1. The Earth’s Climates

2. Write down these questions and answer them in complete sentences.
Quick Write
In this chapter, you will learn about the processes that affect Earth’s climates.
Write down these questions and answer them in complete sentences.
1. What factors do you think affect climate?
2. Will the climate be colder or warmer at the poles? Explain.

3. 1. Climatology?
The study of Earth’s climate and the factors that affect it.
2. Climate?
Long-term weather patterns of an area.

4. 3. Things that affect climate?
Latitude – distance north or south of the equator
Topography – the land forms on the surface (mountains, valleys, lakes, etc.)
Air masses – the types found in a particular region

5. Check for Understanding
Climate is the ____ term weather pattern in an area.
What three things affect climate?

6. 4. Why latitude?
Places near the equator absorb more sunlight because the sun’s rays come down more close to vertical.
Places near the poles absorb less sunlight because the sun’s rays come in at a lower angle.

7. 5. Why topography?
Water heats up slower and land heats up faster.
Coastal areas are generally cooler during summer and warmer during winter.
Landlocked areas are generally warmer in the summer and colder in the winter.

8. Check for Understanding
The poles receive ____ sunlight, while the tropics receive ____ sunlight.
Sacramento is landlocked and typically _____ during the summer compared to San Francisco which is ______ during the summer due to the ocean.
Warmer/Cooler or Cooler/Warmer
Water heats up _____, while solids (land) heats up ______.
Faster/Slower or Slower/Faster

9. 6. Climate change during Earth’s history?
Geography, AS composition, amount of solar rad., plate movement.
7. Pangaea’s effects?
Many of the wind and ocean currents we see today act the way they do because of how the land is distributed over the Earth’s surface. It was much different in ancient times when the landmasses were in different places and at different latitudes (solar energy differences).
Land was together, ocean was together.

10. 8. Pangaea?
Diff wind and ocean currents mean E was moved differently creating diff climates in diff places.
9. For example:
Land more N = more ocean heated in S. affecting wind and ocean currents.
Because the E was being distributed differently, and because there were different amounts of E being distributed, weather short term and climates long term were very different than they are today.

11. Check for Understanding
In past climates, E was __________ differently.
Distributed or Used
A landmass closer to the equator than in the past will absorb ________ solar energy.
Less or More

12. 10. What affects the amount of rain an area gets?
Lat., elevation, topography.
11. How?
Lower lats get more rain than higher lats
Higher elevs have more rain (more condensation)
Areas near water are wetter than areas near land
Warm water currents have heat, heat increases ability for air to hold water vapor that has evaporated, and allow clouds to form and for rain to be delivered.
12. What else?
Distance to oceans and presence of cold or warm water currents.

13. Water lost over mtn range (rainshadow) or near cold ocean currents.
13. What about mountains?
Moist air over a mtn = condensation (rain). Cold air without water won’t cause rain.
14. Ocean currents?
Warm have E and water = more rain. Cold have less E and water = less rain.
15. Deserts near equator?
Image is satellite image of the amazon jungle basin. Second image is satellite image of central sahara desert. There are many reasons for deserts to occur at latitudes in the tropics. Either topography (mountains take the water), or a current brings cold water with less energy, high pressure areas may dominate not allowing clouds to form, etc. Certain organisms are T dependent, and can only live in areas like the rainforest. Climate is dependent upon energy, wind patterns, water currents – similar to organisms of the ocean being found in specific areas dependent on ocean currents (upwelling).
Water lost over mtn range (rainshadow) or near cold ocean currents.
16. Rainforests near equator?
Near warm water currents or no mtns.

14. Movie 17. Why do tropical rainforests get so much rain?
Low P systems: air is always rising = condensation/rain.
18. Why are tropical deserts so dry?
First image demonstrates how tropical seas area warm. Second image shows high stratus clouds indicating a stable high pressure system over the Southwest of N.A. Warm water currents have heat, heat increases ability for air to hold water vapor that has evaporated, and allow clouds to form and for rain to be delivered. Deserts are dominated with stable high pressure systems that don’t allow cloud formation.
High P systems: air can’t rise = no rain clouds.
Movie

15. Check for Understanding
Which of the following affect climate?
Latitude or Ocean Currents or Both
Which ocean current or air mass carry the most E and ability to hold water vapor?
Cold or Warm
_____ pressure systems and cold ocean currents cause deserts to be dry while _____ pressure systems and warm ocean currents cause rainforests to be wet.
Low/High or High/Low