Climate What are the conditions that contribute to the climate of an area?

Day 1: Factors Effecting Climate  Climate is the pattern of long term weather conditions found in an area.  Working with your partner brainstorm a list of factors that determine the climate in a region.

Main Factors that Influence Temperature. Main Factors that Influence Temperature.  Latitude – temperatures increase as you get nearer to the equator. Seasonal differences between winter and summer are greater near the poles because of Earth’s tilt.  Altitude – temperatures decrease as you get higher.  Proximity to Large Bodies of Water – water heats and cools more slowly than land.  Ocean Currents – can carry energy from warmer regions with them or cooler weather if they originate near Earth’s poles.

Factors that mainly affect precipitation  Prevailing winds – may bring in a certain type of weather from where they originate. For example, winds coming in from the oceans will bring moisture.  Topography – Mountains can cause rain shadows by blocking block prevailing winds.  Seasonal Winds – often bring in moisture (like Monsoons) or drier air to a region.

Day 2: Focus on oceans.  The sea affects the climate of a place. Coastal areas are cooler and wetter than inland areas. Clouds form when warm air from inland areas meets cool air from the sea.  The sea affects the climate of a place. Coastal areas are cooler and wetter than inland areas. Clouds form when warm air from inland areas meets cool air from the sea.   The centre of continents are subject to a large range of temperatures. In the summer, temperatures can be very hot and dry as moisture from the sea evaporates before it reaches the centre of the continent.  The centre of continents are subject to a large range of temperatures. In the summer, temperatures can be very hot and dry as moisture from the sea evaporates before it reaches the centre of the continent.

Day 2: Questions  1 ) Which location would you expect to have greater differences between summer temperatures and winter temperatures: Tampa or Orlando, Florida? Which would have more moisture?  2) Why do oceans and lakes moderate the temperature of a region? Relate your answer. to the heat capacity of water versus the heat capacity of soil and rock.  3) Ocean currents can also affect the climate of a region. What ocean current helps keep Florida an attractive vacation destination during the winter?

Day 2 Answers  1) Orlando, in general, has greater seasonal and daily differences in temperature than Tampa due to its interior location. Tampa would have more moisture and thunderstorms due to its location on the coast.  2) Water has a higher heat capacity than land. Water therefore heats up slowly and cools down slowly, moderator the temperature of things around it. Land heats up quickly and slows down quickly.  3) The Gulf Stream originates near the equator and flows past Florida’s east coast. The Gulf stream flows far enough north to keep the climates of Ireland, Great Britain and even the coast of Norway warmer than they normally would be based on their latitude.

Day 3: Affect of Topography   Mountains can affect the climate on either side of them by creating rain shadows. The satellite image to the right shows a classic rain shadow effect on one of the islands of Hawaii. Notice the stark contrast between lush, tropical vegetation and fry lands. See where the clouds are located.

What Causes the Rain Shadow Effect? 1)As warm, moist air rises along the windward side of mountain, it expands due to lower air pressure. 2) Expansion causes cooling (let the pressure out of a tire and feel the cool air.) 3)As the air cool, it condenses, forms clouds and eventually drops it moisture. 4. Drier air than crosses the mountain top. As it descends the leeward side of the mountain the opposite happens. The air compresses, warms and evaporates.

Day 3: Rain Shadow.   1. Expansion of air causes it to ________. – –A) warm up and evaporate.B) cool down and evaporate – –C) warm up and condenseD) cool down and condense 2. 2.Compression of air causes it to ________. – –A) warm up and evaporate.B) cool down and evaporate – –C) warm up and condenseD) cool down and condense 3. Why does air expand as it rises and compress as it descends? 4. In a rain shadow effect moisture falls on the windward side of a mountain or the leeward side? (The windward side is the side that the prevailing winds hit first).

Day 3: Final Review   4. Is this a rain shadow?

Day 4: Quiz (Bonjour)