography – features on land Water Bodies – lakes and oceans Atmospheric Circulation – global winds Vegetation – type and amount of plants What Factors Affect Climate?
LATITUDE Sun strikes Earth’s surface at different angles creates variations in climate
Temperate zones Hot summers and cold winters, 23.5 o to 66.5 o north and south of equator Tropical zones Warm all year, 23.5 o north to 23.5 o south of equator Climate Zones Differences in solar energy create climate zones Polar zones Cold all year, 66.5 o north and south to the poles
Less solar energy is transferred into atmosphere in polar regions than in tropics Differences in energy affects weather and climate Pressure differences produce winds – –Affects evaporation rates, cloud formation, air masses, and storms Energy Transfer
ELEVATION Mt. Whitney and the Owens Valley, Eastern California Elevation increases, temperature decreases approximately -6.5 o C every 1000 meters or -44 o F every 3,281 feet Elevation also determines the amount of precipitation Pair share: How does elevation affect temperatures and precipitation? Pair share: Why?
Pair share: Can you name a mountain range with a Rain Shadow Effect ? Humid air moves up a mountain: cools, forms clouds, then precipitates Moisture is lost, very dry on other side TOPOGRAPHY Can create a Rain Shadow Effect
Temperature of water influences atmosphere above it WATER BODIES AND ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION Global winds distribute heat and moisture around Earth
VEGETATION Temperature – vegetation influences how much of sun’s energy is absorbed and released Precipitation - plants release water vapor and particles into the air creating clouds (the more plants the more humid it is). Pair share: how do you think cutting down the rain forest in Brazil has affected the climate there?
White Board Review 1. How does latitude affect climate? 2. How does elevation affect climate? 3. What effect does a mountain range have on climate?