1. Unit 7: Climate ©Mark Place, 2007-2008 www.LearnEarthScience.com
Revised 2010

2. Climate Vocabulary Abundant- means a lot of
Climate-the average weather conditions of an area for a
long period of time
Deforestation-the removal of trees, forests
Depleted-means lack of or not enough of
Evapotranspiration-the evaporation of moisture from
trees
Greenhouse Effect-the trapping of heat within the
atmosphere
Orographic Effect-the effect of mountains on climate
Ozone-a layer in the Earth’s atmosphere which contains relatively high concentrations of oxygen(O3). Ozone absorbs 93–99% of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet light

3. Identify five factors
that affect climate
and explain
how each
affects climate.

4. Latitude

5. As latitude ________, the average annual temperature _________.
How does latitude
affect climate?
As latitude ________, the average
annual temperature _________.
increases
decreases
Temperature
0° Latitude °

6. Closeness to Large Bodies of Water
Inland
Coastal

7.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
Inland
Coastal

8. Water __________ the temperature. _______ summers. _______ winters.
How does closeness to a large
body of water affect climate?
Water __________ the temperature.
_______ summers. _______ winters.
moderates
Cooler
Warmer
Cities A & B are located
at the same latitude.
City B is closer to a large body of water.
How can you tell?
Its temperature line is flatter (moderated).

9. Orographic Effect
Mountains

10. Orographic Effect

11. The leeward sides of the Adirondacks & Catskills receive much less precipitation
The windward sides of the Adirondacks & Catskills receive a great deal more precipitation

12. Windward Side: ___________ Leeward Side: _____________
How does the
Orographic Effect
affect climate?
Windward Side: ___________
Leeward Side: _____________
cool, moist
warm, dry

13. Elevation

14. We live in the troposphere. Temperature decreases
Elevation
Page 14 of the ESRTs
We live in the troposphere. Temperature decreases
with elevation.

15. During summer, temperature is strongly controlled by elevation -- cold at the higher reaches of the Alaska and Brooks Ranges, and warmer in the lowlands.

16. As elevation _________, the average annual temperature __________.
How does elevation
affect climate?
As elevation _________, the average
annual temperature __________.
increases
decreases
Temperature
Elevation

17. Ocean Currents

18. The Gulf Stream

19. Warm Currents: warmer climate Cold Currents: cooler climate
How do ocean currents
affect climate?
Warm Currents: warmer climate
Cold Currents: cooler climate

20. Sun's Energy & Climate
climate notes
page 3

21. According to the graph below, what wavelength of energy does the Earth
Sun's Energy & Climate
According to the graph below,
what wavelength
of energy does the Earth
receive in the greatest intensity?
visible light

22. which absorbs ultraviolet (UV)
Sun's Energy & Climate
Name the primary gas
which absorbs ultraviolet (UV)
from the sun.
ozone

23. Name the three primary gases which absorb infrared (IR) energy
Sun's Energy & Climate
Name the three primary gases
which absorb infrared (IR) energy
CO 2
methane
water vapor

24. It absorbs harmful Ultra-Violet Radiation from the sun
Sun's Energy & Climate
Why is the ozone
layer important?
It absorbs harmful Ultra-Violet Radiation from the sun

25. Why is it warmer on a cloudy night than on a clear night?
Sun's Energy & Climate
Why is it warmer on a
cloudy night than
on a clear night?
Clouds (H2O vapor) absorb IR energy radiated by the Earth. On a clear night, the IR energy escapes back into space.

26. Explain the greenhouse effect. Include a diagram which shows the
change in wavelength.
Draw in Arrows on Diagram

27. Water Cycle & Climate
Hydrology
Page 4
Notes

28. The water cycle
is also called the
cycle.
hydrological

29. Water that is stored in the oceans and lakes can and become a gas.
evaporate

30. As the water rises through the atmosphere, it cools,
condenses and becomes
clouds

31. When the water gets heavy enough it can fall to the ground in the form of different types of
precipitation

32. and flow directly into streams, rivers, or lakes.
If the lithosphere (ground) is saturated, the water that has fallen can become
and flow directly into streams, rivers, or lakes.
runoff

33. If the lithosphere is not saturated, the water will
the lithosphere and move into the zone of
or the zone of
infiltrate
aeration
saturation

34. The interface (boundary) between these two zones is called the
water table

35. The roots of plants can reach into the zone of
soak up the water, and the water can then re-enter the atmosphere through the process of
saturation
transpiration

36. runoff runoff water table impermeable bedrock zone of saturation
transpiration
condensation
precipitation
runoff
zone of aeration
evaporation
runoff
evaporation
water table
infiltration
zone of saturation
impermeable bedrock

37. Porosity, Capillarity & Permeability
Click on above for animation
Soil & Climate

38. Porosity

39. Total volume of empty space
Porosity =
Total volume of empty space
÷ total volume of soil
What materials would you need to calculate the porosity of a sample of soil?
graduated cylinder
water

40. ***Particle size alone does not determine porosity***

41. Which is more porous, a container of:
POROSITY- the amount of pore space between particles in soil
Which is more porous, a container of:
round particles or angular particles
tightly packed particles or loosely packed particles
c. well-sorted particles or unsorted particles
d. large beads or small beads
* Particle Size does NOT affect porosity as long as the shape of the particles is uniform!

42. the ability of a soil to draw up water
Capillarity
the ability of a soil to draw up water

43. Indirect Relationship
Capillarity
Indirect Relationship
capillarity
The smaller the particle size the greater the capillarity
Particle Size

44. A, because the particles are largest
PERMEABILITY
Which column would allow water
to flow through fastest? Why?
A, because the particles are largest

45. PERMEABILITY
Particle Size

46. If you join sediment from A and D,
PERMEABILITY
If you join sediment from A and D,
what would happen to the permeability? Why?
Decreases because the small particles fill in the spaces

47. Which is more permeable?
PERMEABILITY
Which is more permeable?
a. small particles or large particles
b. frozen ground or unfrozen ground

48. RUNOFF AND STREAM DISCHARGE
FACTORS AFFECTING
RUNOFF AND STREAM DISCHARGE
Which will result in greater runoff and stream discharge?
an area that is vegetated or an area that is barren
an area that has a steep slope or an area that is flat
ground that is frozen or ground that is unfrozen
d. ground that is saturated or ground that unsaturated

49. Global Climate Change

50. Ice Ages

51. what triggers an ice age
Ice Ages
Ice Ages are cyclic.
The last one occurred
~12,000 year ago
The exact causes of
what triggers an ice age
are not known

53. El Niño
A warming of the
Pacific Ocean.
Winters:
West = Stormy
South = Cold, wet
Northeast = warmer

56. A cooling of the Pacific Ocean.
La Niña
A cooling of the Pacific Ocean.
Dry in southeast. Cool, wet in northwest.

58. Average global temperatures are increasing. Glaciers are melting.
Global Warming
Average global temperatures
are increasing.
Glaciers are melting.
Ocean levels are rising.
Warming is natural.
Humans are speeding up the process
through increased levels of
carbon dioxide (CO2)

63. Mountain Glaciers