FACTORS INFLUENCING CLIMATE NOVEMBER 18, 2014

5 MAIN FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE CLIMATE Latitude Mountain and Elevation Water bodies Moving air Ocean Currents

WATER BODIES Moderating effect on land temperature Maritime climate: high levels of precipitation; warm summers and cool winters Continental climate: drier; hot summers and cold winters

WHICH CITY WOULD BE CONSIDERED TO BE IN A MARITIME CLIMATE? Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Temperature Precipitation Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Temperature Precipitation

OCEAN CURRENTS Currents of warm water flow away from the equator along land and cold currents flow back towards the equator Temperature of the currents affects the temperature of the air

MOVING AIR: AIR MASSES Air mass is a large volume of air with climate conditions of the area it formed Different air pressures are created when earth is heated to different temperatures Creates areas of high and low pressure

Moving air causes wind High and low pressure belts create pattern of prevailing winds

5 MAIN FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE CLIMATE Latitude Mountain and Elevation Water bodies Moving air Ocean Currents DOES ANYTHING ELSE INFLUENCE CLIMATE?

HUMANS Climate change from anthropogenic forces (humans) Warming temperatures, rising sea levels, less ice coverage from increased greenhouse gas effect Higher levels of CO 2