1. Warm-up
What is the difference between weather and climate?

2. Climate
Chapter 14

3. Climate The LONG TERM weather patterns for an area.
Describes annual variations in temperature, precipitation, wind and other weather variables.

4. Climatology
The study of Earth’s climate and the factors that affect past, present, and future climatic changes.

5. Normals Average meteorological records for 30 years
Daily high and low temperatures
Daily rainfall
Daily wind speed and direction
Daily humidity
Daily air pressure

6. What causes climate?
Latitude – the farther North or South of the equator, the cooler it gets because areas at or near the equator receive more direct sunlight.
The higher the latitude, the lower the temperatures

7. What causes climate?
LATITUDE Tropics – area between 23.5 north and south of the equator. Temperate zones – north and south. Polar zones – 66.5 north and south to the poles

8. What causes climate? Topographic effects
Water heats up and cools down more slowly than land.
Coastal areas are more moderate than inland areas.
As elevation increases temperatures decrease.
Dryer air on leeward side

9. What causes climate? Air Masses Continental (dry) or Maritime (wet)
Tropical (warm) or polar (cold)

10. Climate Classification
The Koeppen classification system divides climates based on average monthly temperatures, precipitation and vegetation present.

11. Microclimate A localized climate differing from main regional climate
Bodies of water
Slope or side of house facing sun/away from sun

12. Microclimate
Heat Island – the presence of many concrete buildings and asphalt causes a warmer climate in city/urban centers than in surrounding rural areas
Washington D.C. and surrounding area.
Isotherms (lines of equal temperature) are shown in degrees Celsius.

13. Natural Climate Changes – Long Term
Ice Ages – period of extensive glacial coverage, producing long-term climatic changes

14. Natural Climate Changes
El Nino – warm water off the coast of South America
Storms in normally dry areas, drought in areas that are normally wet
Fewer hurricanes in Atlantic Ocean
La Nina – colder water off the coast of South America

15. Natural Changes
Solar Activity: sunspot cycles can cause warmer and colder temperatures on Earth
Earth’s Orbit: the Earth’s orbit goes from circular to elliptical over the course of a 100,000 year cycle

16. Natural Changes
Earth’s Wobble: over a period of 26,000 years Earth wobbles as it rotates. This will eventually lead to a change in Earth’s seasons
Volcanic Activity: large amounts of ash get caught in the atmosphere, blocking the Sun and causing cooler than normal conditions

17. The Greenhouse Effect
Greenhouse Effect: natural heating of Earth’s surface by certain atmospheric gases, which helps keep Earth warm enough to sustain life
This is necessary for life to survive on Earth

18. Human Activity Greenhouse Effect & Global Warming
The balance of the gases that cause the Greenhouse Effect (mainly CO2) is vital to regulating Earth’s temperature
Adding to the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere can cause the overall average temperature of the Earth to rise
An increase in the Greenhouse Effect could lead to temperatures in excess of what we could survive (470+˚ C)

19. Global Warming
Global Warming: rise in global temperatures due to increases in atmospheric CO2
Deforestation: removal of trees lowers the amount of organisms using CO2 to live, thus increasing the amount in the atmosphere
Burning Fossil Fuels: burning of fossil fuels releases CO2 as a waste product

20. Global Warming

21. Climatic Change: Human Activity
Global Warming –
↑ green house gases leads to ↑ absorption of radiation leads to ↑ global temperatures