1. Climate

2. Long-term average weather conditions that occur in a particular region
Climate
Long-term average weather conditions that occur in a particular region

3. Atmospheric conditions of a certain place at a certain time
Weather
Atmospheric conditions of a certain place at a certain time

4. Climate Types

5. Climate Types Continental Climate Polar Climate Includes subarctic
Includes tundra, ice caps, highland
Cold year round
Minimal precipitation
Continental Climate
Includes subarctic
Warm to cool summers
Cold winters
Moderate precipitation

6. Climate Types Tropical Climate Dry Climate
Includes arid or semiarid
Hot summers
Cold winters
Low precipitation
Tropical Climate
Includes tropical wet or tropical wet/dry
Warm year-round
High precipitation

7. Climate Types Mild Climate
Includes humid subtropical, Mediterranean, marine west coast
Mild winters
High precipitation
Humid

8. Factors That Affect Climate
Latitude
Near the poles, receive less solar energy and have lower average temperatures
Near the equator, receive more solar energy, have higher average temperatures

9. Factors That Affect Climate
altitude
As altitude increases, temperature decreases

10. Factors That Affect Climate
Rain Shadow
Upwind side: much rain, abundant vegetation
Downwind side: low rain, little vegetation

11. Tells whether a material will be a good conductor or insulator
Specific Heat
Amount of thermal energy it takes for a material to increase temperature
Tells whether a material will be a good conductor or insulator
Thermal conductor=low specific heat
Thermal insulator=high specific heat

12. Factors That Affect Climate
Large Bodies Of Water
Specific heat of water is 6 times higher than land
Climates on the coasts are more constant
Open currents modify climate

13. Factors That Affect Climate
Microclimate
Localized climate that is different from the climate of the larger area surrounding it

14. Long Term Climate Cycles
Ice Ages
Cold periods lasting from hundreds to millions of years when glaciers covered much of the Earth

15. Long Term Climate Cycles
Interglacials
Warm periods that occur between Ice Ages
Current interglacial, Holocene Epoch, began 10,000 years ago

16. Long Term Climate Cycles
Causes of Long term Climate cycles
Amount solar energy reaching the Earth
Shape of Earth’s orbit
Circular=below average temps
Elliptical=higher temps

17. Long Term Climate Cycles
Causes of Long term Climate cycles
Tilt of the axis
Changes in 41,000 year cycles
Decrease in tilt may cause decrease in temp

18. Long Term Climate Cycles
Causes of Long term Climate cycles
Slow movement of Earth’s continents
Changes in ocean circulation

19. Short Term Climate Cycles
Seasons
Changes in amounts of solar energy received at different latitudes at different times of year
Tilt of Earth’s axis
Solstices and equinoxes

20. Short Term Climate Cycles
El Nino
Southern Oscillation
cOmbined ocean and atmospheric cycle
Weakens trade winds

21. Short Term Climate Cycles
North Atlantic Oscillation
Changes position of the jet stream

22. Short Term Climate Cycles
Monsoons
A wind circulation pattern that changes direction with the seasons
Caused by temperature differences between ocean and land
Summer
Warm air over land rises, creates low pressure
Cool air sinks over water, creating high pressure
Wind blows from water to land bringing heavy rain
Winter
Pattern reverses, wind blows from land to water

23. Short Term Climate Cycles
Drought
Period with below average precipitation
Often accompanied by heat waves (periods of unusually high temperature)

24. Short Term Climate Cycles
Cold Wave
Long periods of unusually cold temperatures
Caused by a continental polar air mass staying over a region

25. Human Impact on Climate Change
Carbon Cycle
Series of processes that continuously move carbon on earth

26. Human Impact on Climate Change
Carbon Cycle
Sources of carbon
Cellular respiration by humans and animals
Volcanoes
Forest fires and deforestation
Decomposition
Burning fossil fuels
Uses of carbon
Stored in fossil fuels
Photosynthesis
Absorbed by water

27. Human Impact on Climate Change
Global Warming
The rise in Earths average surface temperature during the past 100 years

28. Human Impact on Climate Change
Increasing Greenhouse gases
Gases in atmosphere that absorb Earth’s outgoing infrared radiation (CO2, methane)
Human Causes
Increasing population
Burning fossil fuels
Deforestation
Cutting down trees
Less CO2 is removed from Earth

29. Human Impact on Climate Change
Aerosols
Released when fossil fuels are burned
Reflect sun’s energy back into space

30. Human Impact on Climate Change
Increasing Greenhouse gases
Natural Causes
Volcanic eruptions
Forest fires
Cellular respiration in organisms (releases CO2)

31. Human Impact on Climate Change
Environmental Impact
Warmer temperatures
More water evaporates causing more precipitation in some areas
Coastal flooding caused by melting glaciers
Extreme weather events
Ecosystem changes

32. Human Impact on Climate Change