1. 1 Weather and Climate Bay Area Earth Science Institute (BAESI) Climate San Jose State University, January 24, 2004 http://www.met.sjsu.edu/baesi/

2. 2 Weather and Climate What is climate?  Climate is  Examples of weather vs climate:  Climate is: the average of day to day weather over a long duration

3. 3 Weather and Climate What is climate?  Climate is  Examples of weather vs climate:  Climate is: the average of day to day weather over a long duration –Today the temperature is 68F (weather). –Los Angeles has warm summers (climate).

4. Annual Surface Temperature

5. 5 Weather and Climate January Average sea-level Pressure and surface wind pattern

6. 6 Weather and Climate July Average sea-level Pressure and surface wind pattern

7. 7 Weather and Climate Controls on Climate  Seasonal temperature and precipitation patters are generally attributable to:  Latitude  Mountains and highlands  Pressure and wind systems  Land and water location  Ocean currents  Prevailing wind direction

8. 8 Weather and Climate Climate controls: Latitude/Mountains  Latitude – –  Mountains – – Higher latitude climates are generally _______ Lower latitudes ___________________ Higher altitudes: _________________ Windward side of mountains, ______________ than leeward side

9. 9 Weather and Climate Climate controls: Latitude/Mountains  Latitude – –  Mountains – – Higher latitude climates are generally colder Lower latitudes warmer and more moist Higher altitudes: cooler temperatures Windward side of mountains, cooler and wetter than leeward side

10. 10 Weather and Climate

11. 11 Weather and Climate Controls on Climate: Oceans  Ocean Temperatures –Coasts of continents are affected by ocean temperatures: Generally less temperature extremes compared to interior of continents –Cold oceans: –Warm oceans:

12. 12 Weather and Climate Controls on Climate: Oceans  Ocean Temperatures –Coasts of continents are affected by ocean temperatures: Generally less temperature extremes compared to interior of continents –Cold oceans: –Warm oceans: generally produce cooler/drier conditions generally produce more warm/humid conditions

13. 13 Weather and Climate Controls on Climate: Pressure systems  Rising and sinking motion associated with low and high pressure affects climate  Areas where pressure seasonally low, (rising motion) –  Areas where pressure seasonally high, (sinking motion) –

14. 14 Weather and Climate Controls on Climate: Pressure systems  Rising and sinking motion associated with low and high pressure affects climate  Areas where pressure seasonally low, (rising motion) –  Areas where pressure seasonally high, (sinking motion) – Deep Tropics: rainy Subtropical high: warm and dry

15. 15 Weather and Climate