Climate Climate and Biomes

What is weather?  The condition of the atmosphere at a particular time.

What is Climate?  The average, year-after-year conditions of temperature, precipitation, winds, and clouds in an area.

Climate vs. Weather  What is the difference?  Climate is year-to-year  Weather changes everyday

Climate  Determined by two factors –Temperature –Precipitation

Factors Affecting Temperature  Latitude  Altitude  Distance from large bodies of water  Ocean currents

Latitude  The distance north or south of the equator –Measured in degrees –Examples  15° N 120°E  30° S 120° E  Globe!!

Latitude  More direct sunlight hits the Earth at the equator than at the poles.  Poles are colder than the equator.

Altitude  The height above sea level.  Mount Kilimanjaro –Covered in snow all year –3° S

Distance from Large Bodies of Water  Oceans generate moderate temperatures on nearby land. –Make temperatures less extreme.  Mild marine climates –Relatively mild winters and cool summers.  Continental climates –Have more extreme temperatures.

Ocean Currents  Warm currents move warm water and warm air toward the poles.  Cold currents move cold water and cool air toward the equator.

Factors Affecting Precipitation  Prevailing Winds  Mountain Ranges  Seasonal Winds

Prevailing Winds  Weather patterns depend on the movement of huge air masses.  Air masses are moved from place to place by prevailing winds.

Prevailing Winds  The amount of water vapor in the air mass influences how much precipitation will fall.  The amount of precipitation depends on where the prevailing winds came from.

Mountain Ranges  Mountain ranges that are in the path of prevailing winds can influence where precipitation falls.

Mountain Ranges  Windward side – the side of the mountain the wind hits. –Rain and snow falls on this side  Leeward side – downwind, rain shadow –Little precipitation falls on this side.

Seasonal Winds  Sea and land breezes over a large region that change direction with the seasons –Monsoons  Summer monsoon – wind blows from the ocean to the land. Causes heavy rains.  Winter monsoon – wind blows from the land to the ocean.