World Climate Patterns Earth’s Movement in Space

 Weather: The combination of temperatures, precipitation, cloud cover, and winds that are EXPERIENCED DAILY  Example: 20 ⁰ C with light showers.  Climate: The LONG TERM pattern of weather conditions.  Example: Newfoundland generally has long cold winters and short warm summers.

 Write down if the following statements refer to weather or climate 1. It is -5 ⁰C and snowing 2. The area has cool, wet winters. 3. The summers are hot and dry 4. It is 20⁰C and sunny 5. It is cloudy and looks like it could rain.

 Earth moves in two general ways. 1. Rotation 2. Revolution  Other point  Tilt

 The turning of Earth on its axis.  Averages about 24 hours in duration.  Counter clockwise when viewed from above the north pole.  From west to east, or eastward

 The annual orbital movement of Earth about the sun  Determines the length of the year and the seasons

 Earth is slightly tilted on its axis.  About 23.5 ⁰  This is the reason for the seasons  In January the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, causing winter.  In July the northern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, causing summer.  In spring and summer the axis is not tilted toward or away from the sun.  video video

 Having a day and night of equal length.  This occurs when the sun is directly above the equator.  The Equinox is the specific moment in time.  Happens in spring on March 20 or 21  Happens in fall on September 22 or 23

 The time at which the overhead Sun is furthest from the equator and appears to stand still before returning towards the equator.  The longest day occurs at the summer solstice.  June 21  the shortest day at the winter solstice.  December 22

 Regardless of the time of year Earth’s surface only receives 49% of the total solar radiation that enters the atmosphere.  What happens to the other 50%?  6% scattered in the atmosphere  17% absorbed in particles and gasses in the atmosphere  4% reflected off of Earth’s surface  24% reflected by clouds

 On cloudless days, more radiation will reach the surface, but more will be reflected back too.  This causes: Higher temperatures in the day Lower temperatures at night as any heat from the surface escapes  On Cloudy days less radiation will reach the surface, however once it gets in it becomes trapped.  This causes: Lower daytime temperatures More moderate night time temperatures  This is why temperature ranges between night and day are less when skies remain cloudy.